71st Republic Day - Discussions

[arshyam]

We don't have a thread yet, so starting a new one.

[arshyam]

Catch the DD Live stream here:

[arshyam]

The national anthem has just concluded and the parade is beginning now.

The parade commander Maj Gen Alok Kacker is leading the parade.

[arshyam]

No Army Arjun even this time. Commentator going on and on about the T-90's virtues. Time to forget the Arjun exists I suppose.

The one battle where Bhishma defeated Arjuna.

[arshyam]

Other things to look forward to: the Shakti ASAT missile, and hopefully something about Gaganyaan.

No expectations about DD's handling of the flypast (setting my expectations at rock bottom so I don't get disappointed later).

[naruto]

Tamilnadu tableau with Ayyanar ji and Telangana with Batukkamma, Odisha with Lingaraj ji, full dharmic. Fiberals must be enjoying.

[naruto]

Seems like this like most tableau have gone full dharmic. I am enjoying this. Happy Republic Day to all of you.

[arshyam]

Watch: Indo-Tibetan Border Police Celebrates Republic Day At 17,000 Feet, In Minus 20 Degrees In Ladakh - Swarajya

[arshyam]

Complete List Of Padma Awardees 2020 Released; Padma Vibhushan Awarded To Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley - Swarajya

Padma Awards (Image via Padwa Awards official Twitter Account)

The Union Government has announced Padma awards 2020. Here is the complete list:

PADMA VIBHUSHAN (7): For "exceptional and distinguished service", it is the second-highest civilian award in India.

1. Shri George Fernandes (Posthumous) -- Public Affairs -- Bihar

2. Shri Arun Jaitley (Posthumous) -- Public Affairs -- Delhi

3. Sir Anerood Jugnauth GCSK -- Public Affairs -- Mauritius

4. Smt. M. C. Mary Kom -- Sports -- Manipur

5. Shri Chhannulal Mishra -- Art -- Uttar Pradesh

6. Smt. Sushma Swaraj (Posthumous) -- Public Affairs -- Delhi

7. Sri Vishveshateertha Swamiji Sri Pejavara Adhokhaja Matha Udupi (Posthumous) --Others-Spiritualism -- Karnataka

PADMA BHUSHAN (16) For "distinguished service of a high order", it is the third-highest civilian award in India

8. Shri M. Mumtaz Ali (Sri M) -- Others-Spiritualism -- Kerala

9. Shri Syed Muazzem Ali (Posthumous) -- Public Affairs -- Bangladesh

10. Shri Muzaffar Hussain Baig -- Public Affairs -- Jammu and Kashmir

11. Shri Ajoy Chakravorty -- Art -- West Bengal

12. Shri Manoj Das -- Literature and Education -- Puducherry

13. Shri Balkrishna Doshi -- Others-Architecture -- Gujarat

14. Ms. Krishnammal Jagannathan -- Social Work -- Tamil Nadu

15. Shri S. C. Jamir -- Public Affairs -- Nagaland

16. Shri Anil Prakash Joshi -- Social Work -- Uttarakhand

17. Dr. Tsering Landol -- Medicine -- Ladakh

18. Shri Anand Mahindra -- Trade and Industry -- Maharashtra

19. Shri Neelakanta Ramakrishna Madhava Menon (Posthumous) -- Public Affairs -- Kerala

20. Shri Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar (Posthumous) -- Public Affairs -- Goa

21. Prof. Jagdish Sheth -- Literature and Education -- USA

22. Ms. P. V. Sindhu -- Sports -- Telangana

23. Shri Venu Srinivasan -- Trade and Industry -- Tamil Nadu

PADMA Shri (118) Awarded for "distinguished service", it is the fourth-highest civilian award in India

