Ram Temple Trust may be headed by PM Modi

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Ram Temple Trust may be headed by PM Modi

Law Ministry moves to form Temple Trust

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 11

The government is soon to begin the process of setting up of the Ram Temple Trust and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is all set to move a Cabinet proposal in this regard. Since the Apex court ordered that the Trust be set up within three months the verdict and the Parliament session is also to begin on November 18, the government has fast tracked the process.

In contrast to the Somnath Temple Trust where the Centre and State government of Gujrat could nominate four Life Trustees each, the Ram Temple Trust will be created solely by the Central government. Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is member of the Somnath Temple Trust but not its chairman. However, in all likelihood, Ram Temple Trust will be headed by PM Modi and he will be life member. If Somnath Trust has eight members, Ram Temple Trust will have more trustees. The Law Ministry is studying the provisions of the temple trusts across the country to formulate a Deed for the Ram Temple.

The government has to decide two basic things; who all will be part of the Ram Temple Trust and whether the Temple be constructed through government funding or it should be through people’s participation. While the funding will be a ticklish issue as a lot of Hindu organizations would like to be part of it.

The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is on record to say that it was not RSS’ task to construct Ram Temple. “But we would certainly give our suggestions with regard to the formation of the trust to the government,” he said.

Most likely it will be a mega body with PM heading it.

It will be interesting to mention that the task of construction of the temple was undertaken K M Munshi, who was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Government of India headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad. Later it was handed over to a Trust.

With regard to the funding of the Ram Temple construction, VHP International president Alok Kumar remained non-committal. He said 60% work of pillars and domes of the Temple had been completed in Ayodhya by the VHP. “Now we will await government move,” he said.

Ends 

Is Javadekar Filling Jaitley Void ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Is Javadekar Filling Jaitley Void ?

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Sep 8

Information & Broadcasting and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar seems to have emerged as the “point’s person” in the new Modi dispensation. Be it the briefing of the BJP or the Union Cabinet or the key announcement, its Prakash Javadekar all the way. Though Telecom & IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Railway & Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Petroleum & Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have also been briefing the media from time to time for the past some time for party and the government.

But the way Prakash Javadekar was fielded to hold the press conference solo on the occasion of completion of successful 100 days of the Modi government left no one in doubt that he is the man to watch. Normally, press conferences on such occasions are held by senior ministers jointly. But Prakash Javadekar was given the sole responsibility to present the Modi 2.0's  100 days' report card creates an impression of his growing ratings in the Modi dispensation. Javadekar held the fort on a Sunday at a  mega press conference at the National Media Center and impressed by his handling of tricky questions with calm and finesse.

The party has been struggling to find a replacement of late Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who was a catalyst, crisis manager and spokesman of the party & government par excellence. Ever since he fell sick in earlier this year and died last month, the void was being felt. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is now the crisis manager and catalyst. But the search was on for a spokesman of party & government. Nirmala Sitharaman impressed the leadership by her strident defence on the Rafale deal in Parliament and gained in stature. Ravi Shankar Prasad is a veteran party leader too and senior in order of Precedence. Both of them have been addressing crucial press briefings too. But the party leadership fielded Prakash Javadekar to address the press conference today indicates his rising clout as a spokesman as well.

Big Package for J&K in Offing

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Big Package for J&K in Offing

5-member GoM formed for Action Plan

50,000 jobs to be created shortly

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 28

In a major fillip to development and job creation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Modi government has formed 5-member Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Law & Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The government has already decided to implement all 85 Central schemes for the benefit of over 1.30 crore people of the state. After the abrogation of Article 370, the people will now be able to take advantage of these schemes. These schemes included PM-Kisan, Ayushman Bharat and others. Even the government employees of the region, including police personnel, were not getting many facilities enjoyed by their counterparts in other Uts. It will be the Centre's priority that they get the same perks. As of now they were not getting benefits like LTC (leave travel concession), house rent allowance, health insurance and education allowance for their children.

The government intends to create 50,000 jobs immediately in the state.

It is largely because of this very purpose, that the GoM has been constituted which will prepare a blueprint of development of the state and create job opportunities.

Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of State in the PMO Jitender Singh, Agriculture & Rural Development Minister Narendra Tomar and Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are members of the GoM.

The GoM has been asked to prepare a proposal on how each of these departments can contribute towards J&K's fast growth. The group is expected to submit a report before October 31.

GoM's report could be the basis of another economic package that is expected to be announced by the Prime Minister in the months to come.

The announcement comes a day after reports suggested that the Centre is mulling announcement of a big package aimed at all-round development of the during the J&K an aim to restore normalcy.

The government is also planning to announce massive job opportunities for Kashmiri youngsters in the near future. A delegation of the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Tuesday embarked on a two-day visit to Kashmir to explore and identify the regions where the development projects of the Centre can be introduced.

Nirav Modi offers Rs 50 crores a month repayment plan

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A deafening silence; Is something cooking ?

Nirav Modi offers Rs 50 crores a month repayment plan 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 18

The Modi government seems to have decided not to directly comment on the Rs 11400 crores PNB’s LoU scam. In a tactical move, the government decided to distance itself from the most embarrassing mega scam of  its regime and allow the banks and investigation agencies to deal with it.

Highly placed sources in the finance ministry disclosed here today that the PNB and all those connected with the banking industry are burning mid-night oil over the latest offer made by wanted diamond king Nirav Modi to the government. It transpires that Modi has made a latest offer to the PNB, Income Tax and ED that he is willing to repay every legitimate penny due towards him . In separate emails received by the PNB and IT and ED, Modi has said he will pay Rs 50 crores a month provided he is allowed to continue his business activities as usual. He had done no crime as made out to be and followed normal banking practices.

