Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Antony blames Army for chief's age row

Laying the blame on the army's doors for the controversy over Gen V K Singh's age issue, Defence Min A K Antony has said it occurred because the force kept two sets of his date of birth for 36 years and maintained there was no civil-military confrontation.

"For 36 years, two branches of the same institution maintained two dates of birth and that is why this controversy," he told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday in his first detailed comments on the raging controversy that is before the Supreme Court now.

"It is unfortunate that it took years together but I don't agree with some of you that it is a civil-military controversy," Antony added.

He suggested that the government had no role to play in the whole issue as this discrepancy was first noticed in 2006 by the Army headquarters and reconciled at that level then and later in 2008 by two respective chiefs.

Antony said from 2006 to 2009, the Army Headquarters (AHQ) handled and reconciled the age issue at their level and the government accepted their recommendations and had no role to play in it.

"It (two dates of birth) was noticed by the AHQ in 2006 and then it was reconciled at the level of the then Army chief (Gen J J Singh). Army took a decision and conveyed it to the government. I was not there but the government of the day took a decision on the basis of recommendations of the Army," he said.

The Defence Minister said when the issue came up again in 2008, the AHQ at the level of the then Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor had reconciled the matter and the government accepted the recommendations of the force.

"Like in 2006, in 2008 also, AHQ at their level reconciled it and sent it to the government, which accepted that. What else the government could do?" he said.

Antony said after accepting recommendations of the AHQ on the matter in 2009, "the government had thought that all controversies were reconciled, at least by 2009 and thought everything is over but again a complaint came in 2011."

He said after receiving the complaint in 2011, the government took three decisions on basis of the opinions given by the Law Ministry and the Attorney General and "that is the only way the government can function".

The Minister said that now that the government decision on the issue has been questioned in the Supreme Court, "let us have some patience and not make this a controversy again and again."

"This is now beyond the government and we have no control over it. Let us all mentally-prepare to accept the decision whatever it may be. That will be the final decision of the Supreme Court of India," he said.

Radia tapes tampered: Centre tells SC

In a significant disclosure, the Union govt told the Supreme Court that the Radia tapes broadcast by media organisations were tampered with and the government agencies were not responsible for its leakage.


Placing a confidential report in a sealed envelope before a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi on Tuesday, the government said there were eight to ten agencies, including service providers, involved in the tapping of telephonic conversation of former corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.

The bench went through a few initial pages of the report which stated there was tampering with the conversations which were released by media.

The report says the starting and the end point of the conversation do not match with the original tapes, Justice Singhvi said referring to the report.

He said the report also says that officers, who had conducted the probe, do not know who has leaked it.

"It is quite possible that someone else has done it," the bench said on Tuesday.

Earlier in 2010, the government, while maintaining that the issues raised by Tata group chief Ratan Tata in his petition relating to the Radia tapes leak required probe, had turned down his plea for taking steps to stop publication of the leaked transcripts in the media.

In February 2011, the government had submitted to the apex court a copy of a complaint on basis of which it had began tapping Radia's telephonic conversations with several people including politicians, corporate leaders and media persons.

The complaint was given to the court in compliance with its 13th December 2010 order, passed on Tata's plea for a probe into the leakage of tapes containing his private conversation with Radia and for stopping further publication of its contents.

The government had told the court that it had begun tapping Radia's telephone on a complaint alleging that she was indulging in anti-national activities and was acting as spy of foreign intelligence agencies.

It had maintained that conversations were recorded as part of the surveillance ordered by the Directorate General of Income Tax (Investigation) following a complaint received by the Finance Minister on 16th November 2007 alleging that Radia had within a short span of nine years built up a business empire worth Rs 300 crore.

The government had given details of as to how 180 days of Radia's conversations were recorded -- first from 20th August 2008 onwards for 60 days and then from 19th October for another 60 days.

Later on 11th May 2009, her phone was put on surveillance for yet another 60 days, following a fresh order given on 8th May.

