‘PDP habitual of selling good deeds of others’
Excelsior Correspondent

DARHAL (Rajouri), Apr 25: Stating that Indo-Pak relations have direct bearing on the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed the hope that the restoration of dialogue process between the two countries would be carried on to the logical end.
Addressing a huge public gathering here, the Chief Minister said that the peace was pre-requisite to economic prosperity and all round development. “You have witnessed the benefits of peaceful 2011 in the shape of economic activities with fast tracking of development across the State”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that while his Government is facilitating political addressing of the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir with focused attention, it is wholeheartedly involved in the resolution of day-to-day problems of the people making justice and equitable development benchmark of governance.
“History is witness to the path breaking and innovative initiatives taken by the Coalition Government in the State on political and development fronts to restore peace and march ahead on road to prosperity”, he said listing the major achievements registered during the last three years in the State by present dispensation with special reference to the comprehensive development in the sectors relating to the delivery of basic amenities to the people. He said the Government has reached out to every area in the process of development with a committed approach to seek welfare of all areas and all sections of the society equitably.
Denouncing People’s Democratic Party’s petty politicking and false propagandist approach to astray people and divert their attention from the large scale development process set in by the Coalition Government in the State, Omar Abdullah said that self praising and slogan raising has remained characteristics of this party since its inception. “This party (PDP) is habitual of selling the good deeds of others in their own name”, he said, adding that party has miserably failed to deliver on its own when it was at the helm in the State.
Citing the example of opening of Uri-Muzaffarabad road by the two heads of the countries of India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that the leadership of the party (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti) are still selling the initiative under their brand name. “Same is case with so many other initiatives”, he added.
Taking PDP leadership to task for fooling the people on various counts including on the issue of corruption, the Chief Minister said that during the PDP dispensation, the party did nothing solid to address the menace of corruption. He said it is his Government which constituted State Accountability Commission, strengthened Accountability Commission and brought in Public Service Guarantee Act to check the corruption at all levels and book the culprits under the law.
“Removing a few officials from service to pretend to be against corruption is something else and enforcing law to bring everyone from top to bottom in the Government under the public scan and subservient to the law of the land is something different”, he added taking another dig on PDP which during its tenure removed some officials from the service on corruption charges but most of them re-entered back in the service through court verdicts as the cases were too weak to stand the test in the court of law.
Omar Abdullah said that peace and progress with thrust on creation of economic activities and job opportunities is the endeavour of NC-Congress alliance. “We are working to mitigate difficulties of people and restore peace and stability in the State”, he said, adding that the impact of balanced development unleashed in the State during the last three years is amply visible on ground. “The next three years will witness further fillip and fast tracking of development in the State”, he said.
On Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA), Omar Abdullah said his Government has empowered people to obtain some 50 public services from 6 departments of Power, PHE, CAPD, Housing, Transport and Revenue in a time bound manner. He said the Government functionaries have been made responsible for delivery of services in a time bound manner to the consumers.
“Any official to be found showing laxity or failing in providing the particular service in a fixed time frame is liable for a fine up to Rs 5000 which will be deducted from his salary”, he said explaining that a portion of this fine will be given to the affected consumer as compensation.
“My Government has effected topsy-turvy in the prevailing system of service delivery”, he said, adding that instead of paying bribe for getting smaller services like electricity or water connection, ration card or driving license, revenue papers or house building permission, state subject or category certificate, the consumers would now get compensation out of the fine imposed on the erring officials for not delivering the service in the fixed time limit.
On the development of Darhal area, Omar Abdullah said that during the last three years over Rs 8.35 crores have been spent in the area on the upgradation of education. He said 18 new primary schools have been opened, three middle schools upgraded to high schools level, 40 primary schools upgraded to middle schools level besides regularizing 180 Rehber-e-Taleem teachers. Another Rs 90 lakhs are being spent on Darhal schools for upgradation of infrastructure.
