*Senior officers posted; creation of infra begins

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 15: To effectively counter the threat of China, whose troops have repeatedly been adopting aggressive postures and intruding into this side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector, the Ministry of Defence has ordered deployment of four more Army Brigades in the region which include one full-fledged Armoured contingent. The Brigadier-level officers have already been posted to personally supervise the creation of infrastructure for these new Brigades, which has taken off at a fast pace.
Highly placed Defence sources told EXCELSIOR that in order to beef up India’s defence against China and take care of operational gaps along the entire Line of Actual Control in Ladakh sector, the Ministry of Defence has ordered deployment of four more Army Brigades in the region.
The decision about strengthening India’s defence along the Line of Actual Control with the China was taken last year when the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had given nod to the ambitious proposal of the Army to raise Mountain Strike Corps for acquiring an offensive capability on the northern borders stretching from Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Ladakh in the northwest, sources said while disclosing that the implementation of the CCS decision has now been taken off at a fast pace.
“The deployment of four more Army Brigades assumes much importance in the wake of increasing Chinese aggression in the Ladakh region”, sources said, adding that during the past few years Chinese Army has frequently been adopting aggressive postures in different areas along the Line of Actual Control. During the past some months, Daulat Beg Oldi Sector, Demchok in South of Aksai Chin, Chumur and Pangong areas have witnessed major incidents of Chinese incursions.
In Daulat Beg Oldi sector, the Chinese Army had adopted aggressive posture in the month of May 2013 and even pitched tents while as in Demchok area the Chinese troops got work on link-road stopped. In Chumur area, the Chinese Army ingressed 200 meters and even stopped Indian Army from patrolling the area. In the most recent incident, Chinese Army refused to return horses and three civilians after they inadvertently crossed the LAC via Chumur sector.
Disclosing that four additional Army Brigades would be stationed in Ladakh region within next few months, sources said, “Brigadier level officers have already been posted in the region to personally supervise the creation of infrastructure required for each of these Brigades. Three Brigades will be stationed in Leh district and one in Kargil district”.
In Leh district, one Brigade would be stationed near Patharsahib Gurdwara, which is situated around 20 kilometers from Leh town while as second Brigade will have the Headquarters in Durbuk, which is one of the points where Indian and Chinese troops have frictions after regular intervals. The third Brigade will be stationed in Nimo village, sources said while disclosing that infrastructure for these Brigades would be completed during the upcoming working season.
Disclosing that one of these Brigades is full-fledged Armoured Brigade, sources said, “this is for the first time that Armoured contingent is being deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. Mainly, there are Infantry and Artillery Brigades”, adding “this is for the first time that Ministry of Defence has shown such a fastest reaction towards the increasing Chinese aggression”.
According to the sources, with the deployment of additional Brigades in the Ladakh region Army would be able to effectively thwart the nefarious designs of the Chinese Army.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15: Ahead of the meeting between their Commerce Ministers on Saturday, India and Pakistan today discussed “impediments” hampering the normalisation of trade ties, in a bid to remove them and move forward.
During the meeting between Commerce Secretary S R Rao and his Pakistani counterpart Qasim M Niyaz, both the sides agreed that normalisation and enhancement of trade was a continuous process, sources said.
Happening after a gap of over a year, the secretary- level meeting was also aimed at understanding the viewpoint of the Nawaz Sharif Government on normalising Indo-Pak trade ties, officials here said.
“The meeting took place in a positive and amicable environment. Both the sides discussed the impediments including non-trade barriers for trade and ways to remove them to enhance commerce,” a source in the Pakistani side said.
The trade liberalisation process between the two nations was hit after the beheading of an Indian soldier in January last year.
Besides, Pakistan missing the deadline for granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India has also not gone down well with Indian authorities.
Pakistan was to grant the status in December 2012 by eliminating the negative list of 1,209 items.
Sources said that secretaries of both the sides reviewed the progress of talks in other areas such as initiation of trade in petroleum products and power export to Pakistan.
“Both the sides agreed that enhancement and normalisation of trade is a continuous process. They also agreed to move forward on all matters,” a source said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s State Minister for Commerce and Textile Khurram Dastagir Khan, in an interview, in Islamabad, said his country is working on granting Non Discriminatory Access status instead of the contentious MFN.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Khan will meet on January 18. Khan is visiting India for the SAARC Business Leaders’ Conclave.
The Commerce Secretaries of India and Pakistan met last time in September, 2012. During that meeting, both the sides had emphasised on the need to increase trade traffic through the Railways.