Economic growth revised down to 8.4 pc for 2010-11

The govt on Tuesday revised the economic growth rate for 2010-11 financial year slightly down to 8.4 pc from the earlier estimate of 8.5 pc, the growth of secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction sector, stood at 7.2 pc in 10-11.


"The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost at constant prices in 2010-11 has registered a growth of 8.4 per cent over the previous year," the Quick Estimates of economic growth released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation said.
"The major source of growth in the GDP has been from the services sector which has grown at the rate of 9.3 per cent. The agriculture sector growth has also been impressive at 7 per cent during the year 2010-11," it said.
The growth of secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction sector, stood at 7.2 per cent in 2010-11.
In addition, the GDP growth estimate for FY09-10 has been revised upward to 8.4 per cent from the previous estimate of 8 per cent.
Agriculture sector growth recorded 7 per cent growth in 2010-11 as against a mere 1 per cent in 2009-10, the data showed.
Finance, insurance, real estate and business services expanded by 10.4 per cent in 2010-11 against a growth rate of 9.4 per cent in the previous fiscal.
Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank had lowered its GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7 per cent, from the earlier estimate of 7.6, due to global economic slowdown, high domestic interest rates and other factors.
Trade, hotels and restaurants expanded by 9 per cent in 2010-11 against a growth rate of 7.8 per cent in 2009-10, the Quick Estimates released by MOSPI Minister Srikant Jena said.
Construction sector grew by 8 per cent during the year under review against 7 per cent in the previous fiscal.
The mining and quarrying sectors registered 5 per cent growth in FY'11, against 6.3 per cent expansion in the previous fiscal.
Manufacturing grew by 7.6 per cent in 2010-11 compared to a growth of 9.7 per cent in 2009-10.
Furthermore, electricity, gas and water production recorded 3 per cent growth in FY'11, compared to 6.3 per cent expansion in FY'10.
As per the Quick Estimates, the transport, storage and communication sector expanded by 14.7 per cent in 2010-11.
The sector had grown by 14.8 per cent in the previous fiscal.
The GDP at constant prices at market prices during the year 2010-11 has grown at 9.6 per cent, as per the data.

Monday, January 30, 2012

India won't scale down its petroleum imports from Iran: Pranab

India, which imports 12 pc of its oil from Iran, will not scale down its petroleum imports from Tehran despite US and European sanctions against the Islamic republic, Finance Min Pranab Mukherjee has said.


"It is not possible for India to take any decision to reduce the imports from Iran drastically, because among the countries which can provide the requirement of the emerging economies, Iran is an important country amongst them," Mukherjee told reporters in Chicago on Sunday.

Speaking at the end of a two-day visit aimed at wooing US investment, Mukherjee on Sunday said: "Some other countries, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the other Gulf countries they also contribute but Iran contributes substantially."

"We (India) imports 110 million tonnes of crude per year. We will not decrease imports from Iran. Iran is an important country for India despite US and European sanctions on Iran," the finance minister said.

India, the world's fourth-largest oil consumer, is Iran's second-biggest oil client after China.

The US and other Western sanctions have been imposed on Iran's economy over Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.

US President Barack Obama added to those measures on 31st December, last year when he signed into law additional sanctions targeting Iran's central bank and financial sector.

Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao last week said that India's purchase of oil from Iran has dropped slightly in last two years and is expected to drop further given the difficulties New Delhi might have in making payments through banks due to tough sanctions imposed against Iranian banks.

Rao had said India was in touch with the US Government and closely monitoring the developing situation concerning Iran, when asked about the pressure from the US that India needs to reduce its dependency on Iranian oil.

Antrix-Devas deal: Govt ready to hear scientists' views

The Govt has said it is ready to hear the points of view of four scientists, including former ISRO chief Madhavan Nair, who have been barred from occupying any govt posts in connection with the controversial Antrix-Devas deal.

"We are ready to hear their points of view. Let them give their views", Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy said on Sunday.

Asked whether there was any move to revoke the decision, he said, "How can I say that now. Let them give their points of view first." The government would consider the version of the scientists, he told a news agency.

