New Delhi: The vintage artillery with 25-pounder guns that traditionally fires the thundering ceremonial 21-Gun Salute during the Republic Day celebrations will be replaced by 105 mm Indian field guns this year, as the government makes a further push for its Make in India initiative.
During a press interaction here on Monday, Chief of Staff Delhi Area Maj Gen Bhavnish Kumar said, “We are transitioning towards indigenisation” and the “time is not far when all are equipment will be ‘swadeshi’”.

All equipment from the Army that will be showcased during the 74th Republic Day celebrations are made-in-India, he said, adding that the Akash weapon system and helicopters, Rudra and ALH Dhruv, will also be part of it. “This year the 21-Gun Salute will be fired by the 105 mm Indian field guns replacing the 25-pounders,” he said.

Part of the 2281 Field Regiment, seven cannons of early 1940s era form part of the artillery that has been firing the ceremonial salute in the backdrop of the Republic Day celebrations on Rajpath (renamed to Kartavya Path last year). Made in the United Kingdom, they had participated in the World War II. The duration of the 21-Gun Salute coincides with the length of the national anthem.

“Each gun (25-pounder) is handled by a team of three personnel, and ideally all seven fire in a cyclical fashion until the 21st round is fired when hay of …jay jay hay is being sung or played,” a senior Army official had told PTI on January 26, 2017.

The weather had played a bit of a spoilsport at the Republic Day parade on Rajpath — now Kartavya Path — in 2017 but the ceremonial artillery unit had fired the traditional 21-Gun Salute with “clockwork precision” despite the rains.

Asked about the reason behind the move of replacing the 25-pounders, Maj Gen Kumar said, “Since the 105 mm Indian Field Gun is an indigenised gun, so we want to use this to replace the 25-pounder guns used earlier for the 21-Gun Salute. And, it is a matter of pride that we are showcasing our indigenous gun for this too”.

The 105 IFG (Indian Field Gun) was designed in 1972. The Gun Carriage factory, Jabalpur and Field Gun Factory, Kanpur, manufacture it. They are in service since 1984, he said. These field guns are compact light and they can also be airdropped. It is a very good Indian gun, Maj Gen Kumar said.

Army sources said these guns (25-pounders) are “obsolete and phased out of the Army now. And, presently being used as warm trophies in various army establishments like the Artillery Centre, etc.”. The 74th Republic Day celebrations will take place on the revamped Central Vista avenue as well as be the first at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed Kartavya Path.

Asked about the change in nomenclature of the ceremonial boulevard, Maj Gen Kumar said, “Kartavya Path is a very good name that has been chosen, by changing name of Rajpath. Not only Army, but we all feel pleasant, as we walk this road performing our duty. So, we are very proud”.

A 144-strong military contingent and a band contingent from Egypt will also be taking part in the celebrations, he said, adding, they took part in the full dress rehearsal of the parade that took place on Monday. (PTI)