24. Guru Shashadhar Acharya -- Art -- Jharkhand

25. Dr. Yogi Aeron -- Medicine -- Uttarakhand

26. Shri Jai Prakash Agarwal -- Trade and Industry -- Delhi

27. Shri Jagdish Lal Ahuja Social Work Punjab

28. Kazi Masum Akhtar -- Literature and Education -- West Bengal

29. Ms. Gloria Arieira -- Literature and Education -- Brazil

30. Khan Zaheerkhan Bakhtiyarkhan -- Sports -- Maharashtra

31. Dr. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay -- Medicine -- Uttar Pradesh

32. Dr. Sushovan Banerjee -- Medicine -- West Bengal

33. Dr. Digambar Behera -- Medicine -- Chandigarh

34. Dr. Damayanti Beshra -- Literature and Education -- Odisha

35. Shri Pawar Popatrao Bhaguji -- Social Work -- Maharashtra

36. Shri Himmata Ram Bhambhu -- Social Work -- Rajasthan

37. Shri Sanjeev Bikhchandani -- Trade and Industry -- Uttar Pradesh

38. Shri Gafurbhai M. Bilakhia -- Trade and Industry -- Gujarat

39. Shri Bob Blackman -- Public Affairs -- United Kingdom

40. Ms. Indira P. P. Bora -- Art -- Assam

41. Shri Madan Singh Chauhan -- Art -- Chhattisgarh

42. Ms. Usha Chaumar -- Social Work -- Rajasthan

43. Shri Lil Bahadur Chettri -- Literature and Education -- Assam

44. Ms. Lalitha & Ms. Saroja Chidambaram (Duo)* -- Art -- Tamil Nadu

45. Dr. Vajira Chitrasena -- Art -- Sri Lanka

46. Dr. Purushottam Dadheech -- Art -- Madhya Pradesh

47. Shri Utsav Charan Das -- Art -- Odisha

48. Prof. Indra Dassanayake (Posthumous) -- Literature and Education -- Sri Lanka

49. Shri H. M. Desai -- Literature and Education -- Gujarat

50. Shri Manohar Devadoss -- Art -- Tamil Nadu

51. Ms. Oinam Bembem Devi -- Sports -- Manipur

52. Ms. Lia Diskin -- Social Work -- Brazil

53. Shri M. P. Ganesh -- Sports -- Karnataka

54. Dr. Bangalore Gangadhar -- Medicine -- Karnataka

55. Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar -- Science and Engineering -- Maharashtra

