English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Marshal Arjan Singh cremated with full state honours at Delhi’s Brar Square

Published

on

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 98-year-old war veteran, who passed away after a cardiac arrest on Saturday, was given a 17-gun salute and fly-past

Hundreds of mourners bid a tearful adieu to Marshal of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Arjan Singh whose last rites were performed amid a 17-gun salute and a fly-past at Delhi’s Cantonment area, on Monday.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the three service chiefs, and several former chiefs and senior officers were among those who paid tribute to the soldier, mostly remembered for his military leadership during the 1965 war with Pakistan.

A flypast by India’s most potent fighter jet Su-30 and Mi-17 V5 helicopters was carried out and a 17-gun salute by the ceremonial battery honoured the Marshal who died on Saturday after a massive cardiac arrest. He was 98.

The mortal remains – kept at his Kautilya Marg residence on Sunday for visitors to pay their tributes – were brought to Brar Square in a decorated gun carriage.

The tricolour-wrapped coffin was then placed atop a pedestal where top political leadership and serving and retired military officers paid tribute to the first and the only five-star officer of the IAF.

Sitharaman, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Army chief General Bipin Rawat, Union urban development minister Hardeep Puri, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, besides several former service chiefs, relatives and friends, were among those present.

After wreaths were laid and tributes paid, a prayer was said by a Sikh priest, following which the tricolour was removed from the coffin and handed over to his family.

The body was then placed on the funeral pyre.

Last honours were accorded to the hero, who inspired generations of Indians in his years of service to the nation, with the ceremonial battery of Indian Army giving a 17-gun salute with their 25-pounder guns.

Soon after, three Mi-17 V5 helicopters flew over with the IAF insignia in a ‘vic’ formation, followed by three Su-30 fighter jets in a “missing man” formation.

The formation is an aerial salute performed as part of a flypast of aircraft at a funeral or memorial event, typically in memory of a fallen pilot, a well-known military service member or veteran, or a well-known political figure.

A military band played farewell tunes, as Arjan Singh’s son Arvind, who had flown in from the US, lit the funeral pyre after religious rituals.

A tri-services guard lowered arms as a mark of respect.

Born in Lyallpur (now Pakistan’s Faislabad) on April 15, 1919, Arjan Singh was a fourth-generation soldier.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Taking over as the chief of IAF in 1964 when he was hardly 44, Arjan Singh led the force in the 1965 war, and has been lauded for his vision for modernisation of the Indian Air Force.

A fighter pilot, Arjan Singh had flown over 60 types of aircraft during his career, led the formation at the fly-past over Red Fort on the first independence day in 1947, and was still flying as the chief of the IAF in the 1960s.

He served in different capacities after retiring and in 2002, he became the first and only officer of the IAF to be promoted to five-star rank as Marshal of the Indian Air Force.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

Published

on

Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

Continue Reading

India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

Published

on

Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

Published

on

Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com