THE stage for the drama over the appointment of the next Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has shifted from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to the Finance Ministry in North Block.The open war of words between current Chairman YSP Thorat and Managing Director KG Karmakar has given enough reason to North Block mandarins to stealthily induct an IAS officer into the top post, thus grossly neglecting competent bankers.
Thorat retires on November 30, and the RBI advertised the vacancy in July this year. Over 200 can- didates applied but only four – Karmakar, two Executive Directors of NABARD, and the Chairman and Managing Director of National Housing Bank,V Sridhar – were shortlisted and interviewed on October 1 by a panel headed by RBI Governor YV Reddy.All the candidates were rejected by the panel and a new com- mittee was then formed to suggest suitable names.This raises questions about the motives of the panel as Karmakar is NABARD’s seniormost banker and Sridhar is also reputed in banking.
The story goes that Thorat wanted an exten- sion, which is not possible under NABARD rules. Then, nursing ill will against Karmakar, he decided to stall the latter’s selection by any means. He apparently influenced Reddy against Karmakar. Further, his com- plaint reached the Finance Ministry.The ministry then advised the panel to reject all the candidates and find a suitable name through a new committee.This latter body had a powerful Joint Secretary of the Finance Ministry,Amitabh Verma.
Sources say a verbal mes-sage went to RBI from the ministry not to reconsider Karmakar and Sridhar.The new committee suggested an IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre to head NABARD.The Member- Secretary of the Reddy panel and Banking Secretary Vinod Rai were happy to appease their fraternity.
Defence Secy to Antony’s aid
DEFENCE Minister AK Antony has a reputation as a low-profile and honest politician. But since return- ing from his official visit to Russia this October, he has become extra cautious about meeting foreign diplomats in embassies.
Antony went on a two-day visit to Russia with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to prepare the ground for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit and also to resolve issues con- cerning purchase of fighter planes and aircraft carriers. However, the two ministers were not only denied the customary protocol but also subjected to a body search
by airport security (as had happened to former Defence Minister George Fernandes in the US).
Soon after his return from Russia,Antony was invited to a slide show of the joint Indo-US military exercise at the American embassy in Delhi. Under the Indo-US defence framework agree- ment, a series of joint military exercises and training programmes are being con- ducted on Indian soil.
Antony, humiliated in Russia and aware that the joint exercises are drawing flak from the reds, was also aware that the Prime Minister is in favour of them. He dithered on going to the embassy.The clever Defence Secretary, Vijay Singh, guessed his predicament and offered to represent the minister at the embassy.
Prasar Bharati hits out at Lalli & Co.
THE Prasar Bharati Board meeting in October proved a Waterloo for the IAS lobby.The professionals, fed up with the dictates of media-illiterate bureaucrats and their arrogant and boor- ish style of functioning, decided to give a befitting blow to the IAS lobby.
The meeting was headed by veteran journalist MV Kamath and attended by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) BS Lalli, a retired 1971-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Pradip Singh, the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,AK Jain, the Member-Finance, and other Members of the Board.At the outset, the Board lam- basted the CEO for the serious downfall in Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR).The members were peeved over the fact that Prasar Bharati has been made a haven for the IAS lobby since its inception and is being ruled and ruined by this non-professional frater- nity. It is riddled with con- troversies and the Central Vigilance Commission has found plenty of instances of corruption involving the babus who have worked there.
The meeting witnessed tense moments as Board members demanded that only professionals head these important media units, not bureaucrats.The CEO’s move to bring in another IAS officer as Director- General,AIR, was unani- mously opposed.“There are deserving and competent professionals in these offices but bureaucrats are creating technical hurdles which should be stopped,” said one very vocal member.