56. Shri Barry Gardiner -- Public Affairs -- United Kingdom

57. Shri Chewang Motup Goba -- Trade and Industry -- Ladakh

58. Shri Bharat Goenka -- Trade and Industry -- Karnataka

59. Shri Yadla Gopalarao -- Art -- Andhra Pradesh

60. Shri Mitrabhanu Gountia -- Art -- Odisha

61. Ms. Tulasi Gowda -- Social Work -- Karnataka

62. Shri Sujoy K. Guha -- Science and Engineering -- Bihar

63. Ms. Harekala Hajabba -- Social Work -- Karnataka

64. Shri Enamul Haque -- Others-Archaeology -- Bangladesh

65. Shri Madhu Mansuri Hasmukh -- Art -- Jharkhand

66. Shri Abdul Jabbar (Posthumous) --Social Work -- Madhya Pradesh

67. Shri Bimal Kumar Jain -- Social Work -- Bihar

68. Ms. Meenakshi Jain -- Literature and Education -- Delhi

69. Shri Nemnath Jain -- Trade and Industry -- Madhya Pradesh

70. Ms. Shanti Jain -- Art -- Bihar

71. Shri Sudhir Jain -- Science and Engineering -- Gujarat

72. Shri Benichandra Jamatia -- Literature and Education -- Tripura

73. Shri K. V. Sampath Kumar & Ms. Vidushi Jayalakshmi K.S. (Duo)* -- Literature and Education-Journalism -- Karnataka

74. Shri Karan Johar -- Art -- Maharashtra

75. Dr. Leela Joshi -- Medicine -- Madhya Pradesh

76. Ms. Sarita Joshi -- Art -- Maharashtra

77. Shri C. Kamlova -- Literature and Education -- Mizoram

78. Dr. Ravi Kannan -- R. Medicine -- Assam

79. Ms. Ekta Kapoor -- Art -- Maharashtra

80. Shri Yazdi Naoshirwan Karanjia -- Art -- Gujarat

81. Shri Narayan J. Joshi Karayal -- Literature and Education -- Gujarat

82. Dr. Narindar Nath Khanna -- Medicine -- Uttar Pradesh

83. Shri Naveen Khanna -- Science and Engineering -- Delhi

84. Shri S. P. Kothari -- Literature and Education -- USA

85. Shri V. K. Munusamy Krishnapakthar -- Art -- Puducherry

86. Shri M. K. Kunjol -- Social Work -- Kerala

87. Shri Manmohan Mahapatra (Posthumous) -- Art -- Odisha

88. Ustad Anwar Khan Mangniyar -- Art -- Rajasthan

89. Shri Kattungal Subramaniam Manilal -- Science and Engineering -- Kerala

90. Shri Munna Master -- Art -- Rajasthan

91. Prof. Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra -- Literature and Education -- Himachal Pradesh

92. Ms. Binapani Mohanty -- Literature and Education -- Odisha

93. Dr. Arunoday Mondal -- Medicine -- West Bengal

94. Dr. Prithwindra Mukherjee -- Literature and Education -- France

95. Shri Sathyanarayan Mundayoor -- Social Work -- Arunachal Pradesh

96. Shri Manilal Nag -- Art -- West Bengal

97. Shri N. Chandrasekharan Nair -- Literature and Education -- Kerala

98. Dr. Tetsu Nakamura (Posthumous) -- Social Work -- Afghanistan

99. Shri Shiv Datt Nirmohi Literature -- and Education -- Jammu and Kashmir

100. Shri Pu Lalbiakthanga Pachuau -- Literature and Education-Journalism -- Mizoram

101. Ms. Moozhikkal Pankajakshi -- Art -- Kerala

102. Dr. Prasanta Kumar Pattanaik -- Literature and Education -- USA

103. Shri Jogendra Nath Phukan -- Literature and Education -- Assam

104. Ms. Rahibai Soma Popere -- Others-Agriculture -- Maharashtra

105. Shri Yogesh Praveen -- Literature and Education -- Uttar Pradesh

106. Shri Jitu Rai -- Sports -- Uttar Pradesh

107. Shri Tarundeep Rai -- Sports -- Sikkim

108. Shri S. Ramakrishnan -- Social Work -- Tamil Nadu

109. Ms. Rani Rampal -- Sports -- Haryana

110. Ms. Kangana Ranaut -- Art -- Maharashtra

111. Shri Dalavai Chalapathi Rao -- Art -- Andhra Pradesh

112. Shri Shahbuddin Rathod -- Literature and Education -- Gujarat

113. Shri Kalyan Singh Rawat -- Social Work -- Uttarakhand

114. Shri Chintala Venkat Reddy -- Others-Agriculture -- Telangana

115. Smt. (Dr.) Shanti Roy -- Medicine -- Bihar

116. Shri Radhammohan & Ms. Sabarmatee (Duo)* -- Others-Agriculture -- Odisha

117. Shri Batakrushna Sahoo -- Others-Animal Husbandry -- Odisha

118. Ms. Trinity Saioo -- Others-Agriculture -- Meghalaya

119. Shri Adnan Sami -- Art -- Maharashtra

120. Shri Vijay Sankeshwar -- Trade and Industry -- Karnataka

121. Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma -- Medicine -- Assam

122. Shri Sayed Mehboob Shah Qadri alias Sayedbhai -- Social Work -- Maharashtra

