Cabinet to approve revised cost, resumption of work
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 24: After remaining in limbo for almost 16 years, International Convention Centre at Jammu is likely to see the light of the day in near future with State Cabinet is going to accord approval for resumption of work on this prestigious project. The Cabinet is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on April 26 evening.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that decision to establish International Convention Centre at Jammu was taken in November 1996 and accordingly vide Government order dated December 3, 1996, a Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of then Principal Secretary to Chief Minister to formulate plan for establishment of convention center contiguous to State Guest House.
The execution of project was actually initiated in 1998 at an estimated cost of Rs 12.21 crore and it was to be completed in 12 months. But its fate continued to hang in balance due to one after another issues, which otherwise were either avoidable or could be easily resolved within the shortest possible time.
In 1999, some part of the proposed construction was deleted from the scope of the project and in 2003, M/s Ganga Contract and Projects Pvt Limited, New Delhi, which was allotted the electrification work, left the work halfway. However, it took four years to the then Government to terminate the contract with the company and in 2009 the execution of remaining electrification work was allotted to SICOP, sources said.
“Due to delay in the execution of the project, some of the already executed works suffered damages thereby rendering huge expenditure as infructuous”, they said, adding “during this process, the cost of the material as well as labour escalated enormously and need of changes in some specifications as well as execution of certain additional items such as road network was being felt”.
In January 2011, a comprehensive review of the project was undertaken by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, after inspection of the site by a group of officers and it was decided to work out revised estimates/ Detailed Project Report. Accordingly, the revised estimates were worked out at Rs 24.61 crore including Rs 82 lakh for rectification of the damaged works, sources said, adding due to abandoning of the project for several years, its cost got escalated from Rs 12.21 crore to Rs 24.61 crore.
The issue again came up for discussion when Chief Minister was reviewing the progress of mega development projects few months back, sources said, adding on the instructions of Chief Minister, the matter was taken up with Planning and Finance Department and both gave concurrence.
“Now the Hospitality and Protocol Department is formally placing a proposal before the State Cabinet for administrative approval to construction of convention center at a revised cost of Rs 24.61 crore and resumption of work through the same contractors on the existing terms of the subsisting contract”, sources said, adding “after about 16 years, this prestigious project is now likely to see the light of the day”.
They informed that Hospitality and Protocol Department will prepare a video film of work executed till date in order to maintain the record of infructuous expenditure.

*Many parties keep cards close to chest
NEW DELHI, Apr 24:
The debate over Presidential candidate picked up further momentum with RJD chief Lalu Prasad pitching for Vice President Hamid Ansari while other parties kept the cards close to their chest.
In an interesting development, Gopalakrishna Gandhi met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubhaneswar, fuelling speculation that the visit was linked to Presidential polls.
However, SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati declined to reveal their party strategy on the Presidential elections.
Ansari got support from 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 told reporters.
Asked about his party’s stand on former President A P J Abdul Kalam, he said, “Kalam has already been the President. Now Ansari should be made because he is an able person and his performance is also best in the Rajya Sabha.”
Presidential elections will be held in July and the UPA has to depend on other parties as it does not have required numbers to elect a President on its own strength.
Mulayam said his party has not yet decided on any name for the Presidential candidate, distancing himself from the comments made by party colleague Shahid Siddiqui who had favoured A P J Abdul Kalam but made a U-turn. “The party has not taken any decision on this,” Yadav said.
When pointed out that his party colleague Shahid Siddiqui had favoured Kalam, Yadav dismissed it, saying “it may be his personal view but the party has not decided yet.”
Mayawati said, “it is too early to comment on it. Let the name of candidate be declared first and then only we will make our stand known.”
BJP leader Rajnath Singh said, “we do not want to comment on any individual. But our view is that there should be a consenus among all political parties on the candidature of the President.”
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav also refused to comment on any name for the Presidential candidate, saying, “let’s first hold talks on the issue.”
After Gandhi’s meeting with Patnaik, speculation was rife that he met the Chief Minister to seek support for his candidature.
The Chief Minister’s Office here described the three-hour, one-to-one luncheon meeting as a “courtesy” visit.
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, who could also contest the Presidential polls, had also met the Chief Minister here recently.