Stating that he will work out sanctioning Rs 2.40 crore Grid Station at Raqeeba in Darhal area, the Chief Minister said that power development project involving Rs 12 crore for the area has already been presented to the Centre Government for funding. He said another project for tourism development costing Rs 8 crore is also in the pipeline for Darhal. He said Rs 1.70 crore are being spent on the improvement and upgradation of tourist facilities in the area.
The Chief Minister said that Rs 8 crores have been spent on the water supply schemes in Darhal area during the last two years while more schemes costing Rs 16.40 crores have been sanctioned. He said Rs 18.70 crores are being spent in the area under NABARD to improve and upgrade road communication sector.
On the demand for Degree College at Darhal, Omar Abdullah said that the college for the area would be actively considered in the next lot of colleges to be sanctioned for more areas in the State. “My endeavour would be to include Darhal Degree College in the next list of colleges to be granted to various areas”, he told the people amidst applause.
Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, in his speech, castigated People’s Democratic Party for indulging in undemocratic and anti-people activities. He said this party’s only agenda is to mislead people and create wedge between various sections of the society. He said the party leadership tried its hard during the last three years to throw mud on National Conference but failed miserably as ‘lie has no legs to stand upon’.
The public meeting was also addressed by Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, former Minster, Mirza Abdul Rashid and Provincial president, NC, Rattan Lal Gupta.
Earlier, Chief Minister paid obeisance at the Holy Shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah popularly known as Shahdara Sharief, situated on a hillock amidst Pir Panchal range about 6.5 kilometres from Thana Mandi on Rajouri-Poonch road. He prayed for the peace and prosperity of the State and well being of the people.
Omar Abdullah laid foundation of Baitul Zaireen and other allied works at Shahdara Sharief. The main component of the building complex is a double storey structure to be completed at a cost of over Rs 2.63 crores.
Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan were present on the occasion.
In the morning, the Chief Minister met various deputations from different political parties, social organizations, advocates, traders and representing different areas of the district.
They apprised the Chief Minister matters pertaining to their concern. He gave patient hearing and said that the genuine demands projected in the memoranda would be given due consideration.
The Chief Minister in the officers meeting directed the district administration to devote fullest attention for assuring time bound public service to the people. He also laid stress for completing the schemes well within the targeted time frame.
He directed for exploring possibilities of expanding animal rearing activities and upgrading sheep farms in the district. He also asked for formulating befitting scheme for the welfare of cocoon producers of the area.
The Chief Minster was also apprised that over Rs. 120 crores have been spend in Rajouri district during the last year on various development projects under the district plan and allied schemes.

Excelsior Correspondent
New Delhi, Apr 25: On World Malaria Day, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad launched the new Anti Malaria Drug “Synriam” developed by Ranbaxy in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology and aided by Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Malaria Research in partnerships with Medical Colleges and Hospitals in Odisha, Karnataka and Jharkhand, as the leading institute for planning and conducting the clinical studies in India.
Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chairman, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Dr. Tsutomu Une, and Secretary Health Research Dr V M Katoch were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Azad said “such drug discovery is an example of how effective public and private partnerships in research and development can help in overcoming our specific problems”. He disclosed that the drug has been indigenously developed by Ranbaxy Laboratories after completing all the clinical trials studies required to be conducted to establish safety and efficacy of the drug.
He said successfully developing “Synriam” is a milestone not only for an Indian drug manufacturing company but indeed for the entire pharmaceutical sector in the country.
“The fact that the drug can be chemically synthesized and therefore, there will be no problem in the production of the drug in sufficient quantities, would be a relief as Malaria is one of the most commonly prevalent diseases in the country leading to many fatalities,” Mr Azad said.
He emphasized that accessibility and affordability of drugs has to be the bottom line in order to reach the poor and needy, particularly in the remote and backward districts of the country. He cited the example of Brazil and other African countries who are beholden to affordable Indian HIV medicines particularly.
Mr Azad stated that Indian pharma industry has made tremendous progress in terms of both quantum and quality in the past few decades.