They had also agreed to encourage two-way investment and enhance investor confidence on both sides. Besides, both had emphasised on the need to eliminate non-trade barriers and enhance air-connectivity between the two nations.
The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at USD 2.60 billion in 2012-13. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Jan 15:Senior IAS officer Rajeev Kher has been appointed Secretary in Department of Commerce.
Kher, a 1980-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, is presently Special Secretary, Department of Commerce under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
He will take over from S R Rao, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, after his retirement on January 31, a press release issued today by Ministry of Personnel said.
Sudarsanam Srinivasan, a 1980-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, has been appointed Member (Finance), Atomic Energy, Space and Earth Commissions.
Srinivasan, who is presently Special Secretary and Financial Adviser in Department of Space, has been appointed in the rank and pay of Secretary following retirement of A P Joshi, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.
A Vijayanand, a 1980-batch officer of Indian Revenue Service (C&CE), will be Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in Department of Space, it said.
V S Madan, Director General and Mission Director of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been given one year extension, till March 2015.
The tenure of Madan, a 1981-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, was to end on March 28 this year.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved extension of tenure of J Sathyanarayana, a 1977-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, as Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology till his superannuation due on April 30.
Besides, S S Garbyal, a 1977-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary in Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The vacancy has necessitated following retirement of K Jude Sekhar, a 1976-batch IFS officer.
Vandana Kumari Jena, Secretary of Department of Land Resources, has got additional charge of the post of Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, during the period of absence of leave of Pankaj Jain, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre. Jain is on leave till January 19, 2014.
Jena is a 1979-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre. (PTI)

*Major challenge ahead for Army in 2014 election-year

Gopal Sharma

AKHNOOR, Jan 15:  General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra today said that major challenge was ahead for the Army in the Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, in view of forth-coming elections and also in the wake of pull out of foreign troops from Afghanistan while the terrorists reaching in J&K via Nepal are also posing a major security threat.
“The situation in the neighbourhood is definitely going to have its impact on this part of the country as the terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan or North-West border of Pakistan can shift their focus to the Jammu and Kashmir to create violence, specially in view of the coming elections in 2014. But the Army is well prepared to frustrate their designs and keep check on any infiltration attempt along the Line of Control by them”,  Lt Gen Chachra told media-persons at the sidelines of the Investiture ceremony at Sangha Auditorium here today.
The Northern Army Commander said that infiltration attempts were continued along the Line of Control and the terrorists’ infrastructure including training camps and launching pads were intact on that side of the LoC. There is no stoppage in their activities of this kind but our troops are well prepared to face any challenge and defeat their designs. Advanced gadgets and sensors have been installed all along the LoC with the fence but terrain is very tough. Even then taking undue advantage of weather some times ” Ikka-Dukka” terrorists manage to cross over but they are eliminated into this side by alert troops.
When asked about the threat perception from the terrorists arriving in J&K via Nepal and some seeking rehabilitation from State Government, the Northern  Army Commander said threat was always there from the terrorists arriving via  LoC, International Border or Nepal. Terrorist is terrorist. Their objective could only be to disturb peace and create violence. Though there is rehabilitation policy in place, yet Army would keep an eye on such elements and their activities. They would be captured or neutralized by troops.
“I must say that once the troops in Afghanistan leave, once the people (terrorists)  are out of job, they will try to shift  on this side. We are aware of that reality and we are a responsible professional Army. We also know that there is threat inside J&K and threats from these inimical elements to peace. Army is  prepared for it.  It is prudent to plan for it also– there are no such (Al-Qeada) indicators, but yes, we will be prepared for this eventuality”, he said.
Lt Gen Chachra said, “This year may pose serious challenges before the Army. If there are problems in the neighbouring country, the affect would be found here also. Militants want to pollute democratic process in J&K. Terrorists inspired incidents are taking place, but you see that they are targeting soft targets or those areas where they want to achieve success and run away, he added.”
“Militants will make efforts to vitiate atmosphere in Kashmir valley. We should not give them the cause to vitiate atmosphere so that they cannot start a cycle of violence in Valley or anything to trigger a communal tension,” he said.
“The fact is that terror infrastructure is still in place. A day before we killed three of the top terrorists including a big leader. We are going after the leaders,” he said.
Lt Gen Chachra was replying to a volley of questions about militants’ plans this year, when Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are going to be held, cross-border infiltration, spill over of militants of Taliban and al-Qaeda from Afghanistan after the troops withdrawal from there.