JAMMU, Jan 24: Amid an ongoing row over Digvijaya Singh questioning the authenticity of the 2019 surgical strikes, an agitated Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the media on Tuesday, saying all that needed to be said have already been done, and the questions should now be directed at the Prime Minister.
A day after Singh stirred up the hornet’s nest and the Congress distanced itself from the leader, party MP in charge of Communication, Ramesh told the media while walking for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir that all queries related to the surgical strike uproar have been answered by his party and the media needs to aim its questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Digvijaya Singh trying to put an end to the row also said: “I have got the greatest regard for the Defence forces” as the leaders marched on along with other padayatris.
Congress General Secretary Ramesh refrained from answering any questions and said that “We have answered all the questions.”
The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi resumed from Sitni bypass Nagrota in J&K on Tuesday.
“We have answered all the questions. You go and ask the Prime Minister the questions,” said Jairam Ramesh.
“Congress party has said whatever it wanted to. I tweeted yesterday regarding the same. I do not want to say anything other than this,” he said.
Taking to Twitter, Ramesh claimed that even the UPA government had carried out surgical strikes.
“The views expressed by senior leader Digvijaya Singh are his own and do not reflect the position of Congress. Surgical strikes were carried out before 2014 by the UPA government. Congress has supported and will continue to support all military actions that are in the national interest,” Ramesh tweeted.
This comes after Digvijaya Singh said there is no proof of the 2019 surgical strike against Pakistan, while the Centre claims to have carried out the attack.
“They (Centre) talk about surgical strikes and that they have killed so many of them but there is no proof,” said Digvijaya Singh in his address in Jammu on Monday.
On February 14, 2019, a CRPF convoy was attacked by militants in Kashmir’s Pulwama, in which 44 Indian jawans lost their lives. Striking back, on February 26, 2019, Indian Air Force fighter jets targetted an advanced terror training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan’s Balakot. The day after, Islamabad attempted to target Indian military installations but was thwarted by the IAF.
Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the opposition party has been “blinded” by its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has “insulted” the armed forces while adding that such statements are made at the behest of the top leadership of Congress.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that it has become a “character” of the Congress party to make “irresponsible remarks”.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia listed out Digvijaya Singh’s alleged controversies and said that he has added “one more to his list of anti-national activities”.
Political analyst and Congress supporter Tehseen Poonawalla came down heavily on Digvijaya Singh remark calling it a ‘self-goal’ for the party.
He said these are the ‘same’ people who keep on doing the same things that is ‘destroying’ the party.
“The same people keep doing the same things and scoring self-goals. On one hand, the Hon’ble PM is naming 21 islands after those decorated with #ParamVirChakra and on the other hand, on #ParakramDivas, questioning surgical strikes? It’s the same people, every time, destroying the party!” he said in the tweet.
Further questioning Digvijay Singh’s remarks, Poonawala said Lieutenant General Hooda, who ordered the surgical strikes, joined the Congress.
“Lt. Gen. Hooda who carried out the surgical strikes joined the Congress! Today is #ParakramDivas ! Why would anyone speak about #surgicalstrike at such a time ! Not the first time these self-goals are scored !! #BharatJodoYatra,” he further said in the tweet. (Agencies)

New Delhi: India saw a single-day rise of 94 new coronavirus infections, with the active cases declining to 1,934, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The total tally of COVID cases on Monday stood at 4.46 crore (4,46,82,015).

The overall death count stands at 5,30,735 with two deaths — one death reconciled by Kerala and one reported by Uttar Pradesh – in last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity was recorded at 0.11 per cent while the weekly positivity was 0.08 per cent.

Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU), a forum of legislators from the state’s eastern districts, has decided to participate in the forthcoming assembly polls against the backdrop of a poll boycott call given by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO).

In August 2022, the influential ENPO passed a resolution to abstain from participating in the 2023 assembly polls unless the demand for the formation of a separate state, comprising the six eastern Nagaland districts, is met. The ENLU in a press release stated,” In an emergency meeting held on January 22 pertaining to

the ENPO resolution to abstain from 14th Nagaland assembly election, after a thorough deliberation the house resolved to participate in the upcoming general election since the election has been notified by the Election commission of India on 18th of January, 2023.”

Currently, the ENLU has 20 legislators, comprising the seven tribes, Konyak, Chang, Khiamniungan, Tikhir, Sangtam, Yimkhiung, and Phom.

While Konyak Union (KU) in a press statement said that it had decided to refrain from participating in the assembly polls.

The ENLU is led by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) S Pangnyu Phom as Convenor and CL John Advisor for Land Resources Department (LRD) as its secretary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) awardees on Tuesday.

He will meet the young heroes at 4 pm at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence. The Government of India has been conferring the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to children for their exceptional achievement in six categories namely Innovation, Social Service, Scholastic, Sports, Art and Culture, and Bravery. Each awardee is given a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate.

This year, 11 children from across the country, under different categories of Bal Shakti Puraskar, have been selected for PMRBP-2023. The awardees include six boys and five girls, belonging to 11 States and Union Territories.