“Indian industry is now the third largest in the world in terms of volume and 14th in terms of value because of comparatively lower profit margins. It is maintaining an annual growth rate of 12% to 14% and is currently producing pharma products worth Rs. one lakh crores or 20 billion USD, out of which drugs worth Rs. 42 thousand crores or 8.5 billion USD are exported”, he pointed out.
He hailed the scientists, doctors and technicians noting that India is fast emerging as a country of destination for drug discovery research – made possible because of the considerable increase in the expenditure incurred on research and development, not only by the Government but also by the Pharma companies themselves in the last few years. He pointed out that India has the highest number of US FDA approved plants outside USA and that Indian pharma companies are filing the highest number of abbreviated new drug applications in USA.
Mr Azad also urged the States to seize the opportunity and strengthen their agencies of assisting in combating diseases like Malaria by putting back in place systems of malaria network officials, properly utilize central funds being given under NRHM. He pointed out that rapid diagnostic kits have been given to village level community health workers ASHAs in more than 250 districts in malaria endemic states for early detection and treatment of malaria. Currently, the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, North Eastern states, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh contributed bulk of malaria cases in India.
“The National Programme for Prevention & Control of Vector Borne Diseases advised the Malaria treatment to be changed to artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) since 2010. Introduction of Long Lasting Impregnated Nets (LLINs) in the National Programme has also contributed significantly to reduce the transmission and incidence of malaria,” Mr Azad said.

CM to gear up party for 2014 Parliament, Assembly polls

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 25: In less than 20 days of taking over as working president of National Conference, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has infused a fresh life in the ruling party by developing close rapport with not only the party leaders and office bearers but also with grass root workers in far off areas.
The four days tour of twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch by Omar, the first ever by a ruling party president in the recent times, was a clear indication that the Chief Minister after getting new responsibility of party’s working president, has decided to develop a close liaison with party’s leaders and workers at grass root by reaching their door steps.
“The fact that Omar was chairing provincial working committee meeting of the National Conference on April 10 at the party headquarters when no less than a person-Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had arrived in the town to review security scenario and other Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)-indicated serious approach of the Chief Minister towards the party”, the political observers opined.
It was on April 7 that National Conference president and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah had handed over reign of affairs of the National Conference to his son and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a function held at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan, the party headquarters in Jammu.
As Farooq Abdullah suffered from pneumonic and chest infections on April 16 and remained confined to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for eight days, Omar had to attend him for a couple of days before returning to Jammu.
As soon as Farooq was discharged from the AIIMS on April 23, Omar started four days extensive tour of twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch the very next day i.e. April 24.
The Chief Minister during his four days tour would cover each and every constituency of the border districts. Yesterday, he had addressed public meetings, inter-acted with party workers and held Darbars at Kalakote and Nowshera while today he toured Rajouri and Darhal covering all four Assembly segments of Rajouri district. On April 26 and 27, he would be touring and addressing public meetings in Poonch district including Poonch, Mandi, Chandak and Surankote covering all three Assembly segments of the district including Mendhar, Surankote and Poonch.
Sources in the National Conference said Omar would be touring all districts of the State in due course of time to have personal interaction with party leaders, office bearers, legislators and, above all, grass root workers to make the party strong ahead of Parliament and Assembly elections.
The State would be having Parliament and Assembly elections in 2014. While Lok Sabha elections were scheduled to be held in March-April 2014, the Assembly polls were due in November-December 2014 as the State Assembly has a term of six years as against five years term of the Parliament.
Political observers were of the view that Dr Farooq Abdullah has done well by handing over the party affairs to the young Chief Minister as he remained busy with the Union Ministry and was not finding enough time to devote to the party. They said it was now only a matter of the time when Omar will be made full fledged party president of the National Conference to gear up the party ahead of 2014 Parliament and Assembly elections.
Not only Dr Farooq Abdullah was busy in New Delhi as the Union Minister, National Conference general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmed was also ailing for the past quite sometime.