Patnaik is yet to make his stand known about whom his party would support for the post of the President and Vice-President. (PTI)

Accused remains at large
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: A youth murdered his brother and threw his body in Ragoora forests under the jurisdiction of Bagh-e-Bahu police station. The accused was absconding.
The victim has been identified as Lal Babu, 19, son of Vasudev, a resident of Bihar, presently putting up at Sector 6, Nanak Nagar. The accused has been identified as his brother Krishna Shah of the same area.
Police said both the brothers were engaged as driver with a load carrier No. 1542 JK02AU. They had gone to Udhampur yesterday carrying a machine. On return, both stopped at Ragoora forests. As Lal Babu went for toilet, his brother hit him with a stone on his head causing him serious injuries.
As Lal Babu fell down lying unconscious, Krishna tied his legs with a rope, hit him with stones and after ensuring his killing threw him into the forest area of Ragoora. The accused fled from the spot along with three-wheeler.
Some civilians spotted the dead body in the forests this morning and sounded police. Bagh-e-Bahu police station teams rushed to the spot and sent the body for post-mortem in the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu. The body was identified by some Bihari people living in the area.
Police said the youth had been killed brutally.
Police conducted searches for the accused Krishna Shah at different places but he remained untraced. His mobile phone signals showed that he was within Jammu.
According to police, family members and friends of the two brothers have told them that two brothers were not having good terms for the past quite sometime and had developed enmity with each other. However, they continued to work together.
They had been working in Narwal Sabzi Mandi transporting vegetables in their auto for past quite sometime.
A murder case with FIR No. 20/2012 under Section 302 RPC has been registered at Bagh-e-Bahu police station for further investigations but no arrests have been made so far.
According to police, Krishna Shah appeared to be lone accused in the murder and remained at large.
Police have recovered clues from the spot where the dead body of Lal Babu was found this morning to establish the theory of his murder.
Krishna Shah, police said, had taken his brother to Udhampur yesterday under a pre-planned strategy to kill him, which was evident from the fact that he was carrying rope with him in the three-wheeler. He executed his plan getting an opportunity at Ragoora forests.

*Chairman asked to designate PIOs, Appellate Authorities
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: In an order of far-reaching consequences, the State Information Commission (SIC) has declared the Jammu and Kashmir Bank as a Public Authority and held it liable to provide information under the Right to Information Act, 2009.
The order has been passed by the full bench of the Commission comprising Chief Information Commissioner, G R Sufi and Information Commissioners Dr Sudesh Kumar and Nazir Ahmad while deciding bunch of complaints and appeals filed by Advocate Vilakshan Singh, RTI activist Raman Sharma and others.
After hearing arguments of Senior Advocate Zaffar Shah appearing for the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and Advocate Vilakshan Singh for the complainants and perusal of records, the State Information Commission observed, “the State Government has defacto control over the Bank”, adding “with the Government directions, the Bank has started traveling to other areas of public services and is discharging all public functions like implementation of Common Services Center (CSC) Scheme, which is an important part of National e-governance Programme (NEGP) of Government of India”.
“The Bank was entrusted with the responsibilities of implementing this scheme in the State as a specific case by Department of Information Technology on the recommendations of the State Government. The Bank is entrusted with the scheme of interest subvention of Government of India also”, the Commission said, adding “whatever schemes for last several years Government of Jammu and Kashmir have introduced for the welfare and economic betterment of its state subjects, the J&K Bank has been used as its own agency by the Government to make these schemes successful”.
“These schemes are listed in the website of the Bank itself, for instance, Roshni Finance Scheme to provide finances to occupants desirous of acquiring free hold rights of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, schemes of finances to the growers of the State, finances to traders, commission and forwarding agents and zafran growers are being implemented by the Government through J&K Bank”, the SIC said.
Moreover, J&K Bank is also playing an important role in implementation of seed capital fund scheme of State Government, which is aimed at to provide finance to eligible candidates sponsored by JKEDI under the Seed Capital Fund Scheme and the same is highlighted on the website of the Bank, the SIC further said.
“The J&K Bank is considered to be one of first State Banks in the country. According to the extended central laws to the State, the J&K Bank was characterized as a Government Company as per the provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 1956. In 1971 the Bank was accorded the status of Scheduled Bank and in 1976 it was declared as ‘A’ class Bank by RBI”, the SIC mentioned.