123. Shri Mohammed Sharif -- Social Work -- Uttar Pradesh

124. Shri Shyam Sunder Sharma -- Art -- Bihar

125. Dr. Gurdip Singh -- Medicine -- Gujarat

126. Shri Ramjee Singh -- Social Work -- Bihar

127. Shri Vashishtha Narayan Singh (Posthumous) -- Science and Engineering -- Bihar

128. Shri Daya Prakash Sinha -- Art -- Uttar Pradesh

129. Dr. Sandra Desa Souza -- Medicine -- Maharashtra

130. Shri Vijayasarathi Sribhashyam -- Literature and Education -- Telangana

131. Smt. Kalee Shabi Mahaboob & Shri Sheik Mahaboob Subani (Duo)* -- Art -- Tamil Nadu

132. Shri Javed Ahmad Tak -- Social Work -- Jammu and Kashmir

133. Shri Pradeep Thalappil -- Science and Engineering -- Tamil Nadu

134. Shri Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi -- Literature and Education -- Arunachal Pradesh

135. Shri Robert Thurman -- Literature and Education -- USA

136. Shri Agus Indra Udayana -- Social Work -- Indonesia

137. Shri Harish Chandra Verma -- Science and Engineering -- Uttar Pradesh

138. Shri Sundaram Verma -- Social Work -- Rajasthan

139. Dr. Romesh Tekchand Wadhwani -- Trade and Industry -- USA

140. Shri Suresh Wadkar -- Art -- Maharashtra

141. Shri Prem Watsa -- Trade and Industry -- Canada

[arshyam]

Gallantry Awards 2020: Shaurya Chakra for Subedar Sombir, Vayu Sena medals for IAF pilots - HT

Six Army personnel have won the highest peacetime military gallantry awards given this year- the Shaurya Chakra and Naib Subedar Sombir, who died while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2019, was one of them. Lt. Col Jyoti Lama, Maj. Konjenbham Bijendra Singh, Naib Subedhar Narender Singh, Naik Naresh Kumar and Karmdeo Oraon were the other brave men honoured with the Shaurya Chakra.

Shaurya Chakra is awarded to the armed forces for instances of extraordinary gallantry.

Squadron Leaders Ninad Mandavgane and Siddharth Vashisht, the two pilots of the Mi17 V5 helicopter, who died after the chopper was shot down by friendly fire in February last year during the dogfight between Indian and Pakistani jets, were among the four awardees of Vayu-Sena Medal.

The helicopter was hit by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Indian Air Force in Kashmir’s Budgam on the morning of February 27, following the failure of command and control.

The shocking incident took place in the midst of intense aerial combat between the Indian and Pakistani fighter jets in Nowshera, a day after Indian Air Force had ventured into Pakistan to destroy a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan.

Havildar Baljeet, Naik Sandeep, Naik Buta Singh, Naik Kuldeep Singh and Rifleman Anil Kumar Jaiswal have also been honoured posthumously with Sena Medal. A total of 107 Sena Medals were announced.

30 top armed forces personnel, including Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh, the Commander of the Northern Army Command and Lt. Gen. Anil Chauhan, the Commander of the Army’s Eastern Command, have been awarded Param Vishisht Sena Medals (PVSM).

Lt. Gen S K Saini, the vice chief of the army, G Ashok Kumar, the vice chief of the navy and Harjit Singh Arora, the vice chief of the Air Force, were also awarded PVSMs.

President Kovind also approved four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSM) for top Army generals including Lt. Gen. Y K Joshi, who will soon take charge of the Northern Army Command.

The President also approved five Nao Sena Medals (gallantry), four Bar to Sena Medals (devotion to duty), 36 Sena Medals (devotion to duty), eight Nao Sena Medals (devotion to duty), one Bar to Vayu Sena Medal (devotion to duty) and 13 Vayu Sena Medals (devotion to duty).

[arshyam]

Republic Day 2020: J&K Police Personnel Bag 33 Per Cent Of All Gallantry Medals - Swarajya

For their valiant service to the nation's security and concerned interests, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police personnel alone have cornered 33 per cent of all the police gallantry medals to be awarded today on the occasion of Republic Day, reports the Times of India.