“The new appointments were aimed at rejuvenating the party cadre across the State by ensuring close co-ordination of top brass with the grass root workers. The Chief Minister had started the task and other leaders and Ministers were being asked to follow”, party sources said.
They pointed out that just like Congress, the National Conference Ministers have also virtually confined themselves to their Assembly segments and were not devoting time to other parts of the State to strengthen the party rank and file.
With Omar Abdullah now himself leading from the front with four days tour of remote and border areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts, the party sources said the Ministers would be left with no option but to opt for tours of different parts of the State considering themselves as Ministers of entire State and not of their own segments.
Party sources pointed out that it was also for the first time that National Conference leaders including Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana held a public meeting at Ramnagar, a strong bastion of Nationalist Panthers Party (NPP), whose leader and former Minister, Harshdev Singh has been winning the seat for three consecutive terms with handsome margins.
Sources said Omar has asked the National Conference Ministers, legislators, office bearers and other party functionaries to tour all parts of the State including the segments, where the party has very little presence to strengthen party base in the entire State.
The party leaders including Omar himself planned to tour extensively the entire Kashmir valley and Ladakh region during the summer including the Assembly segments held by the main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP held 21 Assembly segments in the State including 19 in the Valley and two in Jammu region (Darhal in Rajouri district and Mendhar in Poonch district).
It may be mentioned here that Omar Abdullah had earlier also been designated as National Conference president after the party’s defeat in 2002 Assembly elections while Farooq Abdullah was then named as party patron. However, after Omar took over as Chief Minister on January 5, 2009 as head of National Conference-Congress coalition Government, Farooq Abdullah had again taken over as the party president.
Party sources admitted that it would be a tough task for Omar Abdullah to carry on with twin responsibilities as the Chief Minister and the party’s working president but they hoped that he would fulfill his task.
Along with Omar as party working president, the National Conference leadership had also appointed Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, former Minister, as additional general secretary of the party, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, two time MLA from Kishtwar as spokesman for Jammu, Tanvir Sadiq as spokesman for Kashmir and Mohammad Shaffi Uri, Rajya Sabha MP as chief spokesperson.
In Kashmir valley, the National Conference party leaders, activists and cadres were upbeat over the recent party decision to appoint Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as the working president of the party. They believed that the decision would go a long way in establishing rapport with the grass-root level workers and address their genuine concerns.
Talking to Excelsior, National Conference veteran and the party legislator from Handwara, Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan said that since the party president, Dr. Farooq Abdullah is busy in discharging his obligations as the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, the decision to appoint Omar as the working president was quite in tune with the future of the party.
“The decision to appoint Omar as the working president is an important one. It is aimed at reaching out to the workers at the ground level. Since Dr Farooq Abdullah had very less time to address the party issues it was imperative to find out an alternative and what better than Omar. This augurs well for the future of the party as the Chief Minister is young and has the capability as well as capacity to lead from both front as the head of State and as the party president,” Mr Ramzan said.
The recently appointed party spokesman for Kashmir, Tanvir Sadiq said that he along with the party additional general secretary, Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal would provide feedback to the working president about the issues confronting the party workers at the ground level. He too put his weight behind the Chief Minister for better performance at the party level saying that youth would push NC towards a better position in the future.
Kashmir province president of the party, Ali Mohammad Dar said that the decision to appoint Omar as the working president was taken to entrust party responsibilities on the shoulders of the youngest Chief Minister of the State. He said since Omar is in constant touch with the party workers at the ground level it won’t be difficult for him to discharge his obligations as the working president of the party.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: In a rarest of the rare case, Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal took serious note of probe carried out by the Investigating Officer (IO) in a murder case and directed Director General of Police to conduct an enquiry against the IO. The court also acquitted all the three accused as the prosecution evidence failed to connect them with the commission of offence.
According to the police case, on November 24, 2006, the accused persons namely Narayan Dass, Venketshwar alias Kala and Ashwani Kumar, all the residents of R S Pura, enticed minor boy Suraj Kumar with a promise of giving him a toffee and took him to an isolated place where accused committed sodomy on the child leading to latter’s death.
