NO PROPOSAL FOR JNU NAME CHANGE: MANTRI

New Delhi: There is no proposal for changing the name of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Monday. BJP general secretary C.T. Ravi had proposed last year a name change of the JNU after Swami Vivekananda. “No sir,” Nishank said in response to a question in the Lok Sabha whether the government had any proposal for changing the name of the university in Delhi. In November, Ravi had tweeted: “It is Swami Vivekananda who stood for the "Idea of Bharat". His philosophy & values signify the "Strength of Bharat". It is only right that Jawaharlal Nehru University be renamed as Swami Vivekananda University. Life of Bharat’s patriotic Saint will inspire generations to come.”

The government spent `41 lakh (including `9.18 lakh GST) on the induction ceremony of five Rafale jets in September 2020 at Ambala Air Force Station, Parliament was informed on Monday.

“All new aircraft types in IAF are traditionally inducted through a befitting ceremony,” said defence minister Rajnath Singh in a written reply. He said that the arrangements for this event were made mostly through local resources of IAF.

Mr Singh, French minister of armed forces Florence Parly, CDS Gen. Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria were also present during the ceremony. The first five Rafale fighter aircraft were inducted in Squadron No. 17 or Golden Arrows at its first home base Ambala Air Force Station, one of the oldest air bases in the country.

In 2016, India had signed a `59,000 crore deal for 36 Rafales which will be based in Ambala and Hasimara (West Bengal) air bases. India has till now received 11 Rafale aircraft.

On a question on procurement for forces on China border, minister of state for defence Shripad Naik said that on the basis of the threat perception and technology available, the armed forces are procuring terrain and weather specific equipment to thwart the likely threat from our Northern adversary.