The government had earlier this month barred Nair and three other senior space scientists from all current and future government jobs for their alleged role in Antrix Corporation's deal with Devas Multimedia for leasing out bulk transponders on two satellites for launch of digital multimedia services.

The contract related to allocation of scarce S-band space segment to private firm Devas.

Taking serious exception to the move, Prof C N R Rao, Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, had on Saturday said Nair and three fellow space scientists were thrown out like garbage.

Earlier, reacting to the decision, 68-year-old Nair had hit back at the government for taking action "in violation of principles of natural justice and tarnishing the image of reputed people like him."

He has also attacked the incumbent ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan, saying that he had misled the government on the issue. Radhakrishnan has reportedly remained unfazed by his Nair's outbursts against him and has chosen not to react.

The deal was signed during the tenure of Nair as the chairman of ISRO. Nair was also the person behind India's maiden moon mission Chandrayan-I.

The government had taken action after considering a report of the high powered committee (HPC) that went into the Devas deal and that of another panel which examined the HPC report.

The Prime Minister had on 31st May, last year constituted a five-member high-level team under the chairmanship of former Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha to examine aspects of the agreement between Antrix and Devas.

Following the order, Madhavan Nair has stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT-Patna.

On whether he is planning to move the court against the government order, Nair had said that he has filed an application under the RTI Act to get a copies of the order and reports of the B K Chaturvedi Committee on the Antrix-Devas deal.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Finance Minister to visit Chicago from 28th Jan

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit the city on Saturday to look for future investment possibilities between India and United States. 


During his two-day visit, the finance minister will look for investments in power, infrastructure, ports, highways etc during.
With an aim to invest USD 1 trillion in infrastructure for the next five year plan 2012-2017, Mukherjee will seek suitable partners for building the Indian economy.
The finance minister had visited Washington D C and New York last September to look for Foreign Institutional Investors FII investments.
Mukherjee, will be having very important meeting with business leaders of Corporate world mainly of Fortune 500 Companies beside having other important engagements.
His other engagements include unveiling of Swami Vivekananda Memorial Plaque at the Art Institute of Chicago, inauguration of exhibitions of Tagore Paintings at Art Institute of Chicago and signing of two agreements by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India with the Art Institute of Chicago for the "Vivekananda Memorial Programme for Museum Excellence" and with the University of Chicago for an endowment to establish "The Indian Ministry of Culture Vivekananda Chair."
On 29th January, he will have a breakfast meeting with Indian community in Chicago.

PM forms expert committee to look into sugar decontrol

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday constituted an expert committee, headed by his Economic Advisory Council Chairman C Rangarajan, to examine issues related to decontrol of the sugar sector.


Earlier this month, the representatives of the apex sugar industry bodies ISMA and NFCSF had met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, seeking partial decontrol of the sector, including freedom to sell sugar in the open market and doing away with the levy obligation for Public Distribution System.
"The committee would look into all the issues relating to de-regulation of the sugar sector and it has been requested to complete its task as early as possible and give its recommendations to the Prime Minister," a statement issued by PMO said.
The other members of the committee include Kaushik Basu, Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance, and secretaries to the Department of Food and Agriculture.
Other members of the panel are: Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) Chairman Ashok Gulati, former Agriculture Secretary Nand Kumar and K P Krishnan, Secretary EAC Convener.
"The Committee has been empowered to involve such experts, academics as required as special invitees," the statement said, adding that the Food Ministry would provide the necessary support to the committee in discharging its functions.
The statement did not state any deadline for the committee to submit the report.
The sugar industry is under government control, right from the level of production to distribution.
Under the levy obligation, sugar mills are required to sell 10 per cent of their output to the government at below-cost rates for supply to ration shops.
Mills supply levy sugar at 60 per cent of the cost of production, resulting in an annual industry loss of about Rs 2,500-3,000 crore.
Industry has also been demanding removal of the monthly release system under which food ministry allocates quantity of sugar to be sold in the open market every month.

