Gaganyaan astronaut-elects begin training in Russia

'Won't need Army, Navy, Air Force if...': Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi over China

Rahul Gandhi invoked China face-off during Tamil Nadu campaign. The congress leader linked China's aggression to economy. Gandhi said Chinese president should be wearing made in India shirt. He said if Indian economy is strong then China wouldn't dare intrude. Gandhi said, “If India's labourers, farmers and weavers were strong, then the President of China would be wearing a shirt made in India. And I can guarantee you that Chinese people would be driving Indian cars, they would be flying in Indian aircrafts, and their houses would have our carpets. Why is this not happening? Our government is insisting on helping 5-6 of India’s richest business people and killing and destroying India’s strength.” Gandhi added, “You are using the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force to protect India from China. If you use India’s labourers, farmers, workers, you will not need the armed forces to be standing over there. China will not have the guts to come inside.” Watch the full video for more.

‘If China can be aggressive at LAC, so can we’: IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria

Indian Air Force Chief (IAF) Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said that India too can be aggressive if China shows aggression. While addressing a press conference in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on the sidelines of IAF and the French Air and Space Force's bilateral exercise 'Desert Knight-21', Bhadauria said, “If they (China) can be aggressive, so can we. We are fully prepared.” The IAF Chief also said that eight Rafale fighter jets have arrived in India and three will come by the end of the month. “Enough pilots are being trained. Parallel training is also being done in India. Numbers will be enough so that we can maintain cockpit to pilot ratio. By next year, the induction of the jets will conclude," he added. Exercise Desert Knight-21 is being held at Jodhpur Air Force Station from January 20 to January 24. The French are participating with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel. The IAF aircrafts participating in the exercise include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft. The exercise marks an important milestone in the series of engagements between the two air forces. Watch the full video for more.