The SIC observed: “The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is exercising its jurisdiction while auditing the Bank. The State Audit Authorities are also auditing the accounts of the Bank. All these factors strengthen Government Control and influence over J&K Bank”.
Observing that for the last few years the Government has further tightened its control over the Bank, the Commission said that State Legislature has established its authority over the Bank through Committee on Public Enterprise and directed the Bank authorities to appear before it and carry out the instructions and directions for ensuring speedy recovery of loans advanced by the Bank.
“These developments are not mere formalities and indicate that Bank is a Public Authority within the definition of Section 2 of the State RTI Act, 2009”, the Commission said, adding “the CAG through its AG’s office in Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd have also assumed jurisdiction over the Bank and the Bank has acquiesced in the jurisdiction”.
“The CAG’s audit control cannot be dismissed merely by saying that it is a requirement under the Companies Act 1956. Only the Government companies are subjected to such audit and the Government companies are nothing but Public Authorities established, owned, controlled by the Government”, the SIC said, adding “the J&K Bank Ltd may not be a ‘State’ as defined under Article 12 of the Constitution of India, but the Commission is of the considered opinion that it fulfills all the limbs of Section 2 of the State RTI Act, 2009”.
“The Government is exercising its dominating influence and control through the Chairman of the Bank and through its nominee as Directors. It has been also seen that J&K Bank has always carried out guidance, instructions and wishes of the Government, whether it be granted extra ordinary overdrafts, whether it is subsidy schemes, whether it is the appointment and removal of the Chairman at the wish and pleasure of the Government”, the Commission said while drawing conclusion that Government has ‘defacto control’ over the multifarious activities of J&K Bank.
“Another limb in the definition of Public Authority given in Section 2 is the term—substantially financed by the Government. Not only has the Government substantial financial control over the Bank by having 92% shares initially, which has been later on reduced to 53% not by de-investing or withdrawing or selling the shares but by the mere fact that no subsequent subscription was made by the Government when the bank invited and floated a public issue in late 1990’s”, the SIC said.
While declaring the J&K Bank as Public Authority as defined in Section 2 of the J&K RTI Act, 2009, the Commission directed the Chairman and CEO of the Bank to designate First Appellate Authority/ Authorities, Public Information Officer/Officers and Assistant Public Information Officers as provided under Section 5 of the RTI Act to provide information to residents of the State under the Act.
The Commission directed that the applications made to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and other executives of J&K Bank Ltd by various complainants should be forwarded to the concerned Public Information Officers and they be directed to dispose of those applications in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of the State Right to Information Act.
About the apprehensions of the counsel for the Bank that declaration of Public Authority would amount to opening flood gates for certain exploiters with vested interest to make frivolous applications, which may breach trust between the banker and depositors, the Commission brought the attention of Bank’s counsel towards adequate safeguards provided in the Act under Section 8 particularly Sub Section (d), (e) and (i) and Section 10 and 11 of the State RTI Act, 2009 and Commission”.
The Commission directed that its order be given effect within a period of one month from the date of its receipt.

‘Locals well versed to deal with militancy, unrest’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 24: Jammu and Kashmir cadre of Indian Police Service (IPS) is more than five decades old. If still top echelons of State bureaucracy nurse even the feeblest doubt about their integrity or professional efficiency, it would be a reflection either on the institution of the IPS or on the pragmatism and fairness of the bureaucracy. The State cadre IPS officers, who put their lives at stake during over two decades long militancy and had miraculous escape in many militant attacks, deserved to head the force than any outsider to ensure that hard earned peace was not only maintained but carried on for the future.
These were the common views of many former senior police officers of Jammu and Kashmir, who had openly batted for an IPS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre for the post of Director General of Police (DGP), which would fall vacant on May 31 this year with the retirement of Kuldeep Khoda after over five years distinguished services as the State police chief.
Though the Union Home Ministry has forwarded a panel of three officers to the State Government for appointment as the new DGP in place of Mr Khoda, the State was also considering the J&K cadre officers for the coveted post. K Rajendera, Additional DGP Armed and Law and Order and Vigilance Commissioner Pitambar Lal Gupta are 1984 batch IPS officers of J&K cadre, who were the senior most in police hierarchy after Mr Khoda.
