Page 9 - The Hindu 2 March 2019 Ad Free
P. 9
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
NEWS 11
THE HINDU DELHI
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
China hopes Pakistan Pak. forced pilot to record video Leaders hail valour
move will ease tension of Abhinandan
Abhinandan’s release was delayed by the insistence of the authorities on this
Welcomes release of Indian pilot Press Trust of India F16 but there was no men PM says India proud of his courage
Lahore tion of that in the video
Atul Aneja The handing over of IAF message. Press Trust of India
Beijing Wing Commander Abhinan India has maintained that New Delhi
China on Friday welcomed dan Varthaman to Indian of Wg. Cdr. Varthaman’s plane Leaders cutting across party
the release of the IAF pilot, ficials at Wagah was delayed was downed when IAF lines welcomed the return
Abhinandan Varthaman by till late on Friday as he was planes foiled an attempt by of Indian Air Force pilot Ab
Pakistan, and hoped it asked to record a statement the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) hinandan Varthaman on
would lead to further dees on camera by Pakistani auth to target Indian military in Friday.
calation of tensions bet orities before he was allowed stallations in Jammu and Prime Minister Narendra
ween New Delhi and Islama to cross the border, sources Kashmir on February 27. He Modi said the nation was
bad, as well as yield a joint said. baled out of the aircraft but proud of his exemplary
investigation into the Pulwa Lu Kang It was not clear whether drifted into Pakistanoccu courage. “Welcome Home Abhinandan Varthaman
ma terror attack. he was made to record the pied Kashmir, where he was Wing Commander, Abhi
Asked if China had played kistan side. “Deescalation video about his capture un detained by the Pakistan nandan! The nation is proud is proud of your courage
any behindthescenes role serves the common interest der duress. The video, which Army. of your exemplary courage,” and valour. India is glad to
in facilitating Wing Com of both sides. We encourage was released to the Pakistani Although there has been he tweeted. have you back. May you con
mander Abhinandan’s re the two sides to engage in press around 8.30 p.m., has no official word as to what Defence Minister Nirmala tinue to serve the nation and
lease, Foreign Ministry spo more dialogue for the peace several obvious jump cuts, Jubilant mood: People celebrating the release of Wing time he was brought to the Sitharaman tweeted, IAF with unparalleled pas
kesperson Lu Kang said, and stability in the region.” indicating that it has was Commander Abhinandan at Wagah on Friday. * REUTERS Wagah border on Friday, “Proud of you Wing Com sion and dedication. Best
“From the start, China has Asked to comment on edited heavily. sources said he reached La mander #AbhinandanVar wishes for your bright fu
been calling upon both Wing Commander Abhinan “Recording of his video when my parachute opened seen as saying. hore after 4 p.m. thaman. The entire nation ture,” he said.
sides to exercise restraint dan’s release as well as the message delayed his handing and I fell down, I had a pistol “The army personnel The Pakistani media re appreciates your valour and Congress president Rahul
and take measures to de presentation of a dossier by over,” a source said. with me...There were many saved me from the mob. The ported that “his papers were grit. You held your calm in Gandhi said his dignity,
crease tension, engage in India to Pakistan on the Pul In the video message, Wg. people...” Pakistani army is very pro being checked at the Wagah the face of adversity.” poise and bravery had made
dialogue to resolve their wama episode, Mr. Lu said Cdr. Varthaman is heard say “People chased me, their fessional and I am impressed immigration,” which is why BJP president Amit Shah all in India proud. “Wing
differences.” Beijing had been encourag ing he entered Pakistan’s emotions were running by it,” he says. Later, he is he was not being “imme said the entire nation was Cdr. Abhinandan, your dig
“I have taken note of the ing both sides “to create a fa space to “find a target” but high. Just then, two Pakista seen criticising the Indian diately” handed over. Wg. proud of the courage and nity, poise and bravery
development [and] that Chi vourable atmosphere for his aircraft was shot down. “I ni Army officials came and media. Cdr. Varthaman was finally valour of the pilot. made us all proud. Welcome
na welcomes the goodwill the joint efforts to deal with had to eject from the plane. saved me...and did not let The IAF said Wg. Cdr. Var handed over at around 9.20 “Dear Wing Commander back and much love,” he
signals released by the Pa the relevant issue”. As soon as I ejected and any harm come to me,” he is thaman had shot down an p.m. (IST). Abhinandan, entire nation said on Twitter.
