20-Ministers to travel across J&K

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

20-Ministers to travel across J&K   

PM Modi's Massive Public Out-reach program rolled out

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 15

The Modi Establishment has now decided to launch a massive political offensive in Jammu & Kashmir almost six months after abrogating Article 370.

If plans being given final shape, a battery of Union Ministers will be deputed to travel across the Union Territory to interact with the people.

The massive public outreach exercise will involve ministers in the second line of command in the government and propagate the welfare policies and programs implemented by the Centre.

In fact, the exercise is aimed at prodding the people to participate in the public programs and involve them in these activities. This will be first time that a battery of central ministers will undertake low-key but effective educative programs. “This is a major PR exercise finalised by the Prime Minister,” said a minister who didn't want to be quoted.

The state government has already been told about the impending visit of the ministers and security forces alerted to take appropriate action to make the programs successful. The week-long exercise will involve the visit of Minister of State for Home G Krishan Reddy, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Anurag Thakur Jitendra Singh and Piyush Goyal and several others.

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No Early Assembly polls in J&K

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

No Early Assembly polls in J&K

EC awaits Home Ministry Nod

Delimitation of Constituencies to begin after 18 years  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 29

The Union Home Ministry has signaled to the Election Commission that Delimitation exercise will have to wait for some more time.

The Election Commission wants to undertake the Delimitation exercise in J&K at the earliest as the process had been delayed for too long. Once the Delimitation takes place, the number of seats in the Union Territory is likely to go up to 114 from the current 107. This include 24 seats from the Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) which remain vacant in the Assembly. The number 107 does not include four seats of Ladakh and two nominated members.

Sources say this process will begin only after the reorganisation of the two Union Territories (J&K and Ladakh) which will be effective from October 31. The Ministry of Home Ministry is in touch with the Election Commission and told the EC that the situation will normalize within the next six week. Already more than 1700 detenus have been freed and remaining 400 others are in the process of being released gradually. The process of house to house search for arms & ammunition and militants is practically over in most of the sensitive distrcits.

The Delimitation exercise, once begins, will take nearly a year to complete. Ordinarily, the process is carried out every few years to ensure that each constituency has approximately an equal number of voters. This is mandatory after every Census. But in the case of J&K, it was not allowed by the then Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah after the 2001 Census.

Dr Abdullah froze the delimitation until 2026 through an amendment which was done in 2002. But with the revocation of Article 370, the decision has been revoked automatically.

The EC, meanwhile, has begun its internal exercise and appointed a few consultants who have wide ranging experience of conducting Delimitation in the past.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has gone on record to say that “the EC has not received any formal communication from the MHA so far.”

Therefore, the prospects of an early election in the J&K are not bright as the government is keen to restore complete normalcy. This coupled with Delimitation will take a minimum of one year. So no possibility of polls even in March next year in the state.

PM monitoring J&K on hourly Basis

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

PM monitoring J&K on hourly Basis

Doval to Stay put in Valley until 15^th August

Local Police-Militant nexus broken

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 12

The Centre has firmly told the security forces in Kashmir Valley that minimal force be used in the event of protests and situation be handled with a humane face. The fact that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deputed his National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to interact with the common people and listen to their grievances, indicates a very cautious appoach. The fact that not a single shot has been fired and no tear gas shell has been used indicates that the PM's directives are being implemented on the ground so far. Of course, there are incidents where pellet guns were used against protesting youths. But videos also show that protesters also showed extreme restraint and didn't resort to violence. They were largely peaceful too.

Ajit Doval's mission is to ensure that Bakr Eid and Independence Day pass off peacefully, and Pakistan’s effort to engineer violence is neutralised. With the J&K becoming a Union Territory, the Central forces have taken over complete control of the Police administration. It now transpires that all Police Stations & posts are headed by a senior CRPF officer and the local SHO will report to him. K Vijay Kumar, Adviser (Security) to the Governor Satya Pal Malik has been posted there since June 2018 to take direct charge of the police administration so that the backbone of the police-militants nexus is broken. The informers network is given full protection & reward which had been demolished during the past 30 years.

In fact, immediately after the break-up of BJP-PDP alliance, the PMO sent its most trusted IAS officer BVR Subramaniam as Chief Secretary. Obviously, things were at works in the PMO about J&K after the BJP suo-moto broke the alliance and got rid Mehbooba Mufti.

The government is also maintaining a studied silence whether the Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the Lal Chowk in Sri Nagar to hoist the National Flag. Its original plan that Tri colour be hoisted in every village in J&K on August 15 in on track.

PMO worried over SC judgment on Manipur killings

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

PMO worried over SC judgment on Manipur killings

Security forces demoralized

SLP may be filed soon

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 29

Extremely worried over the stance of the Supreme Court that criminal cases be filed against army personnel and security forces for killings in Manipur during the operations for killing the innocents, the Centre is likely to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the apex court.

The Centre reviewed the situation arising out of an order of the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur in July 2017 where it had directed the CBI to constitute an SIT to probe alleged fake encounters by the security forces in Manipur. The two-judge bench order of the SC created a piquant situation for the army in Manipur which is fighting against the ultras in extremely grave situation. The SC order also had a bearing in anti-terrorists operations in troubled-torn Jammu & kashmir where massive operations are underway. But the security forces have pointed out that it would be extremely difficult for them to continue with the operations if the sword of criminal cases registered against them would hang over their heads.

The situation became grave when the SC bench summoned the CBI director seeking his explanation for slow pace of probe against the security forces. A couple of such petitions are also pending in the Jammu & Kashmir high court in the wake of SC order. The army and police is battling every day with the NGOs and human right activists who are filing contempt petitions against them. This has demoralised the forces.

