SRINAGAR: Contending that it was impossible for the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government to abrogate Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said confusion was being deliberately created on the issue which would further alienate the people of the State.

“They cannot abrogate Article 370 till the Constituent Assembly is recalled. The Constituent Assembly approved accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. If you want to raise the question once again, then you need to bring the Constituent Assembly and then we will talk,” Omar told reporters here.

The Chief Minister was speaking as the row over the remarks of Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh that efforts will be made to “convince” the “unconvinced” on abrogation of Article 370 continued to rage.

Omar said the Centre should strengthen its relations with the State, but such a move will further alienate the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“You want to strengthen the State-Centre relationship but this is not the way. This will further widen the gap between the people of the State and the rest of the country which you will understand very soon. I can understand the political compulsion of the BJP, but first focus on other promises. The first attack is on Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The Chief Minister said confusion was deliberately created among the people in the country over Article 370 and the State subject laws in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Confusion is being created deliberately over State subject law and the Article 370 of the Constitution. The Article 370 has nothing to do with the purchase of property here.

“Before the Article 370, the State subject laws were enforced in the State by the Maharaja to save the people of Jammu who were apprehensive that rich Punjabis will come and buy their land.

“If you see today, God forbid, if you play with our State subject laws, then even in such a situation nobody will come to Kashmir. If the land is purchased or anything of the kind happens, it will happen in Jammu region,” he said.

Omar dismissed the assertion that the State subject laws were a hindrance in the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The State subject laws protect our people. How are they a hindrance in the development of the State? If the State lacked in development it was because of the prevailing situation. Before (the eruption of militancy in) 1989, nobody complained of such a thing. Factories were being set up everywhere but nobody questioned the State subject laws.

“This is not the only State in the country where this law is in force. There are other States where such laws are prevalent but nobody talks about them,” he said. — PTI

New Delhi: Former TRAI Chairman Nripendra Misra was today appointed Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the government promulgated an Ordinance to amend a law that could have prevented him from getting the key post.


Misra is a 1967-batch retired IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and his appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

69-year-old Misra, who has served in various capacities in the government, retired as the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2009.


The TRAI Act prohibits its Chairman and members from taking up any other job in the central or state governments after demitting office.

"The Chairperson or any other member ceasing to hold office as such, shall -- (a) be ineligible for further employment under the Central government or any state government or (b) not accept any commercial employment, for a period of two years from the date he ceases to hold such office," says the TRAI Act of 1997 available on the Law Ministry's website.


To circumvent this section which would have barred Misra from taking up the assignment of Principal Secretary to PM, the Modi government promulgated an Ordinance amending it.

The Ordinance amends this section to read as : "The Chairperson and the whole-time members shall not, for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office as such, except with the previous approval of the Central government, accept -- "(a) any employment either under the Central government or under any state government; or "(b) any appointment in any company in the business of telecommunication service." — PTI

SRINAGAR: The controversy over Article 370 continued unabated on Wednesday with the RSS hitting back at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his remarks. Omar made it clear that it cannot be revoked without recalling the Constituent Assembly and that it is “impossible”.

Reacting to Omar’s remarks that either J&K won’t be part of India or Article 370 that grants special status to the state will still exist, senior RSS leader Ram Madhav said the state will always be an integral part of India with or without the provision. Madhav also asked whether the Chief Minister thought the state was his “parental estate”.

“J&K won’t be part of India? Is Omar thinking it’s his parental estate? 370 or no 370, J&K has been and always will be an integral part of India,” tweeted Madhav.

Observing that any move to abrogate Article 370 will be extremely dangerous, Omar said if the BJP decides to recall the constitutional facility, it would reopen the debate on state’s accession to India. He said the only way to revoke Article 370 is on the back of the body called the Constituent Assembly.

This is the body that ratified the relationship of J&K with India, he said, adding that if you were to recall the Constituent Assembly, you would be reopening the debate on Instrument of Accession. “If the BJP wants to do that and call the Constituent Assembly, let them do that,” he said. 

The Chief Minister said that considering we claim that entire J&K is ours and the BJP’s view that even the PoK is India’s part, the Constituent Assembly will have to have members from there too. “But this is highly impossible. Who is going to recall a Constituent Assembly?” Omar asked.