“The pattern of infiltration has not changed, the numbers have increased, the attempts have increased, they are still making attempts. It is only that we have put in place a comprehensive counter infiltration strategy which has ensured enhanced security guard on the borders,” the Army Commander  added.
While declining to give the exact number of  terrorists waiting at the launching pads on that side along the LoC and the terrorists training camps operating in PoK, the Northern Army Commander said, ” We have all these details about the number but I would not like to share it. I can only say, good number of  trained terrorists are looking for the opportunity at their respective launching pads to sneak into this side and the number of tented-training camps being run for them in PoK and other parts are also in good number. But they will not be allowed to infiltrate by the vigilant troops.”
At the same time the Army Commander referred to a few incidents of intrusion and attack on this side in the recent past in which some Policemen and Army soldiers lost their lives. He said lesson has been learnt from the ugly incidents and all possible measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in future.
Replying to another question, Lt Gen Chachra said that in view of heavy snowfall at the higher reaches, the terrorists are trying to lay their focus in the southern and low lying area for making infiltration attempts but some time taking benefits of bad weather they even make such bids in the snow bound areas as well. The troops, however,  foil their such designs and the successful infiltration rate is just negligible.
The Army Commander admitted that number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan were higher during the year 2013 as compared to last 10 years of truce but several flag meetings were held by the senior officers to resolve the issue at local level. But after DGMO level talks between the two countries, there is no such incident and peace has almost been restored in the area. The farmers are cultivating in their fields up to fencing  and militant leadership in the depth areas has also been almost wiped out. But during ceasefire violations along the LoC, the field commanders had been issued directions to respond appropriately and they did.
When asked whether it was appropriate time to go for withdrawal of  Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in J&K after Army’s  perception of restoration of peace in the State, the Army Commander said, ” It is will be premature to go for this exercise at this juncture. As I have already mentioned that year 2014 is full of challenges for the Army in J&K. Though temporary peace has by and large been restored in State but till the final peace returns to the region, it would not be fair to go for its revocation, ”   he maintained.
Replying to another question regarding migration of some Indian villagers from Damchok area of Ladakh and aggression by the Chinese Army at several vital points along the LAC, Lt Gen Chachra dismissed any such happening in the area. He said no migration took place there and the villagers were residing at their places peacefully. Referring to the issue of Chinese aggression, the Northern Army Commander elaborated that the Indo-China border is not properly defined. On the basis of assumption both sides are patrolling along their own defined areas. Some time they think that   our troops have gone in their territory and some times ours think it as aggression. But the issues are settled amicably by holding flag meetings at local commander level.
Now, a mechanism has been devised to settle such issues  and there is improvement. But such things are bound to happen in future too, till this issue of boundary is finally resolved with China, Lt Gen Chachra maintained.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 15: Differences between the two coalition partners-National Conference and Congress-today widened further over the summoning of former Army chief Gen VK Singh on January 22 as Privilege Committee chairman Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Minister and senior Congress leader today called a meeting of the Panel on January 20 to discuss the issue afresh in the light of a letter submitted by Gen Singh to Legislative Council chairman Amrit Malhotra.
Mr Sharma called the meeting two days ahead of the date for Gen Singh’s appearance before the Privilege Committee soon after the Legislative Council Chairman handed over the letter given to him by a representative of former Army chief to the Privilege Committee chairman for taking further action in the matter.
Official sources told the Excelsior that soon after receiving the Army chief’s letter from Mr Malhotra, Privilege Committee chairman Jugal Kishore Sharma called an emergency meeting of the Committee on January 20 to discuss the matter in the context of the letter.
Mr Sharma declined to comment on the subject but sources said the Congress would make a strong pitch for revoking the summons issued to the former Army chief for personal appearance on January 22 in connection with alleged pay-offs allegations against Jammu and Kashmir Ministers in the emergency meeting called ahead of Gen Singh’s appearance.
However, the National Conference, according to sources, would stick to the stand taken by the Privilege Committee in its meeting on January 9 to summon Gen Singh on January 22 through Home Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) Haryana.
“We stand by the Privilege Committee decision to summon Gen Singh on January 22. The Congress can change its stand but we can’t. It was a unanimous decision. The Congress members are party to it. How can they change their stand now”? a senior NC leader and asked.
The Congress sources, however, said the things have changed after the Privilege Committee had issued summons on January 9 as then the Committee had no version from the former Army chief.