Security experts and former police officers of J&K were of the view that the finest example of J&K Police cadres providing class leadership, more than what would be commensurate with the exigencies of situation on the ground, can be found in the example of outgoing DGP Kuldeep Khoda and, prior to him, in former Vigilance Commissioner, Dr Ashok Bhan. Police echelons in other turmoil-stricken areas in the country could emulate their examples.
“A major shortcoming with Delhi policy planners handling Kashmir issue at political level has been their limited or fractured knowledge of the land, topography, physical as well as social anthropology and above all the psyche of the people. Scant attention is paid to understanding the elements gone into the construction of mindset of the people. This input is sought from extraneous instruments like mugging up enormous printed stuff, books and journals, and plethora of official notes and commentaries. But the fact is that true knowledge and understanding come from linkages to the soil, something which will not accept a substitute’’, the experts said.
They observed that selection of the new chief cop for J&K is not and has not to be a matter of routine left to the fanciful discretion of mandarins. The selection cannot be allowed to get bogged with stereotypes. For unusual exigencies unusual decisions and measures are required, they said.
“The cadres that have fought on the ground against organized and highly trained terrorists, made priceless sacrifices, won laurels and delivered the beleaguered civil society from the clutches of cannibals cannot be denied its due when the day of acknowledging their services comes’’, the experts said, adding “it was unfortunate that simple factors strong enough to espouse the cause of the cadres have been turned and twisted with ill-advised objective of disallowing the next in hierarchy his natural claim and right. Thirty years plus of active service, out of which 20 years have been spent in fighting terrorism and mass violence, wrathful public protests and demonstrations, and still maintaining the dignity and honour of the forces, cannot be disregarded and brushed aside. This is also a matter of public domain and not of bureaucratic preserve. Doing so sends a wrong message down the line’’.
The experts were of the view that militancy in the State has come down but not vanished.
“From across the border, there are full preparations for fomenting trouble in the State and the country. Pakistan Army has created a frontline force called Lashkar-i-Taiyyaba, with the strength of 2 lakh militiamen. They declared time and again that the organized force is Kashmir centric. Can we lower the guard’’? the experts asked and asserted that in such a condition the State required a dynamic officer having all-round experience of the State not only in dealing with militancy but also winning over the youth by engaging them in different kind of activities and tackling separatists to ensure peace in the Valley and other parts of the State.
Former Additional DGP, Masud Choudhary, who had also served as Vice Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, openly batted for two 1984 batch officers—K Rajendera or Pitambar Lal Gupta to head the force after Mr Khoda.
“An outsider won’t be effective. He would at least require two years to familiarize himself completely with over one lakh strong police force, local people, topography and gaining other expertise. Moreover, it were the local police officers, who faced bullets and now when the time has come to eat ‘ladoos’, the Government shouldn’t even think of outsiders. The local cadre officers were safe and best bet for any Government’’, Choudhary said.
Another former ADGP SS Wazir was of the view that though the success as police head depended upon person to person, there were many local cadre officers, who had proved very useful and successful in the Police Department.
Mr Wazir said T R Kalra of 1962 batch, M N Sabherwal of 1964 batch and then A K Suri (New Delhi), Gopal Sharma (Jaipur, Rajasthan), all J&K cadre followed by first local State cadre officer, Kuldeep Khoda have all earned a good name and reputation not only for themselves but for Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Strongly countering the argument of 30 years service for making an IPS officer as head of Police Department, Mr Wazir recalled that SPR Kalaso had only 25 years of service when he headed the force in 1986. Local cadre officers have many plus points as they were well versed with situation, people of the State and all other aspects, he said.
Former IGP SS Bijral said though IPS officers across the country were part of a family and anyone was welcome to head the force, the State cadre officers definitely have the first right to become the DGP of over one lakh force as it were they, who fought along with force during two decades long militancy.
“Local cadre officers had seen entire situation for years together. An outsider had to take time to get acquainted with force as well as local people. As the State was not completely free from militancy, the Government should take no chance and show no laxity. The local officers should be made head of the force so that the militants didn’t get a chance to raise their head once again’’, Mr Bijral said.
“Vital component of fighting militancy is that of winning over the people to your side. Therefore the police have a role beyond the normal desk book role of maintaining law and order. That role cannot be performed by one who would need a year or two to get to know the stuff or the situation he will be dealing with. Cadres are more than trained and experienced in this branch of their assignment. Ranks need to have trust in their leadership, and long association of over three or four decades is an asset with the cadres.