Further it should be noted that as many as 50 per cent of all the medals have been awarded to J&K's Police personnel and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel combined who had been deployed in the present day Union Territory (UT) of J&K following the deoperationalisation of Article 370 of the Constitution by the Parliament.

In total, 1,040 service and gallantry medals for both police and paramilitary force personnel are to be conferred on valiant men in uniform today. These include four President's Police Medals for Gallantry (PPMG), 286 Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG), 93 President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 657 Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

It should be noted that of the four PPMGs, three have been won by personnel of J&K police. Similarly, the force's personnel have cornered a massive share of 105 PMGs. After J&K Police personnel, the servicemen in the CRPF were second biggest medal winners, whose tally touched a total of 76 gallantry honours.

[KLNMurthy]

Looks like West Bengal and Kerala didn’t have floats.

[Karthik S]

No Army Arjun even this time. Commentator going on and on about the T-90's virtues. Time to forget the Arjun exists I suppose.

The one battle where Bhishma defeated Arjuna.

Indeed very disappointing. Anyone saw Astra ? Was it there?

[SRajesh]

Seems like this like most tableau have gone full dharmic. I am enjoying this. Happy Republic Day to all of you.

Noob Pooch:
As the Central Govt has right to reject the tableau theme, can the states later claim they were ordered to go dharmic this time!! or is this voluntary

[Aditya_V]

No Army Arjun even this time. Commentator going on and on about the T-90's virtues. Time to forget the Arjun exists I suppose.

The one battle where Bhishma defeated Arjuna.

Indeed very disappointing. Anyone saw Astra ? Was it there?

Yes in front of Tejas

[Nikhil T]

Anyone notice the Apple iPads given to each dignitary in the President’s enclosure? That was interesting.

[Nikhil T]

No Army Arjun even this time. Commentator going on and on about the T-90's virtues. Time to forget the Arjun exists I suppose.

The one battle where Bhishma defeated Arjuna.

Indeed very disappointing. Anyone saw Astra ? Was it there?

The zoo of imported aircrafts during the fly past hits me every time. Think the only indigenous aircraft this time were the Dhruvs (Netra doesn’t count since the aircraft is imported).

[RoyD]

Happy republic day to all. Disappointed not to see LCA and Arjun.

[Karan M]

Tamilnadu tableau with Ayyanar ji and Telangana with Batukkamma, Odisha with Lingaraj ji, full dharmic. Fiberals must be enjoying.

Believe it or not, Shooklaw on Twitter has already started bellyaching. No wonder. I wonder what made him such an outright deracinated Hinduphobe.

[Karan M]

No Army Arjun even this time. Commentator going on and on about the T-90's virtues. Time to forget the Arjun exists I suppose.

The one battle where Bhishma defeated Arjuna.

Indeed very disappointing. Anyone saw Astra ? Was it there?

See the above IAF tableau in the video. It has 2 Astras at the front.

[Karan M]

Indeed very disappointing. Anyone saw Astra ? Was it there?

The zoo of imported aircrafts during the fly past hits me every time. Think the only indigenous aircraft this time were the Dhruvs (Netra doesn’t count since the aircraft is imported).

The Netra's Embraer might be imported, but the crucial part is Indian, the radar and its mission system. Plus the significance of flying it in front of the Brazilian gent + its impact in Balakote both have their point to make.

[Karan M]

What's the big deal?

You guys crib about Paki muslims not being part of CAA, any suggestion of collective responsibility vis a vis even enablers when a terrorist commits a crime elicits outrage, but are trying to tag a son with his late father's deeds? Hypocrisy much?

Try these stunts elsewhere.