“Now, we are in possession of a letter written by Gen Singh through his counsel and addressed to the Legislative Council Secretary for the Privilege Committee. The letter has clarified many things, which didn’t warrant his (the former Army chief’s personal appearance). We should treat the matter as closed,” the Congress sources said.
They added that if the Congress didn’t manage to have its say in the Privilege Committee, its chairman Jugal Kishore Sharma could go to the extent of resigning as head of the Panel, which would lead to re-constitution of the Committee.
Sources pointed out that in the event of Congress insisting on revoking of summons and NC on calling Gen Singh, the January 20 meeting could see a voting on the decision. The NC and Congress have three members each in the Privilege Committee including Jugal Kishore Sharma (chairman), Ravinder Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Monga, all Congress, Devender Singh Rana, Ali Mohammad Dar and Showkat Hussain Ganaie, all National Conference.
“In case of a conflict, there is a provision of voting in the Privilege Committee to take a decision,” sources said.
The NC has already made it clear that the case of Gen Singh was that of an individual and former Army chief and has nothing to do with the Indian Army. The Congress, however, didn’t want to insist on personal appearance of Gen Singh on the ground that it would send out a wrong signal to the armed forces. PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz has also stated that he was against the personal summoning of Gen Singh.
The Congress was of the view that the issue would have been settled on January 9 itself had one of the Council officials not refused to receive the letter written by Gen Singh to the Privilege Committee. However, the official didn’t receive the letter from a representative of the former Army chief after reportedly speaking to someone on telephone, which led to the Privilege Committee issuing fresh summons for Gen Singh for appearance on January 22.
Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra has already ordered an inquiry into refusal of one of the Council officials to receive the letter written by Gen Singh and sent through his representative-Yashpal. However, the official hasn’t been identified so far. Gen Singh’s representative had next day personally handed over the same letter to Mr Malhotra, which he today forwarded to the Privilege Committee chairman. The former Army chief’s Advocate had also ring up Mr Malhotra and informed him that Gen Singh was away in Tamil Nadu and would appear before the Committee on next date of hearing if asked for.
Worthwhile to mention here that the Legislative Council Privilege Committee had on December 8 summoned Gen Singh on the basis of privilege motion moved against him in the autumn session of the Council in October last year by three NC MLCs including Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra, Devender Singh Rana, provincial president of the party and former Political Advisor to Chief Minister and Khalid Najib Suhrawardhy, former Minister of State for Home.
As Gen Singh didn’t appear before the Committee on January 9, the Panel had decided to summon him on January 22 through Home Secretary and DGP of Haryana as the former Army chief resides in Gurgaon.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: The Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) on administrative units will complete its task tomorrow and would submit report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after the Revenue Department compiled the data submitted to the Committee during meeting with the people and their representatives at different places.
“Our task will be over tomorrow,” a member of the CSC said, adding they have met people and their representatives from 20 districts till this evening and would be taking representations from the people of Leh and Kargil districts here tomorrow.
“Tomorrow would be our last day of meeting the people, their representatives, political and non-political organisations. We have covered 20 districts till this evening and would be covering all 22 districts of the State tomorrow evening,” he said.
The CSC member said the Committee has received a large number of representations from cross section of society in all three regions of the State including-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, which has been submitted to concerned Deputy Commissioners of the districts for compiling data.
“The Deputy Commissioners would compile the data and prepare their reports based on latest population figures of the areas,” he said, adding as soon as the Revenue Department completes its task and submitted data to the CSC, the Committee would meet again, finalise its recommendations and submit them to the Chief Minister.
Keen to set up new administrative units, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had given the deadline of January 15 to the CSC to submit its report based on the recommendations made earlier by SS Bloeria and Mushtaq Ahmad Ganaie Commissions.
The Chief Minister had targeted the Congress (albeit without naming the coalition partner) for delaying the process on setting up of administrative units.
The CSC member was of the view that their exercise would be over tomorrow and it would now depend upon the officials of Revenue Department how speedily their complete their task of compiling the data to enable the CSC submit its recommendations to the Chief Minister for setting up new administrative units in the State.
The CSC has directed the Revenue Department officials to compile the data as early as possible so that the report could be submitted to the Chief Minister.
The Government has already made it clear that it stands for early creation of new administrative units in the State.
The CSC headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand comprised PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Sharma, Urban Development Minister Rigzin Jora, all Congress, Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone, Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saifullah Mir, all National Conference and Agriculture Minister GH Mir.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Supreme Court today stayed the order of Division Bench of State High Court whereby directions were passed for sealing of illegally constructed buildings in the holy town of Katra.