“This type of association cannot be built over-night and at the same time we cannot wait for an indefinite period to build the bridges. Diversity of marked significance in the three regions of the State in addition to sub-regional identities and aspirations are not easy to handle with even handed justice. The sadistic axiom is “set a thief catch a thief”, observed another security expert.
He was of the view that the State Government and particularly the Chief Minister was exuding confidence in his administration to let AFSPA be withdrawn.
“Obvious logic is that the State Government reposed its trust in the police cadres who will be holding the fort once the AFSPA is withdrawn. In this background what justified the Government to accept a non-cadre incumbent? This is a sensitive issue and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) should give due credibility to the State government’s perception. The State government is proud of its cadres when it is ready to accept the challenge whatever that may mean’’, the experts said.
They added that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been appreciative of the cadres in State police force. “Omar understands the importance of the sacrifices they have made and the hardships they have gone through in bringing back normalcy to the State. It is, therefore, in fitness of things that he does not bring something abnormal to the institution which is charged with bringing normalcy to the State’’, they asserted.
“Now that the State is limping back to normal life, thanks to the efforts of the forces and the civilian government, and the state is poised to ensure withdrawal of AFSPA from five districts, it is logical that the local police cadres are given the opportunity of handling the subject of improving situation wisely, patiently and with a humanistic touch. The new police chief would be a success in letter and in spirit if he is equipped with all the pre-requisites scripted the desk book of rules plus a grasp of local conditions, people and behavior’’, the experts observed.
It may be mentioned that the panel finalized by the Ministry of Home Affairs for posting as new DGP and forwarded to the State Government comprised Arun Choudhary, Special Director General in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Ashok Prasad, Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau and PM Nair, Special Director General (Operations), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Arun Choudhary is 1977 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre and had served as Deputy Director and Joint Director of Intelligence Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir. Ashok Prasad is 1979 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre and was presently posted as Additional Director of IB in J&K, headquartered at Srinagar.
PM Nair is also Bihar cadre officer of 1978 batch and was presently posted as Special DG of CRPF (Operations), New Delhi. He had served as IG CRPF, Jammu during 2005-06.
ADGP Armed and Law and Order K Rajendera and Vigilance Commissioner Pitambar Lal Gupta are both 1984 batch IPS police officers. Mr Rajendera has service till September 2016 and Mr Gupta till August 2015.
Mr Rajendera had served as IGP of both Kashmir and Jammu provinces and dealt with all problems effectively and efficiently. He was also instrumental in devising many strategies successfully for dealing with different kind of unrests. He was seriously injured in a fidayeen attack at the venue of the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, presently Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, at Srinagar in May 2006. He had also served as DIG of Srinagar and Rajouri range.
Pitambar Lal Gupta has also held various prestigious posts like IGP Jammu and SSP Jammu. He had been serving as Vigilance Commissioner for past more than two years.
After Mr Rajendera and Mr Gupta, there were three IPS officers of 1985 batch including Ram Lubaya, Additional DG Security, SK Mishra, who was presently on deputation with the Border Security Force (BSF) and S Gopal Reddy, who was on deputation in Andhra Pradesh. All of them were in the rank of Additional DGPs.
Three IPS officers of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, who were also working as Additional DGPs included Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, ADG Headquarters, Ms D R Doley, Additional DGP Home Guards and Civil Defence and Naveen Aggarwal, Additional DGP Prisons.

NEW DELHI, Apr 24:
The strategic and security implications from Af-Pak region, China’s strategic rivalry and domestic and trans-national terrorism were the challenges outlined by the Defence Minister A K Antony today who said these cannot be felt in the same measure by other countries.
Addressing the top commanders of all the three services, Antony also asked them to put in place Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to counter cyber security threats.
Asking the commanders to keep a close watch on the situation in Afghanistan-Pakistan region, Antony said, “Any development in the Af-Pak region will have strategic and security implications for India. We need to keep a close watch on the situation in the region”.
He added that the latest events in the Af-Pak region clearly show that it cannot be presumed that the issues there are nearing any solution.
Highlighting that “China’s rise as an economic and military power and its assertive policies,” have implications for India, Antony said, “China’s strategic rivalry with India and Japan would definitely affect the Asian security environment”.
“All these developments pose challenges to all the wings of the defence forces. In the Indian context, these challenges cannot be felt in the same measures by other countries”, he said.
