Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Aug 21: Centre has put on hold the search for the replacement of present Governor, N N Vohra in view of the existing turmoil in the State and the present incumbent is likely to continue till normalcy is restored in the State.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR, “though Centre has been actively considering the proposal to replace the existing Governor, the entire exercise has taken back seat after the State was pushed into turmoil ever since the killing of a militant in South Kashmir in July” adding, “under present circumstances, the Centre will fully back the present incumbent, who has vast experience in handling of the sensitive State and has aptly handled similar situations in the past”.
Sources remarked, “earlier the officials in the Union Home Ministry had held threadbare discussions on replacing the present Governor and two names had prominently figured in the top level meetings. They included former GOC of Srinagar based 15 Corps, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain and former IAS officer, Vijai Kapoor, who had also served as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi”.
Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain is the former Corps Commander of the Srinagar based 15 Corps, and is currently associated with major strategic think tanks of country. After taking over as GOC in October 2010, he had been credited of taking several initiatives to redress the grievances and concerns of common citizens and his tenure witnessed cordial relations between the Army and citizens.
He conceived and operationalised the “Hearts Doctrine”, which focused on people as the centre of gravity in Kashmir. On June 9, 2012, Lt Gen Hasnain took office as the Military Secretary, at Army Headquarters, New Delhi. His unique and innovative approach defined as “Playing Friend Not God” has been widely appreciated as the new HR management mantra across domains in and outside the military.
On Sept 7, 2013, Vice President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari awarded him with the first civilian honour by the Capital Foundation of Delhi for exceptional Military leadership. Ever since his superannuation on June 30, 2013, General Hasnain has actively pursuing intellectual activities and has been invited at various national and international forums to lecture on security related issues.
Vijai Kapoor, a 1961 batch Indian Administrative Service official who was the Secretary, Defence production, is considered to be close to senior BJP leader L K Advani. After retiring in 2003, Kapoor has been a special invitee to the BJP’s national executive since 2006 and formally joined the Bharatiya Janta Party on October 4, 2008.
Kapoor, did a remarkable job to ensure the implementation of the Delhi Metro Rail project during his six-year tenure between 1998 and 2004. Kapoor, who enjoys proximity to several BJP leaders is presently posted as Director at Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited.
Vohra, who took over as Governor of the State in 2008, is serving his second term on the gubernatorial post. Even before the expiry of his first term, he was given another extension on April 28, 2013 for another five years.
“However, due to personal reasons Vohra has some time back conveyed to the Central leadership about his desire to relinquish the post. Centre had urged him to continue till they find a suitable candidate for the sensitive State of Jammu and Kashmir”, sources said adding, “there were also speculations that after the culmination of Amarnath Yatra in 2016, the Centre might replace him. But, the entire plan went haywire after Valley witnessed several incidents of violence”.
Seventy-nine-year-old Vohra was the first civilian Governor of J&K in 18 years after Jagmohan and witnessed the Amarnath agitation in 2008. “Given the non-controversial track of Vohra as Governor of a sensitive State like Jammu and Kashmir and his impressive track record as top bureaucrat of the country, he had emerged as a preferred choice for the gubernatorial post for the second time”, adding, “another important fact is that Vohra enjoys good relations with people across the political spectrum”.
Even in May 2015, when the BJP led Government at Centre replaced several Governor’s appointed by the earlier political dispensation, there was never any move to replace the present incumbent.
During his bureaucratic tenure from 1954 to 1994, Vohra served as Union Home Secretary and Defence Secretary. He was recalled from retirement to serve as Principal Secretary to the then Prime Minister I K Gujral during 1997-1998. Vohra was also the chairman of Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis from 1999 to 2001 and Chairman of Military History Review Committee between 2001 and 2002.
Vohra, a Punjab cadre IAS officer, who is also a recipient of Padma Vibushan took over as Union Home Secretary in the aftermath of serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993. He also worked as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare between 1977-82 and then as Additional Secretary, Defence and Secretary, Defence Production.
Sources, however, remarked, “Centre is very much likely to look for a substitute for Vohra, once the situation normalises in Valley”.
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