Aggrieved over the order passed by the Division Bench on December 31, 2013 in a petition filed by Krishan Singh and Others Versus State of J&K and Others, several hoteliers and other businessmen moved Special Leave Petitions before the Supreme Court challenging the sealing order.
A Bench of the Apex Court comprising Justice R M Lodha, Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph after hearing counsels for the petitioners observed, “inter-alia, it appears from the order that the High Court considered the list given by the Municipal Committee which indicated that 27 buildings have been constructed within last two years without permission”.
“However, counsels for the petitioners have submitted that this is factually incorrect. If that is so, liberty is granted to the petitioners to apply to the High Court for review of the order”, the Supreme Court Bench said, adding “we have been informed by counsels for the petitioners that the High Court is closed for the winter vacation and even the Vacation Judge shall sit now only on January 22, 2014′.
“In view of this, the status quo shall be maintained for two weeks from today”, the Supreme Court Bench directed. However, the Bench clarified that the consideration of the matter by the High Court on review petition that may be made by the petitioners shall not be influenced by the order of status quo. “The review application shall be considered on its own merits in accordance with law”, the Bench said. Accordingly, the Supreme Court disposed of the SLPs.
Earlier, Senior Advocate Amrinder Saran, who along with Advocates Vikram Sharma, Amit Anand Tiwari, Kushagra Pandey and Avinash Tripathi appearing for the petitioners, submitted that categories of structures fixed by the Division Bench of State High Court were inconsistent with each other”.
They also contradicted the status report filed by the Deputy Commissioner Reasi identifying 27 buildings having come up without permission and said, “the petitioners have obtained all the permissions”. The counsels for the petitioners even produced record in this regard.
Stating that the petitioners had not violated the Master Plan, the counsels said, “the Master Plan permits construction of commercial and residential houses in specified locations and petitioners have strictly complied with the same”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Division Bench of State High Court vide order dated December 31, 2013 had directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and Deputy Commissioner Reasi to seal the illegally constructed buildings and if any person was found to be indulging in illegal constructions either without permission or in violation of Master Plan the same should be immediately demolished.
Following Division Bench’s directive, the District Administration issued notices to all the alleged violators asking them to voluntarily vacate the buildings within a specified time-frame.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15:Rahul Gandhi may have expressed his willingness to undertake any responsibility given to him by his party but contrary to widespread speculation, he is unlikely to be named the Congress’ prime ministerial candidate.
The Gandhi scion has appeared reluctant in the past to take up any responsibility in the Government but ahead of the April-May Lok Sabha elections he had said yesterday that he was a sepoy of the party and was willing to take up any job given to him, fuelling further speculation that he would take on Narendra Modi for the PM stakes.
“I am a sepoy of Congress-I will obey whatever order is given to me. I will do whatever Congress wants me to do… Decisions are taken in our party by senior leaders,” he told a Hindi daily.
However, the thinking in the Congress is that it may be “risky” to announce him as the PM candidate with the party facing an uphill task in the polls and if he is given that responsibility the blame would go to him in the event Congress does badly at the hustings.
Ahead of the AICC session on Friday, the party leadership was weighing other options such as making Rahul Gandhi in charge of the election campaign and even appointing him as Working President of the party. However, talk of Rahul Gandhi being made the PM candidate is still making the rounds.
Those who do not favour Rahul Gandhi being made the candidate for the PM’s post point out that Congress does not have the tradition of naming candidate for the PM’s post ahead of the polls.
Exception was made in 2009 when party President Sonia Gandhi had at a press conference released a party document that showed her and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the cover and blocked her picture to say Singh would be the candidate.
The party leadership may rely on that tradition and entrust the responsibility of campaign or Working President, although there is little doubt that there will be clamour at the AICC meeting to make him a candidate.
AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh had last week said there was no need for the party  to declare a prime ministerial candidate before the elections. (PTI)

SRINAGAR, Jan 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said it is “misplaced arrogance” on the part of political leaders who suggest that the next general election in the country would be a “two-horse race”.
“There is a fine line between talk to boost cadre moral and misplaced arrogance. To suggest that next election is 2  (two) horse race is the latter,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.Com.
The Chief Minister was apparently referring to the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in the country which many see as a direct fight between ruling Congress and Opposition BJP.
Omar also questioned the accuracy of polls conducted through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
“Every time I see twitter & FB polls, I’m reminded of @ImranKhan. If social media users elected leaders, he (Imran Khan) would have been leading Pakistan,” he posted. (PTI)