Oil prices higher in Asian trade

Oil rose in Asian trade on Friday on expectations the US economy saw robust growth in the final quarter of 2011, analysts said, while tensions between the West and Iran also supported prices.  


New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in March, gained 31 cents to USD 100.01 a barrel in morning trade.

Brent North Sea crude for March delivery was up 34 cents at USD 111.13.

US Commerce Department will release its figures later Friday, with analysts expecting the world's biggest economy to have grown 3.20 percent in the quarter, the fastest pace in 18 months.

European Union foreign ministers agreed a ban on Iranian oil imports and a phase-out of existing contracts up to July 1 to pressure Tehran to end its controversial nuclear programme.

In a retaliatory move, Iran's parliament is expected to consider next week a bill to ban oil exports to Europe immediately before the embargo comes into force, according to media reports.

2G: Promoters of Essar, Loop did not appear before Spl court

The promoters of Essar group and Loop Telecom--Anshuman and Ravi Ruia and I P Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan respectively--on Friday failed to appear before a Delhi court trying the 2G spectrum case and their lawyers claimed they have not been "duly" served with the summons.

"Summons has not been served to my client at his proper residential address and he is seeking one month exemption as he is at present abroad," senior advocate Siddharth luthra, appearing for Vikash Saraf, Essar group Director (Strategy and Planning), told Special CBI Judge O P Saini.
The plea that the summons have not been "duly" served was taken by Ruias and Khaitans also.
The Special CBI Judge had earlier on 21st December, had issued summons to Essar Group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters I P Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan, Vikash Saraf and three firms after taking cognisance of the CBI charge sheet arising out of the probe in the 2G scam.
However, the representatives of accused firms, Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Teleholdings on Friday appeared in pursuance to the summons.
Special Public Prosecutor U U Lalit questioned the non-appearance of some of the accused saying that the defence counsel were "indirectly asking for the stay of proceedings" which they failed to get from the Delhi High Court.
The defence lawyers said that Ruias and Khaitans are at present in Dubai and the CBI officials pasted copies of the summons at their Delhi and Mumbai addresses.
The agency did not execute the service of summons at proper addresses, they said.
Seeking the court's intervention, the defence lawyers said that the matter be deferred as the issue relating to the jurisdiction of the special CBI Judge was pending adjudication before the Delhi High Court.
Earlier, the High Court had asked the Essar Teleholdings and Loop Telecom and the CBI to approach the Supreme Court to get clarifications on the directions which restrained other courts from entertaining pleas related to the 2G case.
The apex court had also ordered constitution of a special court to deal with the matters arising out of the probe in the 2G case.
Two accused firms have sought setting aside of the notification by which the special court was formed.
"As per the High Court order, both parties (CBI and the accused) have to move to the Supreme Court on the issue of jurisdiction of this (special) court. The court may adjourn the matter as this matter is going to the very root of jurisdiction and so that we can go to the Supreme Court and deal with the matter," the counsel for Loop Telecom said.
"They (defence counsel) are indirectly asking for the same relief (staying of proceedings) which they have failed to get from the Delhi High Court," Lalit responded.
The Supreme Court had amply made it clear that none other than the special court would hear the matter related to the 2G case, the special prosecutor said.
"Kindly mark why the High Court was not giving the interim relief to them (accused) because the Surpeme Court, in one of its orders, had said that no matter related to the 2G case could be heard by any other court, except the special court," he said.

Food inflation remains in negative zone

Falling cost of vegetables like potatoes and onions kept food inflation in the negative zone for the fourth consecutive week at (-)1.03 percent as on 14th January.


Experts said that food inflation is likely to remain in the negative terrain for some more time and this could help the Reserve Bank go for rate cut in its next mid-quarterly review in March.

Food inflation, as measured by the wholesale price index (WPI), stood at over 17 percent in the corresponding week of the previous year. It was (-)0.41 percent in the previous week ended 7th January.

The maximum drop was witnessed in prices of onions, which became cheaper by 79.10 percent year-on-year, while potatoes became 22.46 percent less expensive.