A fresh controversy over Article 370 erupted on Tuesday following comments by the new Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh seeking debate on it. “If we do not have debate and discussion, how would you be able to tell those who have been unable to understand what they have been deprived of on account of Article 370?” said Singh.

He later clarified that he was “misquoted” on the issue. Reacting to Madhav’s “parental estate” remarks, Omar asserted that he never said J&K has been his parental estate, but he was a citizen of the state and he had the right to speak about his rights. Omar said he doesn’t owe allegiance to the RSS and that no RSS wala can stop him from speaking for his state. — PTI

NEW DELHI: The controversy over HRD Minister Smriti Irani's educational qualification snowballed today with the BJP and some ministers hitting back with carping comments on Sonia Gandhi even as the Congress appeared to be divided.

Irani also got support from JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav who attacked the Congress for raking up the issue while the minister herself refused to comment on the row.

Women rights activist Madhu Kishwar, who started it all with her tweets critical of Narendra Modi making Irani the HRD Minister, was unsparing, saying education and research in India was in a shambles and something urgent was needed to be done to lift standards in the system.

Somebody with a vision was needed for the job, said Kishwar, a self-confessed admirer of Modi.

Kishwar said that as someone in the academia she felt that the HRD Ministry was a very "vital" ministry and that India's education sector was in a mess and somebody with a vision was needed.

The HRD Ministry requires handling Chief Ministers, because education is a state subject and also requires handling Vice-Chancellors, she said.

"HRD needs a head who can steer dexterously between Left and Right extremists in academia to define sensible course unfettered by partisan agendas," she had said on Twitter.

Slamming the Congress, Union Minister Uma Bharti questioned the educational qualification of its party president Sonia Gandhi.

"I want to ask them (Congress) what are the educational qualifications of Sonia Gandhi, because she has headed the UPA and gave directions to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"The entire UPA government would stand with folded hands outside her door. So Sonia Gandhi, who ran the UPA government, what are her qualifications," Bharti asked. 

Another minister Santosh Gangwar said he wants to ask the Congress how educated was its president Sonia Gandhi.

Joining issues, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Congress leaders should shed their "arrogance" after the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha poll and do introspection.

He said the party was defeated in elections due to the "arrogance" of Congress leaders but they are still not ready to leave their arrogance.

"Congress leaders should now stop using abusive words against BJP leaders. The Congress should respect the mandate of the people," he said.

Congress leader Ajay Maken yesterday took a jibe at Irani's educational qualification.

"What a Cabinet of Modi? HRD Minister (looking after education) Smriti Irani is not even a graduate! Look at her affidavit at ECI site pg 11," he had tweeted yesterday.

Bharti said the Congress had raised questions about her candidature from Jhansi in the past by saying that she belonged to Madhya Pradesh and was making a similar mistake in this case.

"First the Congress should show certificates of Sonia Gandhi to show how educated she is and from where. Only then they can ask such questions (about Irani)," Bharati said.

She said it was not necessary that a Health Minister should be a doctor but what matters is how a person works.

"Sonia Gandhi should tell about her certificates or else stop the Congress from making such comments," she demanded.

However, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari had a different take on the issue when he said any attack on the government should be on substance and not superficials.

He said these kind of remarks used to emanate from the BJP in the early 2000s but had got decisively buried after UPA's two successive victories under her leadership.

"It anybody is attempting to question the political sagacity of Sonia Gandhi, I think possibly they are blowing a trumpet which nobody is interested in," Tewari said.

However, to a question on the Irani controversy, Tewari felt that criticism of the government should be policy based rather than personality centric. — PTI

My priority will be to showcase our strengths: Sushma

NEW DELHI: India wants “good” relations with Pakistan but the neighbouring country must stop terror activities directed against it as talks will get subdued under the “din” of bomb blasts, Sushma Swaraj said after taking charge as External Affairs Minister on Wednesday.

She also said that as External Affairs Minister, her priority would be to showcase India’s strengths to the world and improve relations with neighbouring countries, strategic partners, Africa, ASEAN member countries, Europe and others.