Noting that security situation in North East and Jammu and Kashmir has improved to some extent, the Defence Minister cautioned the forces that the coming months of summer will prove to be a real test for them.
“We have to remain vigilant and active and can not afford to drop our guard,” Antony said.
Asking the forces to focus on taking cyber security initiatives and reducing web-based terrorism and attacks, the Defence Minister said, “the services need to be fully aware of the implications and put in place security systems and SOPs to counter such threats.”
Off-late another dimension in the form of cyber crime has been added and Information and Communication Technology is being misused by anti-social and anti-national elements, Antony told the senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
He also asked them to address the entire spectrum of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare capability, both during peace and war-like scenario.
Antony told the Commanders that a nationwide secure and dedicated optical fibre network is to be implemented by the Communication and Information Technology Ministry in lieu of vacation of a part of spectrum by the defence services.
“The approval of Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure for the budget is awaited (for optical-fibre network).
The ‘Defence band’ and ‘defence interest zone’ has been mutually agreed upon by the Defence Ministry and Communication and IT Ministry to meet the spectrum requirement for strategic communication of Defence Forces”, he said, adding that it will be promulgated soon.
Observing that future wars will not be limited to the conventional domain, the Defence Minister said, “Quality papers from researchers, analysts and experts on security-related issues must feed informed debates and also provide inputs to the policy makers”.
On strengthening of Andaman and Nicobar based only Tri-Service Command of the defence forces, he said, “we are strengthening and revitalising the Command and are working on force accretion and upgrading the infrastructure to help it in fulfilling its operational task”.
On fine-tuning the Defence Procurement Procedure, Antony said, “Government is constantly fine tuning the DPP to cut down delays in the procurement process. Services, too, must put their best foot forward by having a well-defined approach to procurement based on clear and objective General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs)”.
“The Government is reviewing the current levels of delegation of financial powers to cut down on unnecessary delays and we have also revised the Offset policy to facilitate its easy discharge by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)”, he said.
“Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance Factory Boards need to reorient and expand their capacity and capabilities to meet the diverse requirement of the armed forces”, he said, adding that the Government wants to promote maximum indigenous content in the defence acquisition process. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Apr 24:
Speculation was rife today about possible changes in the Government and the AICC with some ministers reportedly writing to Congress president Sonia Gandhi of their intention to work for the organisation.
Media was abuzz with reports that at least four ministers Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vayalar Ravi have offered to quit the Government and work for the party. Azad is already AICC general secretary.
However, Ravi, Minister for Overseas Affairs, denied having written any such letter and said he was happy in the job he was doing.
But fuelling speculation, Ramesh and Khurshid met Gandhi at her residence this evening. There was no official word on what they discussed.
Sources said Khurshid, who holds Law and Minority Affairs portfolios, had written to Gandhi just after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results last month, explaining the scene after the party’s drubbing.
In that context, the senior Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh is believed to have offered to give up his ministerial posts and work for the party.
Ravi vehemently denied having written any letter to Gandhi. “I have never written any letter,” he said, adding he had been asked to look after Andhra Pradesh affairs as Azad could not go there.
Interestingly, Gandhi held confabulations with top party brass including Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Ahmed Patel. Pawan Kumar Bansal and V Narayanasami were also present.
Party sources feel that any change in the Government and the organisation could come about after the current Parliament session by which time the report of Antony committee on the election reverses in UP, Punjab and Goa is expected.
Rejecting speculation that he has offerred to step down as minister to work for the party, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said he has not written any such letter to the Congress President.
“I have written no such letters,” Ramesh told here.
He was dismissive about media reports which suggested that he had written such a letter, saying these were “not worth commenting on”.
Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader scoffed at the reports and termed them as baseless. (PTI)

LAHORE, Apr 24:
A powerful bomb struck a crowded platform at a railway station in this Pakistani city today, killing three persons and leaving over 40 others injured.
The bomb that was planted in a bag exploded shortly after the Awami Express, travelling from Karachi to Peshawar, pulled into platform no 2 at the Lahore railway station.
Eyewitness Asif Butt told the media that the blast occurred at 6.45 pm as a porter was removing some luggage from the train.
A railway police constable and a porter were among those killed.
The identity of the third person killed by the blast could not immediately be ascertained, officials said.