Overall, vegetables became 47.06 percent cheaper, while wheat prices fell by 3.37 percent.

"Food inflation may remain in the negative zone for some more time. The RBI has already cut the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and the continuing moderation in inflation may prompt it to go for interest rate cuts in next mid-quarterly review," Crisil Chief Economist D K Joshi said.

He also said that the fall in food inflation numbers will help keep headline inflation at moderate levels.

General inflation stood at a two-year low of 7.47 percent in December, mainly on account of falling food prices.

At its third quarterly monetary policy review earlier this week, the apex bank had injected Rs 32,000 crore into the system by lowering the CRR by half-a-percentage point to 5.5 percent but kept the short-term lending rate unchanged.

The government, meanwhile, has decided to stop the practice of releasing the food inflation data on weekly basis.

"Cabinet decisions need some time to be implemented," government spokeswoman Neelam Kapur said on Friday.

The Commerce and Industry ministry, however, will continue releasing the monthly headline or overall inflation data, which also contains the break-up for all segments including food, non-food, fuel and manufactured items.

While vegetables and wheat prices saw a fall, rates of other items continued to go up. Year-on-year, prices of pulses were up 12.77 percent, milk - 12.25 percent and eggs, meat and fish - 20.33 percent for the week under review.

Experts attributed the decline in food inflation to the "high base" of the previous year and to good kharif output. Food inflation stood at over 17 percent in the same period last year.

"The price levels of non-vegetarian protein items have displayed a rise in the recent weeks reflecting the seasonal demand patterns," said ICRA Economist Aditi Nayar.

She also said: "Although prices of such items are likely to ease somewhat subsequent to the winter months, the related inflation rate is expected to remain elevated given an unlikely short-term supply response."

Inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 1.89 percent during the week ended 14th January, as against 2.47 percent in the previous week, as per Friday’s data.

Inflation in the non-food segment, which includes fibres and oilseeds, was recorded at 0.56 percent compared to 1.84 percent in the previous week.

Fuel and power inflation stood at 14.45 percent, the same as in the previous week.

In its review, RBI had said inflation remains a concern in view of volatile crude prices in international markets and widening fiscal deficit.

RBI had hiked lending rates 13 times between March 2010 and October 2011 to curb demand and tame inflation.

The apex bank, which has pegged the year-end inflation at 7 percent, said the revision in domestic-administered prices would add to inflationary pressure. RBI will announce its next mid-quarterly review on 15th March.

This decision to do away with the weekly inflation data was arrived at as the figures were not portraying the "holistic" picture of the price situation, according to officials.

"Doing away with the weekly inflation data would mean that the volatility associated with week-on-week variations would cease to cause concern. Globally also it is the norm to give inflation numbers on a monthly basis," Crisil's Joshi said.

Will watch how Twitter implements censorship policy: US

Close on the heels of Twitter announcing that it can now selectively censor tweets on a country-by-country basis, the US has said it will wait and watch how the micro-blogging site implements its new policy.


"We are strongly committed to protecting fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly, association online", State Department spokesperson Victoria Nualand said.
"As the Secretary (of State) said in her Internet freedom speech, the choices that private companies make have an impact on how information flows or doesn't flow on the Internet and mobile networks. They also have an impact on what governments can and can't do and on people," she said.
She said smart companies need to develop broad principles that guide their actions.
"I think in the Twitter case, what we see here is a company making very clear what its policies are going to be in these circumstances where the choice is operate not at all or operate in a constrained way," Nuland said.
"So from that perspective, being honest about what you're up to is in keeping with these standards. But until we see how they are implemented and how it influences content, we obviously can't evaluate whether this is, you know, a good thing or not for Internet freedom," she said.
Nuland said there are a number of examples of companies that are not as up-front about what they do.
"And, you know, at least this way, Twitter users can know what is up. But again, until we see how this is implemented, I don't think we're in a position to evaluate," she said.
Twitter, she pointed out, has stated publicly that it is committed to abiding by fundamental freedoms of expression and association and assembly, and to being transparent.
The United States, Nuland asserted, would only set out broader principles, and not dictate to companies.
"We're not going to dictate to companies. We're setting out the general principles."
There are many companies out there that make these decisions without being transparent, either to their users or to the world, she said.
"Twitter's been up-front about what they're doing. I think we have to see how it works," Nuland said.

