NEW DELHI: Mr. Vidya Chavan Shukla, India’s Defence Production Minister, said in an interview here that, if attacked the Indian Air Force would be able to go into action in two minutes. Mr. Shukla threatened that Indian Navy would also be doing its duty. He further claimed that practically all military requirements of the country were being met with indigenous production.

In Hyderabad (Deccan), Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram, told a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee ... that production in ordnance factories had been geared to meet the full needs of the situation developing on the frontiers. — Agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in Dacca,] One hundred and eighty-one candidates submitted nomination papers ... for the coming by-elections of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 58 constituencies, according to the Election Commission. Total vacant seats in the Provincial Assembly are 105. Reports about the remaining 47 seats are yet to be received here. Out of the total 181 candidates seven are expected to return uncontested, if their nomination papers are found valid on scrutiny on Saturday [Oct 23]. … Seventy-seven candidates yesterday [Oct 20] filed nomination papers for 28 more National Assembly seats in the province.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2021