New Delhi briefs Colombo CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Pilot’s parents
Two faces of loss
get standing
on Pulwama terror attack ovation
Special Correspondent
High Commissioner meets Sirisena, Ranil and Rajapaksa MUMBAI
IAF pilot Abhinandan Var
Meera Srinivasan ing the terror attack, even as thaman’s parents got a
COLOMBO they expressed their sym standing ovation on their
Indian High Commissioner pathies to the families of flight to Delhi.
Taranjit Singh Sandhu met slain soldiers. Sri Lanka and A video, which went vi
Sri Lankan President Maith its leaders have strong ties ral on Friday morning,
ripala Sirisena, Prime Minis with India and Pakistan. showed Air Marshal S. Var
ter Ranil Wickremesinghe On Wednesday, Sri Lan thaman (retired) and Shob
and Leader of the Opposi ka’s Ministry of Foreign Af ha Varthaman receiving a
tion Mahinda Rajapaksa ov fairs said the country was round of applause from the
er the last few days and “deeply concerned about fellow passengers. It also
briefed them about the Pul the recent developments fol showed the passengers
wama terror attack and sub lowing the brutal terrorist making way for the couple
sequent developments, the Taranjit Singh Sandhu attack on a Central Reserve to alight from the aircraft.
Indian mission here said. Police Force convoy in Pul After his MiG21 jet
Tweeting about the meet Soon after the bombing wama.” “Requesting” India crashed on Wednesday,
ing held on Friday, Mr. Raja on February 14, which and Pakistan to act “in a Wing Commander Abhi
paksa said: “I believe this sit claimed the lives of 40 CRPF manner that ensures the se nandan ejected safely, but
#398299
uation can be resolved with personnel, Mr. Sirisena, Mr. curity, peace and stability of was taken into custody by
peaceful dialogue between Wickremesinghe, Speaker the entire region,” it said Sri Pakistani forces. His pa
the respective leadership & Karu Jayasuriya, Mr. Raja Lanka strongly supports Final salute: Vijeta, wife of Squadron Leader Ninad Mandavgane who was among the six IAF personnel killed in a helicopter rents left Delhi for Amrit
by the region uniting to de paksa and several Ministers peace and stability in the crash in Budgam on February 27, with daughter Vidita at his final rites in Nashik on Friday; (right) Squadron Leader Arti holding sar, to Wagah to receive
feat terrorism.” put out messages condemn region. the Tricolour, at the funeral of her husband and colleague Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht in Chandigarh. * VEERU KADAM & PTI him.
Jawan’s wife MPs’ panel raises questions on Balakot
trolled for
peace message Members ask Foreign Secretary to scotch misinformation campaign, end speculation
Special Correspondent Sobhana K. Nair “The international communi
Kolkata NEW DELHI ty is claiming that our strikes
Huge support poured in on The Centre must circulate evi had no impact, the camps were
social media for the anti dence of the damage suffered by already empty and no men were
war message from Mita the JaisheMohammad (JeM) killed. They are trying to hide
Santra, wife of CRPF jawan camp in Balakot to the interna the glory of our armed forces. So
Bablu Santra, who was tional community to end specu we told the Foreign Secretary
killed in the February 14 lation in the international press that this misinformation cam
Pulwama attack. Ms. San about the number of casualties paign needs to be combated by
tra was trolled on social in the Indian Air Force attack, widely circulating the relevant
media, following her com members of the Standing Com evidence,” an Opposition leader,
ment that she opposed war mittee on External Affairs said who attended the meeting, said.
under every circumstance. on Friday. Seeking details: The picture shows Pakistani troops at a location The panel asked Mr. Gokhale
Ms. Santra was subject Foreign Secretary Vijay Gok reportedly struck by Indian planes in Jaba, near Balakot. * AP to highlight the justification for
to vicious trolling, includ hale and other senior officials of the air strikes and the JeM’s role
ing people questioning her the External Affairs Ministry The Foreign Secretary re sible casualties at the JeM camp, in spreading terror in India.
integrity and fidelity as a briefed the panel. Mr. Gokhale fused to give operational details committee sources said. Mr. Gokhale assured the Com
wife. The attack, however, was meant to speak on the new about the air strikes of February The panel members hailed mittee that diplomatic overtures
sparked off a huge counter, government taking charge in Pa 26, pleading that it did not fall the strikes by the Indian Air to the international community
with many objecting to the kistan, but the briefing was lar under his domain. Force but lamented that interna were still under way. Mr Gok
offensive statements made gely centred on the Pulwama at He also refused to answer tionally India had not been given hale, the sources said, also
against her. tack and its fallout. questions on the number of pos due credit. spoke on OIC support for India.