On the basis of this report, police registered a case, commenced the investigation and finally presented challan against the accused under Sections 363/377/304/34 RPC.
After hearing both the sides, the Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu took serious note of the conduct of then SHO R S Pura Police Station Inspector Kuldeep Khajuria, who was Investigating Officer in the case.
“There is no nexus shown of the accused with the commission of offence. One aspect of the case is noticeable that Investigating Officer has not been examined by the prosecution. The FIR came to be lodged directly under Section 377/304 RPC whereas the case under Section 377/302 RPC should have been registered against the accused”, the Court observed.
“The Investigating Officer deliberately and intentionally not registered the case under Section 302 RPC instead registered the same under 304 RPC. In this way he extended an aid to the accused for charging lesser offence”, Principal Sessions Judge said, adding “the investigation conducted by the Investigating Officer is unknown to the law”.
“The statements of the prosecution witnesses have categorically pointed the commission of offence under Section 377/302 RPC, whereas, the Investigating Officer in dereliction of his duties has conducted a false and frivolous investigation which requires the intervention and disciplinary proceedings against him”, the Court said, adding “IO, the then SHO, was the author of the registration of the case and he ignored the aspect that case should have been registered under Section 302 RPC instead of 304 RPC”.
With these observations, the Court directed that copy of judgement should be sent to Director General of Police with the direction to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of Investigating Officer. The DGP was directed to share the outcome of the inquiry with the Court.

NEW DELHI, Apr 25:
Defence Minister A K Antony today reviewed the security situation, including the test firing of missile by Pakistan this morning, in a meeting here with the top security brass including the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the three service chiefs.
“Defence Minister chaired the monthly security meeting and it was attended by NSA Shivshankar Menon, Army Chief Gen V K Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, IAF Chief N A K Browne and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma.
“The test firing of Shaheen missile by Pakistan was also discussed there,” Defence Ministry officials said.
Pakistan today claimed to have successfully test fired Hatf-4, also known as Shaheen-1A with a range of around 750 kilometers. Pakistan’s longest range missile Shaheen II has the range of 2,000 kilometers.
The missile test took place within a week of India launching its 5000 plus kilometer range Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5 off the Odisha coast.
During the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, the Defence Minister was updated on the prevailing security situation in the country along all its frontiers.
This is the second security review held this month.
The coastal security situation along with the ongoing modernisation plans for maritime security infrastructure was also discussed, they said.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Navy have been entrusted with a wide range of modernisation plan to secure the 7,000 km coastline, which includes setting up various radars, warning systems and transponders.
The coastal security plan was introduced after the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008.
Yesterday, Antony had addressed the Unified Commanders Conference where he had expressed concern over the situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan region, China’s strategic rivalry with India and trans-national terrorism.
Referring to the internal security scenario in the North East and J&K, the Defence Minister had asked the top commanders to remain vigilant and active as the coming months of summer will prove to be a real test for them. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 25: The Srinagar-Leh highway was opened for traffic today after remaining closed for nearly five-month during winter.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) men and machinery worked for several weeks before the road was thrown open. This year there was heavy snowfall and lot of snow had accumulated on the highway.
“For the next one week, only light vehicles will be allowed on the highway,” Brigadier TPS Rawat, Chief Engineer of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), said.
“Despite heavy snowfall this winter, the road has been opened ahead of schedule. We had kept the road open up to December 7 last year and have opened it today after a gap of nearly five months,” Rawat said.
The 437 kilometre road was opened after Lt. General Syed Atta Hasnain, General Officer Commanding of 15 corps, flagged off a convoy across the Zojila Pass in the presence of Lt. General S Ravishankar, Director General of BRO.
All the essential supplies to the Ladakh region and those for the army units posted in the border areas are routed through this road.
A convoy of vehicles with the passengers and goods left for Ladakh region today.
Meanwhile, there will be one way traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway IA in view of Annual Darbar Move summer session on April 28 and April 29, 2012 and May 05 and May 06, 2012. No Jammu bound traffic will be allowed on these days on the National Highway IA.

