It was all quiet on the Himalayan BJP front. Even as the Raisina Hill was bustling with the sounds of oath taking ceremony of the newly inducted Cabinet and State Ministers of the third Modi Government's major reshuffle on Sunday there is little to celebrate in the State BJP. Contrary to the expectation of many observers and senior political leaders, not a single MP from the Uttarakhand was neither elevated to the Cabinet nor inducted to even Minister of State.
What’s more, this has given enough bullets for the opposition to target the BJP-led Union Government and rub salt on the wounds of disappointed BJP MPs. The Uttarakhand Congress Committee president Pritam Singh said this third rejig was a clear message to the state about how much importance was accorded by the BJP high command.
As is known, the voters in Uttarakhand had elected BJP candidates to all five seats to the BJP during last general election in 2014. In that election, three ex-CMs including Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Maj Gen (retd) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank were elected from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar, Garhwal and Haridwar lok Sabha constituencies of the state respectively.
The newly elected BJP MP Ajay Tamta was inducted as Minister of State in second cabinet rejig in the year 2016. Then it was being presumed that one of the ex CMs may be inducted in to the cabinet but they could not accommodated.
Even during Assembly election each of the MPs was given assignment based on which it was stated that their leadership quality would be assessed after considering party performance in the assembly election. In these elections the Congress had won three seats each from Haridwar and Almora-Pithoragarh lok Sabha constituency while two Congress and one independent candidates had won from assembly seats in the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary seat. Similarly, two assembly seats each from Tehri and Garhwal were lost by the BJP during assembly election.
As is known, Khanduri had been excluded from the cabinet due to age criteria so it was being presumed that either Nishank or Koshyari may be inducted but party high command has not considered their candidature. With this, third rejig, which is being considered as last rejig before general election-2019, Uttarakhand leaders are running upset because they realised that they have failed to grab the PM’s attention.
In his Press release, the PCC president Pritam Singh noted that leaders’ removal and induction into the Union Cabinet is prerogative of the Prime Minister but being a Himalayan and border State at least people here were presuming that PM would give importance to the State but his decision has caused disappointment. It is now proven that BJP has given importance to the States which are supposed to face election in coming days. As we know, before Uttarakhand Assembly election-2017, MP Ajay Tamta was inducted as Minister of State during second Cabinet expansion of PM Narendra Modi, he added.
lt General Sanjay Kumar Jha, took over as the 48th Commandant of the prestigious, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun on Monday. He took over the reins of the academy from lt Gen SK Upadhya.
lt Gen Jha, a highly decorated soldier is an alumni of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the “17th Battalion the Sikh Regiment’’ on December 13, 1980.
In an illustrious career spanning a period of more than 36 years, the officer has held various Staff, Instructional and Command appointments. He has commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, an Assam Rifle Sector and a Mountain Division in the North East. He has held positions like Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of a Mountain Division, Director Military Operations, Brigadier General Staff (Operations) of a Command, Deputy Additional Chief of Integrated Defence Staff at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Additional Director General of Perspective Planning and Director General of Perspective Planning at Integrated Head Quarters of Ministry of Defence (MoD).
lt General Jha has also held instructional appointments at Indian Military Academy, Indian Military Training Team (Bhutan) and Army War College. He has served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of an Infantry Brigade in the United Nation Mission at Congo.
The General officer has excelled in various professional courses during his service and has many achievements to his credit. The new IMA Commandant is a Graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Higher Command Course and National Defence College.
He has been accorded with the GOC-in-C Commendation Card (twice), VCOAS Commendation Card, Sena Medal, Yudh Seva Medal and Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM).
The General officer is also the Colonel of the Sikh Regiment. He was General Officer Commanding in Chief of a Corps in the North East, before assuming the present appointment. lt Gen Jha takes over the reins of IMA at a time when death of two cadets has rocked the institute.
IMA is the premier military academy of the country which has a rich tradition of supplying fine young officers to the Indian Army and the armies of friendly nations. In one of the most rigorous training regime the Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) are exposed to multifarious activities such as weapon training, service and academic subjects, drill, physical training, sports, outdoor camps and extracurricular activities. These are aimed at making them battle ready and teach them necessary skills to execute various responsibilities and operational tasks with utmost professionalism during their service career.