Padma Awards

Shri Adnan Sami -- Art -- Maharashtra

Son of PAF fighter pilot Squadron Leader (retd) Arshad Sami Khan Sitara-i-Juraat. Fought 1965 war with India and has been credited with one aircraft,15 tanks and 22 vehicles destroyed and 8 tanks and 19 vehicles damaged and 2 heavy guns destroyed.




https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/prin ... asses-away

[Karan M]

Happy republic day to all. Disappointed not to see LCA and Arjun.

LCA was on the IAF tableau. Its a single engine fighter and hence not flown during such events.

[Karan M]

Catch the DD Live stream here:

Thank you. A few points - I have only watched the mil section, till the IAFs part.

1. The IA marching contingent seems to be severely reduced. Why? We should have showcased more regiments. Used to love them as a kid.
2. The Para jump-march seems here to stay, but surely they need a more warrior like chant, rather than some hobson-jobson stuff.
3. The IAF tableau's models - the Astra in particular, seemed to be out of proportion?
4. The desi weapons production quality, visually, appeared top notch. A big thumbs up.

Overall, the show seems scaled down significantly? Why? Is it to reduce the strain on the dignitaries?

[Karthik S]

I'd like more mechanized parade, Russian, Chinese and all showcase huge missiles and other equipment, we are still more troops march past comparatively, while we may continue with the troops part, I'd really like to see showcasing cannisterized Agni V, Agni 4 ..., Arjun, Pinaka II etc. Hopefully, next republic day, half a dozen LCH can do a fly past.

[vinamr_s]

I think it would have been a better show if

1. They had a tableaux for Ladakh Union Territory and

2. They allowed Azad Hind Fauj veterans be a part for the second time, like they did in 2019.

[Shameek]

Happy Republic Day to all. Watched the parade. Definitely much shorter than earlier.

[Philip]

Yes,make in India quite absent unlike before.Surely Arjun-1 at least,in service,or A-2 in the DRDO section should've been fielded.Pinaka, the heavyweight Varunastra torpedo and other developed and inducted missiles were missing.Our tactical and strat missiles MUST be show to counter the Chin's huge milshow. Some of the AGNI series,Prithvi/ Dhanush,Prahar,Nirbhay,BMos and models of the Arihant/ Arighat,Chakra , NLCA,LCH,LUH,etc. need to be shown at R- Day where the world gets a good look at our desi- made collection.
There is no need for us to hide our achievements and be hypocritically humble about our very significant indigenous military weapon systems and achievements.

[KLNMurthy]

Catch the DD Live stream here:

Thank you. A few points - I have only watched the mil section, till the IAFs part.

1. The IA marching contingent seems to be severely reduced. Why? We should have showcased more regiments. Used to love them as a kid.
2. The Para jump-march seems here to stay, but surely they need a more warrior like chant, rather than some hobson-jobson stuff.
3. The IAF tableau's models - the Astra in particular, seemed to be out of proportion?
4. The desi weapons production quality, visually, appeared top notch. A big thumbs up.

Overall, the show seems scaled down significantly? Why? Is it to reduce the strain on the dignitaries?

No motorcycle contingent

[Shameek]

^^ There was a all woman motorcycle contingent before the flypast.

[kit]

Looks like a conscious decision not to display much of military might !!,

[Sanju]

Padma Awards

Shri Adnan Sami -- Art -- Maharashtra

Son of PAF fighter pilot Squadron Leader (retd) Arshad Sami Khan Sitara-i-Juraat. Fought 1965 war with India and has been credited with one aircraft,15 tanks and 22 vehicles destroyed and 8 tanks and 19 vehicles damaged and 2 heavy guns destroyed.




https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/prin ... asses-away

I have been seeing this being bandied about in Soc Media by Jehadi & Jehadi pasand handles.

It is very simple...One was born an Indian and then chose to became a Pakistani and the other was born a Pakistani and then chose to become an Indian.

So, just like any other Indian, born or naturalised, Shri. Adnan Sami is entitled to be feted and felicitated by the Indian Govt. of the day.

[Rishi_Tri]

2020 Republic Day parade shall go down as perhaps the most listless parade in decades. Significantly reduced number of mechanized formations, marching columns, flotillas, and dance troupes.

