Premium
ON September 2, as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) wra pped up its Akhil Bharatiya Samanvay Baithak, the threeday national coordination meeting of affiliate organisations, prachar pramukh Sunil Ambekar's press conference was buzzing with reporters. And he didn't disappoint, picking the opportunity to, as one participant put it, "drop a couple of bombs". For one, he clarified that the Sangh was in favour of the contentious national caste census (with riders, of course) and, two, he made a public admission of unresolved "issues" between the RSS and its ideological offspring, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rules at the CentreAmbekar did clarify that it was a "family matter" which would be smoothened out through "dis cussions". But then he had already said enough to make the headlines the next day. The caste census, meant to bring equality of representation and opportunities to those on society's margins, has been a key demand of the Opposition, which the ruling party has in the past described as an attempt to "divide Hindu society". As for the `family matter', BJP spokespersons went into nocomment mode, as did party president J.P. Nadda who had attended the baithak of the 40odd Sangh affiliates in Palakkad, Kerala.
Ever since they first made a deadly im-pact in early 20th century naval war-fare, submarines have been silent and Eunseen guardians of the deep. ssential for navies for surveillance, tracking and pursuit, and destruction of hostile plat-forms, they have acquired added relevance in the nuclear age. Now, the Indian Navy is gearing up for its biggest-ever subma-rine acquisition programme, Project 75 (India) or P75(I). Initiated in 1997, the Rs 43,000 crore progra mme aims to build six advanced diesel-electric conventi onal submarines, equipped with better sensors, weapons and air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems through a joint venture. AIP systems allow non-nuclear submarines to stay submerged for as long as 12 days at a stretch, enhancing stealth capabilities. As per the Navy's request for proposal (RFP), the first submarine should have indigenous content of 45 per cent, which should go up to 60 per cent for the sixth submarine. Also, it stipulates that the first submarine be rolled out 84 months or seven years from the signing of the contractAfter years of deliberations with several manufacturers, Spanish state-owned firm Navantia and German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) are left in the race for the P75(I) contract. The mega-submarine deal crossed a milestone with the completion of Field Evaluation Trials (FET) to check the compliance of the submarines offered with the navy's RFP. While an Indian Navy team visited the TKMS shipyard in March for the FET, Navantia's offer was evaluated in late June.
Publisher:
Frequency:
Category:
Language:
