New Delhi: A political slugfest has broken out between the leaders of the BJP and the Congress over the “Indian state” remarks of the leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections.

Notably, while inaugurating the party’s new headquarters ‘Indira Bhawan,’ hitting out at the BJP, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties were not just fighting the BJP but “the Indian state itself.” BJP hit back, accusing the Gandhi family of “dividing the country.”

Coming out in defence of Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal criticized BJP-RSS leaders for their lack of involvement in the freedom struggle, stating that Rahul Gandhi has attacked this sentiment and criticized their anti-national actions. The Congress party plans to take this issue to the people of the country.

He also criticised RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s reported remarks about not considering August 15, 1947, as the day of independence. Venugopal emphasized that thousands of Indians sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom, and Bhagwat’s statement undermines their contributions.

“Mohan Bhagwat’s statement is quite anti-national. You know thousands of Indians sacrificed their lives for the Indian freedom struggle. Mohan Bhagwat yesterday said that India did not gain independence in 1947. He has insulted the martyrs of the Indian freedom struggle including Mahatma Gandhi. It was an anti-national statement,” the Congress MP said.

The Congress MP alluded that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks were directed against RSS Chief. “Rahul Gandhi attacked this sentiment. BJP-RSS leaders did not have any role in the freedom struggle. Rahul Gandhi criticised their anti-national action. We will take this issue to the people of the country,” Venugopal said.

Rahul’s statement is now getting sharp criticism from BJP leaders.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a post on X, “The LoP, who was sworn in by taking oath on the Constitution, is now saying, “We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself.” “So, @INCIndia and @RahulGandhi, what are you carrying a copy of the constitution for in your hand?,” she questioned in the post.

Responding to the statement Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri asked Rahul to undergo a medical checkup. “Tell him to go get his mental stability checked,” said Puri.

Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva said, “Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is not working. Rahul Gandhi ruins Congress wherever he goes. He has already ruined Congress in Delhi. If corruption-free governance is needed in Delhi, then a double-engine government will be formed. BJP is coming to Delhi under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have now ignited an all-out fight with the BJP who has criticised the remarks. With campaigning for the Delhi election entering a decisive phase the fight is expected to get bitter. Delhi goes to polling on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

Mumbai: The induction of the three cutting-edge naval vessels INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer has placed India firmly in the top three navies dominating the Indian Ocean Region and Indo Pacific Region providing significant boost to the Indian Navy combat potential. The commissioning of three combat platforms together is a a watershed moment in Indian maritime history.

The lead ship of the seven new stealth frigates under Project 17A, INS Nilgiri represents a significant advancement with new generation stealth technology. 

Statement Of Commanding Officer Of INS Nilgiri Captain Nitin Kapoor

“It is equipped with modern aviation facilities and can operate multiple helicopter types, including the newly inducted MH-60R. The warship incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability, seakeeping and stealth, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates,” said the beaming commanding officer of the newly minted warship INS Nilgiri captain Nitin Kapoor. 

About The Stealth Frigate INS Nilgiri

The stealth frigate INS Nilgiri, dedicated to the maritime prowess of the Chola dynasty, is considered to be a major advancement over the Shivalik-class frigates and incorporates elements such as an enclosed mooring deck, a low infrared signature, a deck rail system for the safe movement of crew and material.  The Infra-Red Suppression System reduces emissions from the ship’s propulsion exhaust and power generation machinery to avoid enemy radar detection. 

About INS Surat

The fourth and final vessel of the Project 15B guided missile destroyer INS Surat is follow-on to the Kolkata-class destroyers constructed in record 31 months and ranks among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world, making critical addition to the Indian Navy surface fleet. 

“It has an indigenous content of 75% and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities. It is among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers globally constructed in record 31 months. The beautiful warship is future ready and can take any role required to advance Indian maritime, economic and diplomatic interests,” said the INS Surat commanding officer captain Sandeep Shorey. 

The Surat warship, reminiscent of the era when Gujarat’s ports connected India to West Asia, with commissioned crew of 350 sailors and 30 officers is armed with surface-to-surface ‘BrahMos’ Supersonic cruise missiles and ‘Barak-8’ medium-range surface-to-air missiles (MRSAM), indigenous 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, an anti-submarine weapon suite comprising an indigenous torpedo tube launcher and indigenous rocket launchers with advanced sensor suite providing a continuous multi-dimensional surveillance bubble around the ship

The predecessors of Surat in the Project 15B-class of guided missile stealth destroyers INS Visakhapatnam commissioner in November 2021, INS Mormugao commissioner in December 2022 and INS Imphal commissioned in  December 2023 have played a vital role of force multiplier in the Indian Navy missions. 