Over 40 injured people were taken to nearby hospitals, a spokesman for the state-run Rescue 1122 service said. A 10-year-old boy and several women were among the wounded.
Five of the injured were in a critical condition, officials at Mayo Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said.
Senior Superintendent Shahzad Sultan of the Railway Police told reporters that scores of people were present in a lounge for a private business train when the bomb went off.
“The explosive device was planted in a bag. The blast occurred when a porter lifted the bag,” he said.
The blast was heard from several kilometres away and blew out the large windows of the lounge and several people were hit by shards of glass.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast though such attacks are usually blamed on the Pakistani Taliban. (PTI)
Lahore police chief Aslam Tareen told reporters at the site of the blast: “It was an act of terrorism in a public place. We have to find out how they (terrorists) entered the railway station with the explosive device despite checks”.
Tareen said the bomb disposal squad had estimated that six to eight kilograms of explosives were used in the attack.
Muhammad Hamid, a passenger who was injured, said: “I was present near the business lounge when I heard a bang and fell unconscious. I regained consciousness when rescue officials were shifting me to Mayo Hospital”.
Footage on television showed the blast had caused extensive damage to the lounge. Benches were smashed and pieces of glass and debris lay on the floor.
People were evacuated after security forces cordoned off the railway station and adjacent areas.
All train services in Lahore were suspended following the attack and security forces searched all trains at the station, officials said. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: The Government has issued orders of transfers and posting of eighteen (18) Block Development Officers (BDOs) in the Rural Development Department.
BDO Uri, Bashir Ahmed Indrabi has been transferred and posted as BDO Rajwar vice Gulzar Ahmed who has been posted as BDO Qazigund. Sarfraz Ahmed, BDO Headquarters, Directorate of RDD Kashmir has been shifted and posted as BDO Kulgam vice Shafat Hussain Sofi. Mr Sofi has now been posted as BDO Uri.
Bashir Ahmed Bhat has been posted as BDO Ramhal while Mushtaq Ahmed as BDO Poonch vice Ajaz Qaiser who has been posted as BDO Bhalwal, Zaffar Ahmed Banday BDO Bhalwal has been shifted and posted as BDO Kalakote. Anwar Ahmed I/C BDO Bandipora has been transferred and posted as BDO Baramulla, Ghulam Qadir Gojree as BDO Achhabal, Sajjad Qadri BDO Shangus as BDO Bandipora while Zabir Ahmed BDO Marmat shall report to Director RDD Jammu.
Sunil Kumar Atri, BDO Kargil is transferred and posted as BDO R S Pura, Naresh Kumar BDO R S Pura as BDO Duggan (Bani), Mohammed Abbas BDO Khaltsi as BDO Kargil, Zaffar Altaf BDO Bhaderwah as BDO Satwari, Anirudh Rai BDO Surankote as BDO Kathua while Sonu Pargal, BDO Satwari has been attached with the Director Rural Development Jammu till further orders.

NEW DELHI, Apr 24:
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, examining the CAG’s Adarsh Housing Society scam report, is planning to seek an update from the CBI on its investigations into the case.
Sources said since the PAC is examining the CAG report, it was pertinent for it to seek an update from the investigating agency.
Based on the CBI inputs, the Committee would find it easier to prepare its report.
The CBI had arrested former Principal Secretary of Maharashtra’s Urban Development Department Ramanand Tiwari and former Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak on April 3.
Phatak was the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai in 2010 when the building’s height was allowed to be increased beyond 100 metres but without approval from the High-Rise Committee of the municipal body. Phatak’s son has been allotted a flat in the society.
Tiwari’s son has also been allotted a flat in the building. Also on Tuesday, the report of the two-member commission was tabled before the Maharashtra Assembly, where it observed that the defence had failed to provide credible proof over ownership/title of the land.
Many top army officials and politicians, including former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, are alleged to have facilitated clearances for the building and got flats in it as quid pro quo. Nine of the 14 accused have already been arrested for their alleged involvement in the scam.
In March, the CBI had made seven arrests in the case namely Maj Gen (retd) A R Kumar, Maj Gen (retd) T K Kaul, IAS officer Pradeep Vyas, former Congress MLA Kanahiyalal Gidwani, retired Defence Estates Officer R C Thakur, Brig (retd) M M Wanchoo and former Deputy Secretary, Urban Development P V Deshmukh. (PTI)