A departmental inquiry by the police to look into the alleged breach of protocol in Ajmer, after Pakistan federal minister for commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim addressed a gathering of his supporters, held four local administrative and police officials responsible.
Mr Fahim visited Ajmer on September 30, 2011 to offer prayers at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Mr Fahim, chief of Pakistan’s largest spiritual group, the Sarwari Jammat, also has a large number of mureeds (supporters) in the border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer. The Opposition BJP raised voice against it and sought action against the authorities for alleged violation of protocol in allowing the Pakistan minister to address his supporters during his visit.
In his report, Ajmer additional superintendent of police Sameer Singh questioned the role of protocol officer Sunita Daga, police officer of Dargah area Vishnu Samtani, SHO Ravindra Yadva and deputy SP Nemichand but also said Mr Fahim did not indicate about such gatherings and his move to address them.
On Mr Fahim’s arrival, thousands of people from the border area of Rajasthan, including Congress MLA Saleh Khan, gathered in Ajmer to welcome their spiritual head.
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Ministry, revenue dept to inquire into antrix deal
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, FEB. 4
The ministry of corporate affairs and the department of revenue have been asked to conduct necessary investigation for possible acts of omission and commission in the agreement Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix) of department of space (DoS) had entered into with Bengaluru-based Devas Multimedia Private Limited on January 28, 2005 for lifetime lease of 9 per cent capacity of S-band transponders of two satellites, to be built by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
Isro issued a statement on Saturday night to make the position clear on the Devas issue. Inquiries by this newspaper have revealed that the ministry of corporate affairs has initiated a probe but the Enforcement Directorate is yet to start investigations into the leasing of transponders by Antrix to a company lacking credible standing.
The Government of India had set up a high-powered review committee (HPRC) on February 10, 2011 to review the technical, commercial, procedural and financial aspects of the agreement Antrix had entered into with Devas. Isro has clarified that appropriate committees have been reconstituted by bringing in new people and dropping others, including those whose names have surfaced in the reports of the high-powered review committee and the high-level team.
The HLT had sought “clarifications” from all the officers who at any point in time had dealt with the files concerning the Antrix-Devas agreement.