Both Nilgiri and Surat, have capabilities to operate a range of helicopters, such as the Chetak, ALHs (Advanced Light Helicopters), Sea King and the newly inducted MH60R even in darkness with accommodations to support women sailors and officers onboard. 

About INS Vaghsheer

The sixth and last of the french design scorpene class submarine INS Vaghsheer boasts of high-tech periscope system gathering HD imagery for improved situational awareness with Thales sonar suite offering stealth, endurance and advanced firepower to challenge adversaries undetected underseas.  

“The submarine was initially constructed in five separate sections. The welding of these five sections into one submarine— Boot Together— completed in 2021 and launched in 2022 is an record for the Indian Navy,” said INS Vaghsheer CO commander Vineet Sharma leading a lean submariners of 11 officers and 47 sailors to traverse the vast oceans undetected for several weeks without resurfacing for air and replenishments. 

The indigenous diesel electric submarine fleet to replace the aging soviet era subs will add more fire power to the inspirations of the Indian Navy and represents India’s growing expertise in submarine construction and has been built in collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

Indian Defence Establishment Welcomes The Addition

The Indian defence establishment welcomed the addition of the sixth and final submarine of the French Naval Group P75 Scorpene Project INS Vaghsheer but cautioned that Indian Navy submarine fleet is woefully short of the hostile neighbour Pakistan Navy three Agosta-90B class submarines equipped with French supplied Module d’Energie Sous-Marin Autonome advanced Stirling powered Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. 

“While India will get the next submarine in 2032, Pakistan has a strategic lead in the Indian Ocean Region with 11 AIP equipped submarines in operations further expanding underwater strategic capabilities in the coming years along with eight Hangor class submarines from China,” explained a naval commander. The AIP system offers enhanced underwater endurance providing critical advantage to modern naval warfare. 

The Indian Navy current fleet of diesel electric submarines includes INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS Vagir. 

New Delhi, Jan 15: In an interim order passed on Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed that no coercive action be taken against sacked Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted false OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) certificates and fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limits provided for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) by faking her identity.

Issuing notice on Puja Khedkar’s anticipatory bail plea, a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and S.C. Sharma asked the Delhi Police and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to file its reply in the matter by February 14.

In the meantime, Justice Nagarathna-led Bench granted protection to Puja Khedkar from arrest.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Khedkar’s pre-arrest bail petition and vacated its earlier order shielding her from arrest.

In its judgment delivered on December 15, 2024, a bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh opined that prima facie, a strong case was made out against Khedkar, adding that custodial interrogation of a person accused of an offence of such nature is required to unearth the facts.

Justice Singh-led Bench, on November 28, 2024, reserved its decision on her anticipatory bail plea after hearing both sides. It was then clarified that till the judgment is delivered, the interim relief granted earlier on August 12 shielding Khedkar from arrest will continue.

Before this, a court here had turned down her anticipatory bail plea and asked the investigating agency to find out if anyone from inside the UPSC had helped Khedkar. Widening the scope of the probe, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala had asked Delhi Police to investigate if other people recommended by the UPSC have availed quota benefits without entitlement.

The Centre, on September 7, 2024, sacked Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, a month after the UPSC cancelled her selection in government service.

Khedkar has been found guilty of faking and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits. After cancelling her selection, the UPSC also barred her for life from taking the entrance exam after finding her guilty of faking her identity to take the exam multiple times.

In a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, the city Police had contended that former Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Khedkar had submitted two separate disability certificates for her UPSC exam. The disability certificates dated 2018 and 2021 citing ‘multiple disabilities’ were purportedly issued by the Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital for her UPSC attempts made in 2022 and 2023. However, as per Delhi Police’s status report, the hospital authorities had denied that the certificates claiming ‘multiple disabilities’ were issued to her by them.

It was found that Khedkar availed relaxed criteria for OBC candidates and persons with disabilities.

It then came to light that her father, a former Maharashtra government officer, had property to the tune of Rs 40 crore and that she did not qualify for the non-creamy layer OBC quota.

he UPSC had said that its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) “could not detect her number of attempts primarily because she changed not only her name but also her parents’ names”.