UAE evinces interest in 'Make in India' LCA Tejas fighter jet

Agencies
October 17, 2018

New Delhi, Oct 16:  In what could be called as taking Defence cooperation between the two nations to a new level, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown keen interest in acquiring India's indigenously built fighter jet Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi Al Falacy, who is on an official visit to India, met Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and discussed a range of Defence cooperation issues.

As per the sources in the government, 'The visiting minister has shown interest in purchasing LCA Tejas. In this regard, he will be visiting Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Wednesday.”

Earlier, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Qatar, Singapore and Egypt had also evinced interest in the fighter jet. Besides LCA, the UAE is also interested in other 'Make in India' products.

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen flew Tejas in November last year and had said that his maiden sortie was "excellent and impressive".

Mr Hen was the first civilian foreigner to have flown the indigenous aircraft.

The Ministers also undertook a review of bilateral defence cooperation and deliberated upon measures to further enhance bilateral exchanges.

'They recognised that deeper bilateral defence cooperation has been emphasised by the leadership of both countries as a central element in the expanded India and UAE Strategic Partnership,' the Ministry of Defence said in a statement here.

In the meeting, they also deliberated to extend the joint military exercise of armies in desert areas, sources said. The air forces and navies of both the countries jointly conduct exercises.

After HAL, the UAE Minister will also visit the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE).

The LCA programme was initiated in 1983, to replace the ageing MiG-21s planes in IAF's combat fleet, but has missed several deadlines due to various reasons.

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Agencies
August 5,2020

Ayodhya, Aug 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday recalled the significance of the path of 'maryada' associated with Lord Ram in the backdrop of the situation created by COVID-19 and emphasised the importance of social distancing and wearing face masks.

He said that the current situation demands 'maryada' should be 'do gaz ki doori, mask hai zaroori' and exhorted everyone to follow it.

In his speech after laying the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister said the temple of Lord Ram will inspire and guide humans for ages to come.

He said that the path of `maryada' followed by Lord Ram is all the more necessary today in the situation created by COVID-19.

"The `maryada' (need) today is do gaj ki doori, mask hai jaroori (keep distance of two yards, wear mask). The Almighty may keep all the citizens healthy and happy, this is my prayer. The blessings of Mother Sita and Shri Ram be always there on the citizens," he said.

The Prime Minister termed the occasion as historic and said that India is starting a glorious chapter when people across the country are excited and emotional to have finally achieved what they had been waiting for centuries.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

Ayodhya, Aug 4: Ramarchan puja begins at Ram Janmabhoomi site ahead of the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Ramarchan Puja is a prayer to invite all major gods and goddesses ahead of Lord Ram's arrival.

Mahesh Bhagchandka, one of the trustees of Ashok Singhal foundation as Yajman in the puja said, "This is being conducted at the temporary seat of Ramlalla. The pooja will be conducted in four phases."

Speaking about the third and fourth phases, he said: "In the third phase, Dashrath, father of Lord Ram with his wives will be worshipped and then all three brothers of Lord Ram - Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughan with their wives. Lord Hanuman ji will too be worshipped. Whereas in the fourth phase, Lord Ram will be worshipped."
Meanwhile, security has been heightened in Ayodhya ahead of the foundation laying ceremony.

Temples across the city is decorated with lights, diyas and flowers ahead of the grand event. Patna's Mahavir Mandir Trust is preparing over 1.25 lakh 'Raghupati Laddoos' for the occasion. Thes laddoos will be distributed as 'prasad' to devotees.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday offered prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple during his visit to Ayodhya to take stock of the preparations for the 'bhoomi pujan'.
He along with officials also visited 'Ram ki Paudi' to inspect the arrangements ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5. 

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News Network
March 10,2020

New Delhi, Mar 10: A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) brought back 58 Indians from coronavirus-hit Iran on Tuesday, official said.

The aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster, was sent to Tehran on Monday evening.

About 2,000 Indians are living in Iran, a country that has witnessed increasing numbers of coronavirus cases in the last few days.

"The IAF aircraft has landed. Mission completed. On to the next," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

In an earlier tweet, he said, "First batch of 58 Indian pilgrims being brought back from Iran. IAF C-17 taken off from Tehran and expected to land soon in Hindon."

"Thanks to the efforts of our Embassy @India_in_Iran and Indian medical team there, operating under challenging conditions. Thank you @IAF_MCC. Appreciate cooperation of Iranian authorities. We are working on the return of other Indians stranded there (sic)," Jaishankar added.

The aircraft landed at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, from where the passengers were take to a medical facility.

According to latest reports, 237 people have died of novel coronavirus in Iran while the number of positive cases stands at around 7,000.

It is the second such evacuation by the C-17 Globemaster in the last two weeks.

On February 27, 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals were brought back from the Chinese city of Wuhan by the aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

The C-17 Globemaster is the largest military aircraft in the IAF's inventory. The plane can carry large combat equipment, troops and humanitarian aid across long distances in all weather conditions.

Four days ago, a Mahan airline plane brought swab samples of 300 Indians from Iran to India.

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