On the visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed to Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday that talks between the two countries will not be effective if bomb blasts continue.

“We told Pakistan that we want good relations with it. For but for good relations, the talks can be effective and successful only if terror activities (directed against India) stops.

“The voice of talks gets lost in the sound of bomb blasts. That is why bomb blasts should stop so that we can talk and our voices can be heard. Talks will get subdued under the din of bomb blasts. He (Modi) conveyed it to Sharif in these many words,” 62-year-old Swaraj told reporters after assuming charge as External Affairs Minister.

She said India asked Pakistan to ensure speedy trial in 26/11 terror case being held in Pakistan. The Pakistani side said they were working on it.

She said the talks Modi had on Tuesday with SAARC leaders, who had come to attend his swearing-in ceremony, were successful.

“He told the leaders that SAARC could not make an identity in the world because of bilateral issues. He said if bilateral contentious issues are left between the respective countries, then SAARC can emerge as a strong power,” Swaraj said.

“I would like to say that for the first time the SAARC leaders felt that a government and a Prime Minister who thinks out of the box has assumed power in India,” she said.

Replying to a question, Swaraj said Modi in his talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had raised the issue of fishermen as well as the reconciliation process to meet the aspirations of Tamil community in the country.

“The Prime Minister raised the issue of Tamil fishermen. I have called them fishermen of Tamil Nadu from India. We have also raised the issue of 13th Amendment,” she said.

India has been pressing for implementation of the 13th Amendment which was introduced to ensure certain powers to provincial councils based on the provisions of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987.

Asked what would be the new government’s approach towards the US, Swaraj did not explain but referred to telephonic conversation Barack Obama had with Modi and the invitation extended to him to visit US by the American President.

Swaraj said she will talk to US Secretary of State John Kerry who wanted to talk to her on Tuesday. “We could not talk as per the scheduled time on Tuesday. We will talk after rescheduling it.”

Asked whether the new government will give more weightage to countries like Japan than the US, Swaraj said it was not proper to compare relations between the two countries.

“You cannot compare the relations between the two countries. We have strong trade relations with Japan. But America has its own significance,” she said.

The other BJP leaders to take charge, on Wednesday, are Ananth Kumar as Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, M. Venkaiah Naidu as Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Uma Bharti as Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. — PTI

US applauds Modi-Sharif meeting

WASHINGTON: The United States has applauded the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif, as senior administration officials said they were “cautiously hopeful” about the improvement in the relationship between the two South Asian neighbours.

“We are cautiously hopeful that that (Modi-Sharif) could be a positive indicator, but we’re also mindful that this will be very important to the dynamic going forward,” a senior Obama administration official said on the condition of anonymity.

The official said the administration is hopeful that the initial indication between both Islamabad and New Delhi is a positive one.

“Sharif responded to the invite in attending the inauguration, the first such visit in many years, and as well, reminiscent of the last time there was significant progress between the two countries when the BJP came to power during Prime Minister Sharif’s previous term as Prime Minister in the late 90s, and they made progress along lines that looked very much like what we have now,” the official said.

The official was referring to the series of peace initiatives launched by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Delhi-Lahore bus initiative being one of them.

Another senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House has seen a constructive tone set from the very beginning by both Modi and Sharif, who was one of the first leaders to speak to the Indian PM after his victory in the elections.

“He travelled to India for the inauguration, was able to see Prime Minister Modi there. We always encourage India and Pakistan to pursue dialogue that can reduce tension.

“We believe that is in the interest of the entire region. And so we’ll continue to encourage that,” the official said.

“So with that new leadership in India, the new leadership in Pakistan, and the new President coming to office in Afghanistan this year, I think we have an opportunity to have that discussion about how all the countries in the region can provide for a greater stability and security.

“And that’s certainly something we’re going to pursue,” the second official added.

Meanwhile, the State Department has applauded the Modi-Sharif meeting.

“We welcome the news of Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to India for Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration and their subsequent bilateral meeting,” Spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

“I would point you to both of their governments on the substance of the meeting between them, but broadly speaking, we continue to welcome any and all steps India and Pakistan take to strengthen and deepen their dialogue and cooperation,” she added.

