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Indian Army was not equipped for war with China in 1962: Punjab CM
Chandigarh, Dec 9 (IANS) The Indian Army was not equipped to handle the 1962 war with China with New Delhi closing its eyes to the looming threat from Beijing, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Saturday, and called on the present establishment to ensure that the forces are fully prepared now in view of fresh signs of aggression on the eastern border.
Blaming the then government for India’s humiliating defeat in 1962, Amarinder Singh, himself an former army officer, said the entire atmosphere in New Delhi was then of negation, with nobody ready to believe that the Chinese invasion was imminent despite the signs being loud and clear.
Participating at a panel discussion on the “Sino-Indian Conflict 1962” on the concluding day of the two-day Military Literature Festival, the Chief Minister said in response to a question from senior journalist and moderator Vir Sanghvi that the war ended the way everyone had expected it to end.
Pinning the blame for the defeat on the “Forward policy” of the Indian government and its complete intelligence failure, he said with platoons being shifted by the then Defence Minister, sitting in New Delhi, the Indians did not go into the battle with adequate preparation.
Amarinder Singh agreed with a view expressed at the discussion that even one general could make a difference in a battle. With a pliant army chief, the political masters in Delhi put men of their choice in key positions, with even the Corps Commander handpicked by the government based not on competence but as a personal favour, he added.
It was a chaotic scenario, which ended as anyone would have expected it to end, he said, pointing out that all the brigade commanders were changed on the eve of battle.
The Indian soldiers were ill-equipped to fight, with no arms and ammunition, and in fact without rations and warm clothes to fight, he said, recalling that the soldiers were, at one time, surviving on water and salt.
The Chief Minister said though trends had changed and so had the style of army’s functioning, the current situation at the border with China continued to be as volatile now as it was in 1962.
It was up to the government at the Centre to ensure that “our soldiers are properly equipped to counter the fresh threat”, he said.
The 1962 war was a wake-up call for India, which should learn its lessons from the mistakes committed then, he added.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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