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat has brought the seriousness of the situation to the notice of the government and the National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is also of the view that the SC judgment needs a immediate review.

It is in this background that a high-level meeting was held in the Prime Minister's Office. It is not immediately known whether the PM was present at the meeting or not. But it has been decided that a review petition be filed against this judgment immediately.

It may be mentioned that a bench of Justices M B Lokur and U U Lalit has summoned the Director CBI tomorrow in SC for the delay in investigation into the Manipur fake encounter cases.

The bench said it was “not satisfied” and added that it “would like to hear from Director CBI what can be done to expedite investigation and chargesheet can be filed”. The court asked him to be present at 2 pm on July 30. The court was upset when the CBI submitted that out of a total of 41 cases, investigation was complete in seven. Of the seven, approval has been received for filing chargesheets in two cases and approval for two others was expected in next few days. There are such cases in Jammu & kashmir too. But no SIT has been formed such operations in state.

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Banning “Barter Trade” with PaK: PMO to decide

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Banning “Barter Trade” with PaK: PMO to decide

NIA says Barter-trade generated Rs 1000 crore terror funding

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Sep 11

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will take a final call on banning the “Barter Trade” between India & Pakistan which was aimed at promoting trade & harmony between the people in J & K and PoK.

Highly placed sources in the government say that the PMO is seized of the matter after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) strongly recommended the closure of the barter trade. The NIA had sent its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which is turn has referred the issue to the PMO as it has wider implications.

Incidentally, it was the Union Home Ministry which had initiated the Barter-Trade agreement with Pakistan in 2008 at the bidding of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh within days of returning to India from his US trip in 2008 to promote harmony between the people on both sides of Jammu & Kashmir. It was decided that no cash will be involved, only 21 items will be trade for mutual exchange and the value of items will be fixed by traders mutually. The goods should be produced in J & K and PoK only. But what happened thereafter, was an eye-opener to agencies. For example the Californian Almonds made their way from Pakistan to J&K on the ground that these were produced in PoK.

Lokmat was first to break the story “Barter Trade or Terror Funding” on January 23 this year in its editions saying the NIA had undertaken countrywide raids and scrutinizing records of 350 traders in Delhi & J & K. At that time, the NIA estimated that the hawala racket could be of the order of Rs 300 crores. Top sources have now told Lokmat that the hawala scam could be of the order of Rs 1000 crores.

The NIA submitted detailed report listing how hundreds of cores of rupees reached terrorist groups and stone pelters in the Valley thanks to the “Barter-Trade” route. The NIA said the barter-trade generated more than Rs 3000 crores in cash and at least Rs 1000 crores of this amount had gone to the kashmiri militants and their patterns which included Hurriyat leaders. The NIA submitted a detailed account of money-trail beginning with traders on the borders to traders in Delhi and major cities and how money re-routed to Hurriyat leaders and Kashmiri militants. The NIA also gave detailed account of how bank channels were used for over-invoicing and under-invoicing and went on unchecked for nearly eight years.

It said that terror funding by LeT, JeM and other outfits and the alleged transfer of cross-LoC trade proceeds are "interlinked". It gave clinching evidence to the MHA how large amount exchanged through import and export of goods has been ultimately used to foment "civil unrest" in Kashmir. The NIA suspects that some traders even provide trucks to hide arms and ammunition smuggled from Pakistan.

It is learnt that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who undertook 4-day visit to J & K discussed this issue with the state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also as she had urged the Prime Minister that Barter-Trade agreement should not be scrapped.

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Fate of 2 guvs uncertain

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

SPECIAL

Govt wants new faces in J&K, Arunchal

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Sept 9

The fate of two governors of border states – Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir – is uncertain now. But reasons for the delay in changing both the governors are different.

The delay in changing Arunachal Pradesh governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa is due to technical reasons as President Pranab Mukherjee has raised some issues with Union home minister Rajnath Singh. The home minister had called on the President on Wednesday to convey to him the intention of the government in removing Rajkhowa who had violated the spirit of the Constitution in handling the affairs of the state when it faced political crisis. 

The governor had come in for a rap from the Supreme Court as well. But the President is reported to have raised some important points. Firstly, the Union Cabinet had approved in toto whatever the governor had recommended then. Secondly, there has to be some reasons in writing from the government rather than simply asking the President to withdraw the governor at his pleasure.

The home minister is reported to have told the President that on one occasion Rajkhowa had misled even the PM when he had put some query. It's a lack of trust between the governor and government and his removal is the only way forward. It now transpires that an amicable way is being found to get rid of Rajkhowa.

Meanwhile, in changing or removing N N Vohra in Jammu & Kashmir, the situation is rather sensitive and ticklish as well. Vohra is a seasoned bureaucrat and there is nothing against him. But he is 80 years old and doesn't have new ideas given the alarming situation in the Valley. Modi government retained him for more than two years after coming to power. 

But it wants a new person in place of Vohra who was re-appointed as governor for second term in 2013. In a way, its more than eight years that he has been governor of the state. The Modi government is reported to have zeroed on Anil Baijal, former home secretary in the Vajpayee government, who is a seasoned bureaucrat as the new man in the Valley. The problem being faced is should Vohra be transferred or removed altogether.

It transpires that Rajnath Singh may have been asked by the Prime Minister to discuss with the President who is an experienced administrator and politician. It is pertinent to mention that Vohra was the first person without Army or intelligence background to occupy the gubernatorial post in the state after a gap of 18 years. Jagmohan was there for a brief period who demitted office in 1990 and was replaced by army & intelligence officers like former RAW chief Girish Chandra Saxena, Gen. K V Krishna Rao (retd) and Gen. S K Sinha.