The US applauds any efforts between India and Pakistan to create economic opportunities for the people of both countries that can contribute to a more secure, stable and prosperous region, Psaki added.

“So we certainly support and applaud the news of the weekend,” she said in response to a question.

Modi, who was sworn in as India’s 15th Prime Minister on Tuesday, voiced concerns over terrorism originating from Pakistan in his 45-minute meeting with Sharif. — PTI

Chandigarh: Punjab government today affected a major administrative reshuffle. From changing heads of various key departments in the state government to having 11 new deputy commissioners- the stamp of the chief minister is apparent in the transfers. With today's transfer of 41 officers, the government has also made an attempt to rationalise work rather than concentrate key departments in the hands of select few officers.

Senior IAS officer Jagpal Sandhu is now the Home Secretary of Punjab. He takes the post from S S Channy, who retires on May 31. Sandhu is known to be an upright officer and with his appointment as Secretary, home affairs, all officers of 1983 batch are holding the key positions in the state government. The other two officers- N S Kang and Suresh Kumar are presently serving as the Financial Commissioner Revenue and Financial. Commissioner Development respectively. 

With the Punjab chief secretary Rakesh Singh tipped to proceed to Delhi as a secretary in the Government of India, Kang and Suresh Kumar are in the reckoning for the post of chief secretary. Sources in the government say that Singh has already conveyed to the chief minister that he would like to serve in Delhi, though his departure could take at least a month. 

Vini Mahajan, who has also had a stint in the Prime Minister's office and was presently posted as Principal Secretary health, has now also been given the important portfolio of finance. DP Reddy, who was holding the finance department charge along with excise and taxation, gets Industries department in place of Finance. Karan Avtar Singh, principal secretary, industries, now gets charge of investment promotion. Vishwajeet Khanna gets back the charge of civil aviation, besides retaining the charge of labour department. He also has charge of forest and wildlife department.

Ravneet Kaur, who was awaiting posting orders, has been posted as principal secretary parliamentary affairs, Roshan Sunkaria as principal secretary higher education; Anurag Aggarwal also gets additional charge of Transport department, besides retaining charge as managing director of Punjab Infrastructure Development Board . A Venu Prasad has relinquished charge of civil aviation, but retains housing. Seema Jain has relinquished charge as Secretary Personnel but continues as secretary science technology and environment. Vikas Pratap, director Industries, gets the crucial portfolio of Secretary Personnel. Jaspal Singh is now secretary finance and planning instead of secretary expenditure. Rajinder Singh, the additional chief electoral officer gets the additional charge of director industries and mining.

Some officers like. S Karuna Raju, who was transferred following the orders of election commission of India, have been brought back to their original place of posting. He is back as director Rural Development and Panchayats, while Priyank Bharti is back as director Local government. Pirthi Chand gets special charge of special secretary welfare of SC's, while retaining charge of state transport commissioner.

35 senior police officers transferred

R.K Jaiswal has been transferred as the Commissioner of Police, Jallandhar, with immediate following orders by the Home secretary, here today, in major shake up affecting 35 transfers of senior police officers in the state.

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh has been posted Commissioner of Police Ludhiana. J Nilambari Vijay has been posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Police Ludhiana while Naveen Singla has been posted as deputy Commissioner, Jallandhar.

Ishwar Singh goes as Director of state Narcotic Control Bureau and Additional Charge of IGP Police Training School, Philaur; Sanjeev kalra is ISP(Security); Nirmal Dhilon(IGP(Zonal) Jalandhar; Paramjit Singh Gill(IGP(Zonal) Patiala; Amardeep Singh rai(IGP Vigilance); and Lok Nath Angra(IGP Intelligence).

Bikram Pal Singh has been posted as SSP Batala; Dhanpreet Kaur(SSP Kapurthala); Sanmeet Kaur(SSP Nawan Shehr); Harsh Kumar Bansal SSP(Khanna); Gursharan Singh sandhu(SSP Moga); Kuldeep Singh Chahal(SSP Muktsar); Gurpreet Singh Toor(SSP Ferozepur); and Swapan Sharma(SSP fazilka), besides others.