Limited Made in India hardware - Bridges, Netra, Akash, ASAT, Dhanush and Dhruv.

Arjun has totally disappeared. Tejas full scale mock up is no longer good enough I guess. What happened to Pinaka, Brahmos, Agni, Prithvi, ATAGS? Why wasn't LCH flown?

Change in military hardware is for all to see. IL 76, An 32, MI 35 replaced by C-17, C-130, Apache. Gone is the Big Boy formation.

One thing didn't change - DD promptly showing the dignitaries and the crowds in place of the objects of parade.

One other constant - the BMP IIs. I guess they are ageless.

What was great was Sh Modi walking down almost the entire Rajpath and waving to crowds. Have never seen any other PM do that before. It more than made up for lack of the excitement of the parade. Guess, Sh Modi was the Parade. Don't mind that at all.

[Haridas]

What I found notable is the PM was received by Raksha mantri followed by Raksha rajya mantri, then CDS, followed by service chiefs and in the end Raksha Sachiv (IAS).

IIRC previously for many years Raksha sachiv (IAS) will greet before service chiefs; now he (IAS) is at end of line, exactly as per GoI gazetted pecking order

Happy day

[Karan M]

2020 Republic Day parade shall go down as perhaps the most listless parade in decades. Significantly reduced number of mechanized formations, marching columns, flotillas, and dance troupes.

But why?! I wonder.

[Philip]

When we had the Brazilian pres.,a man of the far right, Indian hardware should've been in display for him to get a good idea of our capabilities esp. for export.Brazil is buying firang fighters.Tejas could've interested him,as we are buying Brazilian aicraft from EMB too.A JV with EMB could benefit both sides. Our full range of missiles surely would'vd interested Brazil.Even otherforeign diplomats would've got a good looksee at the range of hardware for their own needs. A dismal lack- lustre parade this time without a single strat. wapon on display.

[Karan M]

When all else fails, look at the simplest reason. IMHO, funding.

[KJo]

I have been seeing this being bandied about in Soc Media by Jehadi & Jehadi pasand handles.

It is very simple...One was born an Indian and then chose to became a Pakistani and the other was born a Pakistani and then chose to become an Indian.

So, just like any other Indian, born or naturalised, Shri. Adnan Sami is entitled to be feted and felicitated by the Indian Govt. of the day.

I like how you expressed it.

The other "Pakistani" who is more dharmic than many Hindus is Shri Tarek Fatah.
In real life, about 10 years ago, I met another gentleman in his 60s working at a Walmart near my house. His name was "Madhu" on his badge. We got to talking and eventually he told me that was actually a Muslim, Pakistani, but hated everything about that country and the Peaceful religion . He didn't even want to be called by his RoP name. He blamed all of Pakistan's ills on RoP and said that it encouraged violence. He was a bhakt of Jiddu Krishnamurthy. He was very passionate about what he was saying to the point that I had to quieten him down for fear that some peaceful Jihadi walking around may target him later.

[Sanju]

Thanks KJo ji, there are a lot of people in that part of the world who are more Indian than many RNIs. It is just that they are stuck in a place where it is suicidal to express such thoughts & feelings..have heard of folks in the City that I live in, burn their Green passport as soon as they get the local Citizenship, even though they are eligible for dual nationality.

On this Republic Day, we who are born in or have strong filial/familial connection to India, should be grateful for the monumental blessing that it is.

[Nikhil T]

What was also disappointing was the seeming disparity in IAF’s gallantry awards for the Mi-17.

Shiv Aroor

I find it sad & absurd that the 2 pilots of the IAF Mi-17 that was shot down accidentally last year receive Vayu Sena Medals for gallantry, while the other 4 men receive Mention-in-Despatches. Given the nature of what happened, either decorate all equally, or not at all.

https://twitter.com/shivaroor/status/12 ... 04833?s=21