It transpires that the PNB management had termed the offer of Nirav Modi as “Vague” when its MD & CEO Sunil Mehta held his press conference three days ago. However, in the latest submission sent through email, Nirav Modi has offered Rs 50 crores a month to settle all his dues.

The PNB and other banks are busy fixing the financial liabilities of the Nirav Modi group companies and busy segregating the liabilities of Mehul Choksi of Gitanjali group companies. Roughly, Nirav’s liabilities are of Rs 5000 crores only if penalties, interest, etc are not included. But it is for the  PNB management to first vet the offer of Nirav Modi on merit and convey to the concerned authorities. The government says it has no role to play in what is happening between Modi and PNB. Even the Income Tax and ED are doing their work as per law and Modi will have to deal with them directly.

Yet, the government wants the resolution of the Nirav Modi issue if its within the realm of possibility. But the Rs 50 crore a month repayment offer is unlikely to be accepted as its too meager an amount.

Its largely because of this very reason that the government is moving with caution and has not declared Nirav Modi a fugitive and suspended his passport for a month. He has been issued with a show cause notice and no arrest warrants have been issued against him either.  

The deafening silence of top two functionaries of the government indicates that something is cooking and forces are at work to get at Nirav Modi back through intermediaries.

The Prime Minister addressed two functions today;  inaugurated new BJP headquarters in the morning and Magnetic Maharashtra Summit in the evening. But he did not even remotely touch upon the Rs 11400 crores PNB scam. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also chose to stay away from any public glare and maintained a studied silence on the issue. Though five Union Ministers including Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar were fielded by the party to rebut Opposition charges. But the silence of PM and Jaitly is an indication that the government is keeping itself at arms length from the scam.

Internal bickering led to quitting of Rohtagi

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Internal bickering led to quitting of Rohtagi

Salve in line of suucession

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, June 12

With Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi declining to continue in the post “until further orders” decks are cleared for a shake up in the government’s legal officers’ team.

It transpires that the proposal for extending the terms of AG Mukul Rohtagi, Solicitor-General of India Ranjit Kumar and eight other Additional Solicitor generals of India was mooted almost two months ago.

has written to the Narendra Modi government, saying he is not interested in the continuation of his tenure as the nation's senior law officer and wishes to get back to private practice. Normally, such decisions are taken well in advance rather than delaying until the last moment. But in the instant case, the file remained pending somewhere in the Law Ministry or the Prime Minister’s Office.

Without waiting for the government to take a decision, Rohtagi wrote to the government that he was not interested in continuing with the job and wants to return to private law practice. 

Rohatgi, 61, had been appointed for three years and his term was to expire on June 18, 2017. However, Prime Minister Modi, before embarking on a foreign tour, issued a general order saying that the term of all law officers is extended until further orders. It is said that this was the crux of the problem as self-respecting Rohtago felt that he can’t remain an atmosphere of uncertainty and decided to call it a day.  Sources in the law ministry said they were "not aware why the Attorney General is not keen to continue".

"I have worked for five years as law officer under the Vajpayee government and now three years under the Modi government," Rohtagi said in the state. "I want to return to my private practice. I have a good relationship with the government... That's why I wrote to the government not to extend my term," he added.

A word is yet to emerge in respect of Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar whose term had also been extended until further order.

Sources in the law ministry said the present team of law officers was considered close to Finance & defence minister Arun Jaitley. It is also felt that Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was always uncomfortable with Rohtagi and even Ranjit Kumar. It is not known what will happen next because the entire government will now be stationed in Delhi for the next one week as various important decisions are to be taken in bureaucracy, law ministry and also Presidential elections.

Over the last three years, Rohatgi was handling the cases involving Aadhaar, judicial appointments for the government. His recent cases also involved the contentious triple talaq issue, the matter is being heard by a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.

The son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Awadh Behari Rohatgi, he earlier represented the Gujarat government in the Supreme Court regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots, and cases involving Zahira Sheikh and the Best Bakery. There are reports that leading lawyer Harish Salve may now be brought in a AG and Tushar Mehta, an additional solicitor general of India may be promoted.

Harish Salve may replace Rohtagi

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

Speculation over new Attorney General

Harish Salve may replace Rohtagi

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, May 27,

If Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to select the candidate for the President’s and Vice President’s post during the next fortnight, he also has a difficult task of decide as to who will be the next Attorney General and other law officers.

The tenure of AG Mukul Rohtagi, Solicitor-General of India Ranjit Kumar and dozen other ASGs is ending in June. There is strong speculation that noted lawyer Harish Salve may be brought in as AG in place of Rohtagi and Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General may be promoted as SG. Tushar Mehta is considered close to BJP president Amit Shah and a Gujrati. IN any case, Ranjit Kumar wants to return to active practice once again after three years of stint in the government. He was sounded out to be elevated to the Supreme Court as a judge considering his seniority in the profession. But he is reported to have declined. Thereafter, L Nageshwar Rao, an Additional Solicitor General was elevated to the SC bench.

It may be mentioned that Harish Salve was sounded out by the Modi government in May 2014 itself. But Salve had prior commitments in London then in a series of arbitration cases and he sought excuse. Recently, he appeared for India at the international court of justice and made a mark. But Mukul Rahtagi has extremely impressed the Prime Minister during these three years by his legal acumen and argumentative skills in the Supreme Court. He is considered an upfront and aggressive legal luminary. But Modi has not taken a call on yet on the issue and the suspense continue.

Modi also has to take a call in concultation with the Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on appointing some of the new ASGs also . ASG Parminder Singh Patwalia has already quit and another ASG Neeraj Kishan Kaul has conveyed his desire to relinquish the charge.