NEW DELHI, Apr 25:
The CBI today said it is not going to have a re-look in the 23-year-old Bofors payoffs case in the wake of claims made by former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom in a media interview.
CBI sources ruled out any such possibility, saying it has conducted a comprehensive probe of the matter and filed its charge sheet in the case.
On the allegations by Lindstrom, who had headed the probe in Sweden, that the CBI did not attempt to meet him, agency sources said it does not procure information from foreign investigators directly through personal meetings and the proper channel of getting probe details is judicial requests which were sent to Sweden in connection with the Bofors case.
They said relevant information was sought from Sweden through Letters Rogatory issued by Indian courts which were complied with.
On the allegations that name of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was planted by the agency officials in media in connection with the case, CBI sources said since his name was neither part of FIR nor charge sheet, there was no question of giving any such information to media.
CBI sources said as far as allegations of protecting Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who is alleged to have received payoff in the case, is concerned, the agency had tried its best to extradite him and even gone to Malayasia and Argentina for the purpose but could not succeed.
Last year in March, a Delhi court had allowed a CBI plea seeking withdrawal of prosecution against the elusive Quattrocchi in the two-decade-old Bofors payoff case.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court on February 4, 2004 had quashed all charges under Prevention of Corruption Act and bribery against Europe-based Hinduja brothers — S P Hinduja, G P Hinduja and P P Hinduja. The High Court had also given clean chit to Rajiv Gandhi and S K Bhatnagar who were dead. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 25:
Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee appear to be holding the key to the election of the next President amid indications that Congress would initiate formal talks with parties on the issue in a fortnight.
UPA as well as NDA leaders say that anybody who has the support of two of the three non-Congress leaders Mulayam, Mamata and Mayawati can have the next President of his choice to succeed incumbent Pratibha Patil, who is retiring on July 25.
While Congress chief Sonia Gandhi held some preliminary talks with NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the crucial issue, the talk in the ruling alliance is that the formal discussions would gain momentum after May 10.
Government’s first priority appears to be to get the Union Budget 2012-13 passed and has set May 8 as the date for the passage of the Finance Bill.
Vice President Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee are among the names doing rounds in the ruling party circles.
The BJP has given signals that it would like a non- Congressman and especially a non-Sonia Gandhi loyalist for the top post, hinting that its fight was for the post of the Prime Minister in 2014.
Mulayam’s party has not zeroed in on any name so far. Ansari hails from Uttar Pradesh and had also been the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University.
In an interesting development, Gopalakrishna Gandhi yesterday met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubhaneswar, fuelling speculation that the visit was linked to Presidential polls.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad is pitching for Vice President Hamid Ansari while other parties kept the cards close to their chest.
Gandhi’s visit was significant as it came a day after media reports on certain non-UPA and non-NDA parties planning to support Kalam for the Presidential polls.
Ansari had also met the Chief Minister here recently.
Patnaik is yet to make his stand known about who his party would support for the post of the President and Vice-President.
Ansari has got support from RJD chief Lalu Prasad who said his party would support the Vice President as the Presidential candidate.
“Our Vice President Hamid Ansari should be made the President. He is a good candidate for the President’s post. He should be upgraded as the President,” Prasad said yesterday.
Sources said that the Congress leadership will also be consulting DMK chief M Karunanidhi on the issue any time next week.
A senior Congress functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that consultations on the issue were a natural course of action to decide a name for the country’s top job. Obviously the allies will be the first to be consulted, he said.
The meeting between Pawar and Gandhi lasted half-an- hour. “We want a name with consensus,” NCP general secretary D P Tripathi said when asked about NCP’s preference for the next President.
“The President’s post is the top post in the country. It is necessary to maintain its dignity,” he said.
Key UPA ally Trinamool Congress today maintained that it would decide on a Presidential nominee only after the date for the election to the top post is announced. Railway Minister Mukul Roy said it would be too premature to decide on a candidate now. (PTI)