Modi deputes AG Rohatagi to represent India in Geneva

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, April 29

  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done it what none of his predecessors ever did it. In a rare move that surprised the political & bureaucratic world, Modi deputed Attorney General of India Mukul Rohtagi to represent India at the International Human Rights conference to be held in Geneva.

Normally, a senior minister of the government or bureaucrats in the Ministry of External or Home affairs are deputed to represent the country at the crucial Human Rights conference organized by the United Nations. Since India is always under attack for human rights violations, seasoned politicians and diplomats are sent.

But Modi picked up Mukul Rohtagi to represent India for the international conference in Geneva beginning May 2. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States. The 27^th  session of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group will be held in Geneva from 1 to 12 May. The Human Rights situation is under review by the Council in all 193 UN member States and crucial for India considering the situation in J &K and  Naxal-hit areas.

  

It transpires that Modi decided to send Rohtagi not only to  strongly defend India at the international body but also to stress the need for the global community to realize the dangers of terrorism and how it will engulf the humanity itself.

Since Rohtagi has been defending the government at various forums including the Supreme Court, the PM was immensely impressed by his forthright approach in expressing the government view.

Though eyebrows have been raised in the government over Modi’s decision. But it is realised by knowledgeable persons in the government that he is the best person to represent India under the present circumstances.

Rohtagi has also been given a free hand to pick his own team of delegation. Instead of a huge delegation, Rohtagi is taking along handful of members.

Telecom war take its first toll

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

     Telecom war take its first toll

*    Midnight coup at Sanchar Bhavan 

*    J S Deepak shunted out

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, March 2

A bitter corporate battle in the telecom sector between Reliance Jio and  rival telecom operators seems to have taken its first toll. In a late evening order, the Prime Minister shunted out Chairman Telecom Commission & Secretary Telecom J S Deepak and sent him to the Commerce Ministry as OSD. Three months later, Deepak will go to Geneva to take over as India’s Ambassador at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Normally, the posting at Geneva is for three year period as it requires tough negotiations and hard bargaining at the world forum. The posting at Geneva had always been there for three years. A careful reading of the transfer order reveals that Deepak will remain in Geneva for a period of 14 months only. It seems the government was in such a tearing hurry to show him the door that it did not wait for his return from a telecom conference abroad. Deepak was attending the World Mobile Conference at Barcelona when the marching orders out of Sanchar Bhawan were issued.

Surprisingly, the government did not name Deepak’s successor at the Telecom Commission which is now headless. The Telecom Ministry doesn’t have a secretary either.

It seems the PMO was angry with Deepak when the Telecom Commission, the highest decision-making body for the sector, wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) urgently review its tariff orders and directions. The Telecom Commission met on February 23 and issued the letter and also made it public.

The letter assumes significance in the backdrop of bitter battle between Reliance Jio and other operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular.

Since the launch of its free voice and data services in September 2016, Reliance Jio forced incumbents Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular to bring down tariffs leading to a price war in the industry.

The tariff war, according to DoT, has adversely impacted government’s collections from Rs 3975 crore in the first quarter of FY17 to Rs 3584 crore in Q2, and further down to Rs 3186 crore in the quarter ended December 31, 2016.

The main reason for the downward trend appears to be a tariff war in the industry triggered by free promotional offers, the DoT secretary said. However, the letter did not name any of the companies.

What made government angry was that when the matter was before the superior judiciary as Vodafone and other players had moved Delhi High Court alleging that TRAI had failed to prohibit violation of its tariff orders, why the DOT jumped the gun.