Citizens call for India, Pakistan to solve differences peacefully
Special Correspondent of more than 40 CRPF person consequences for both sides. population at large, in so far as sador of India; Ajitha George,
CHENNAI nel in Pulwama on 14 February “Even a limited confronta it absorbs valuable financial researcher and women’s rights
More than 600 citizens from 2019. Nor can anything justify tion would resolve nothing — and human resources that activist; writers Amitav Ghosh,
different walks of life have is the Pakistan government’s cov neither the tensions between could be used for better purpos Arundhati Roy, Mukul Kesavan
sued an “Appeal for Reason” ov ert support of armed groups India and Pakistan, nor the es. Perhaps the biggest national and Meena Kandasamy; Aruna
er the recent escalation of ten that have carried out this sort of Kashmir dispute. On the con damage is the erosion of de Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti San
sions between India and attack in Kashmir over the trary, it would aggravate ten mocracy including the freedom gathan; Bezwada Wilson, na
Pakistan. The statement was years. Nevertheless, India’s res sions and delay the process of of expression and dissent. Un tional convener of the Safai Kar
drafted before the situation of ponse to this incident must conflict resolution. fortunately, the climate of jin machari Andolan; N. Ram,
Wing Commander Abhinandan abide by international law in let “The principal victims of this goism that tends to develop Chairman, The Hindu Publish
became clear. Economist Jean ter and spirit. It must also be conflict are the civilian resi around this sort of situation is ing Group; C. Rammanohar
Dreze, one of the signatories, responsible and take into ac dents of Kashmir, who have en obscuring these simple truths. Reddy, Editor, The India Fo-
said his release was a welcome count the risks involved in an dured immense suffering over Even reasoned demands for a rum; Devaki Jain, concerned ci
but limited step towards dees armed conflict between two nu the years, including gross hu peaceful solution tend to be tizen; Debraj Ray, Professor of
calation and much more was clear powers. man rights violations. In recent conflated with antinational Economics, New York Universi
needed. “The history of war across days, Kashmiris have also been sentiment. ty; Githa Hariharan, author and
The following is the text of the world has repeatedly shown a target of brutal attacks across “We appeal to the govern editor; Indira Jaising, Lawyers’
the “Appeal for Reason” calling how easily and speedily an the country. If the conflict in ments on both sides to refrain Collective, New Delhi; Harbans
upon both the Indian and Pakis armed conflict can escalate well tensifies, this hostility is likely from further hostilities, overt or Mukhia, former Professor and
tani governments to refrain beyond what was initially ex to be extended to other minori covert, and to resolve their dif Rector, Jawaharlal Nehru Un
from further hostilities and to pected. The first World War, we ties and dissidents. ferences within the framework iversity; Janaki Nair, Professor,
resolve the differences within may recall, began with a single “The victims also include of international law and human Jawaharlal Nehru University;
the framework of international assassination, which set in mo hundreds of thousands of mili rights.” Jignesh Mevani, social activist
law and human rights: tion a chain of attacks and coun tary and paramilitary person and lawyer; Jothi S.J., director,
“We, citizens of India, are terattacks that eventually led to nel, largely drawn from under List of signatories Udayani Social Action Forum,
deeply concerned at the recent millions of casualties. Similarly, privileged groups, who are The list of signatories include Kolkata; Mrinal Pande, senior
escalation of tensions between it would be easy for seemingly exposed to the most trying ser A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice, journalist and author; Nandita
India and Pakistan, and at the “safe” strikes and counter vice conditions in Kashmir and Delhi High Court; L. Ramdas, Das, actor and director; Swami
climate of intolerance that is de strikes between India and Pa may soon be exposed to further Admiral (retired); Aftab Seth, nathan Aiyar, senior journalist;
veloping around it. kistan to lead to a major con danger. former IAS officer; Wajahat Ha and Zoya Hasan, former Profes
“Nothing can justify the act frontation, possibly even nu “The victims of continued bibullah, former IAS officer; sor of Political Science, Jawa
of terrorism that took the lives clear war, with disastrous hostility also include the Indian Madhu Bhaduri, retired Ambas harlal Nehru University.
CM
YK
