New Delhi

May 28, 2004

Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pandey sets World Record

NDA Government is expected to figure in the Guinnes Book of World Record. of course for their resounding defeat and their rout. But the cryptic comments of several senior bureaucrats with a spicy tounge in cheek manner is that the NDA deserved entry into the world record for their major folly.
The 1970 IAS officers curse the NDA dispensation,especially
the Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pandey.1970 officers quote the inordinate delay in appointment of 1970 IAS officers as Secretaries to Government of India.The empanelment was done in December 2003. Though elections have not yet been announced, the NDA government should have cleared 25-30 IAS officers of 1970. But they waited for assembly elections to be over. After such a pause, the cabinet secretary sought approval of the appointment committee of the union cabinet, there was no signs of "ACC nod" From December 2003 to June 2004 seven months delay in appointments of 1970 batch. Such a long wait was not experienced in the history of bureaucracy, by any of the predecessors of 1970 and it is first time such a wait. Atleast the UPA government should clear the file in the first week of June. In private talks the officers of 1970 openly accuse Kamal Pandey the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.

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Laloo Yadav pan-parag

Union Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is smart and witty. Many bureaucrats are scared of his tempramental attitude. It is spread that at times Laloo has been in the habit of asking the Chief Secretary of Bihar to make 'pan-powder' for him, in the typical Bihari style of taking a piece of lime (choona) betal nuts, betal leaves etc and tobacco powder. Put them in the palm and crush these ingredients, take the powder with the two fingres from the palm and thrust it under the jaw-lips. this is a bihari style pan. The IAS officer refused to do so, as he had put in 30 years in administration, none had the audacity to ask for palm-made-pan.Sooner such spicy news stories are bound to occupy first pages of national dailies.

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Massive transfers of bureaucrats

Quiet meeting Kamal Pandey had on Sunday afternoon
with the Prime Minister Dr Singh, with a bulky file of Annual Confidential Record sheets of many officers primarily to discuss about the 'personnel policy' of the UPA governmnet. First and foremost is to have a principal secretary to Prime Minister in position latest by Monday morning.

With the installation of new Government headed by Dr Man Mohan Singh each one of the IAS and IPS officers are now apprehensive and trying to save their scalps.As the new UPA Government might be vindictive and teasing.Many want to know their fates. May and June of each year is also a transfer time. There is no rest to the four digits secret phones called RAX provided to officers of the rank of joint secretaries and above.

Indications available are that the UPA government might not be vindictive but is all set to punish those officers who had indentified with the NDA especially with BJP.

Major reshuffle of bureaucrats at Additional and Special
Secretaries rank is expected by first week of June.

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To draft a detailed policy on free power to Andhra farmers

Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh rushes Jairam Ramesh to Hyderabad

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Sunday directed Jairam Ramesh secretary Economic Cell of All India congress cell to rush to Hyderabad on Monday May 24, to assist Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to draft a policy statement on free power to farmers in Andhra as assured to electorates during Assembly election campaign.

In an exclusive interview to VAARTHA Jairam Ramesh AICC Secretary confirmed about his visit to Hyderabad on Monday and meeting with the chief ministers and senior officials to discuss the free power supply policy.

Jairam Ramesh has been meeting Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy
he held two rounds of discussions about free power.
Jairam Ramesh is also likely to be at Hyderabad for two days.

Compensation and budgetary provisions of meeting the required Rs 300 crores is not that difficult as other measures like power theft and subsequent problems are more difficult. Keeping all aspects, a policy has to be drafted hence the direction from Prime Minister.

There is a catch in the visit of Jairam Ramesh to Hyderabad.
The Andhra assembly has been convened and on the first day the Government of Andhra Pradesh has to come out with a policy statement to be read out by Sardar Surjit Singh Barnala. The speech should be submitted to Governor
Secretariat by two days in advance. Jairam Ramesh has
to work out a capsule policy, after understanding the
andhra congress manifesto and later to discuss with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary and officials dealing
with the elelctricity department.

Jairam Ramesh said that, "My responsibility is to help Andhra Government to draft a policy in confirmity with the Congress
policy-election manifesto and to put the process to implementation stage." Such a package is obviously to be copied by AIADMK Jayalalihta's Tamil Nadu Government, hence it is more difficult to speak out the specifics." said Jairam Ramesh.

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Dileep Padgaonkar Editor of Times of India is being considered for the post of Information Advisor to Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh. An experienced newsman and had Edited Times of India for ten years has gained nowledge on speech writing-suggesting high tech publicity campaign for PMO and project Dr Man Mohan Singh.

Another name Vinod Mehta Editor of Outlook is also being
considered for the same post.

There are more senior journalists who have reported AICC matters are also trying luck to get into the Government either in PIB or in Doordharshan.

Senior Congress leaders have put up this proposal to Sonia Gandhi and she has to approve it before official announcement is made.

Meanwhile, as an ad-hoc arrangement, Raju Korah a senior
Indian Information Service officer has been asked to coordinate the press relations of Prime Minister Dr Singh. Korah assumed officer as Director Press Relations in PMO on Sunday