Suicide bomber kills 32 at Baghdad funeral march

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in southeastern Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 32 people half of them policemen who were guarding the march in the latest brazen attack since the US troop withdrawal from Iraq. 


Police officials said the blast occurred at 11:00 am in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah, where mourners had gathered for the funeral of a person killed the day before.
They said 65 people were wounded in the attack, including 16 policemen.
Hospital officials confirmed the death toll.
Salam Hussein, a 42-year-old grocery store owner in Zafaraniyah said he was watching the funeral procession, which was heavily guarded by police, when the blast blew out his store windows and injured one of his workers.
"It was a huge explosion," Hussein said.
As he took his worker to the hospital, Hussein said he saw cars engulfed in flames, "human flesh scattered around and several mutilated bodies in a pool of blood" around where the attacker's car had exploded.
Zafaraniyah resident Talib Bashir, 50, said he was part of the procession of about 500 men but left the group to take his child home when he heard the blast.
"I saw smoke coming from a parked car that had exploded," Bashir said, adding that police and civilians cars, an ambulance van and several stores were engulfed in flames hours after the blast.
"The fire lasted for a long time," Bashir said.
Minutes after the blast, gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint in Zafaraniyah, killing two policemen, according to police officials.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

IAEA chief urges Iran to cooperate with inspectors

The head of the UN's atomic watchdog urged Iran on Friday to engage constructively with a team of inspectors heading to Tehran, after a damning report on Iran's nuclear programme. 


Speaking on the sidelines of the Davos forum, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano told the news agency that the organisation's previous efforts to verify whether all its activities were for non-military purposes had been hampered by "a lack of cooperation" from Iran which he hoped would change.
"We hope they (Iran) will take a constructive approach. We hope that there will be substantial cooperation."
A report by the IAEA in November highlighted a range of areas which had raised suspicions that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons, despite its repeated denials.
It detailed 12 suspicious areas such as testing explosives in a steel container at a military base and studies on Shahab-3 ballistic missile warheads.
Amano said it was too early to say definitively that Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. But he added, "We have information that indicates that Iran has engaged in activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device."
"We are requesting that Iran clarifies the situation. We proposed to make a mission and they agreed to accept the mission".
"The preparations have gone well but we need to see what actually happens when the mission arrives."
Officials at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna said the team, led by chief inspector Herman Nackaerts, would be visiting Iran from Sunday to Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters earlier, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said that the onus was on Iran to prove its good intentions.
"There is no other alternative to addressing this crisis than peaceful resolution through dialogue," Ban said in Davos.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has insisted that Tehran is not dodging negotiations and was ready to sit down with world powers  Britain China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany for talks.
The six world powers are waiting for Tehran to reply to an October letter sent by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton that stresses that discussions should focus on the "key question" of the Iranian nuclear issue.
Previous talks held a year ago in Istanbul ended without progress.
"Iran should comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions. They have to prove themselves, that their nuclear development programme is genuinely for peaceful purposes which they have not done yet," Ban said.

Chidambaram mourns death of Farook

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday condoled the death of Kerala Governor M O H Farook, saying he had served the nation "with much dignity and affection to all sections of people".


Chidambaram, who met the members of Farook's family in Puducherry, said he had known the former Puducherry chief minister for more than three decades.
"Farook had established close contact with all sections. Even those in the opposition camp had lauded his capabilities and efficiency," the Home Minister said.
Farook died at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday.
Chidambaram said be it as Chief Minister of Puducherry or Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia or as Governor of Jharkhand and Kerala, Farook had performed well for the welfare of the people.
His contributions to Puducherry had established a permanent mark to perpetuate his memory, the Home Minister said.
Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan, who met the members of the bereaved family earlier also referred to the "sterling qualities" of Farook and described his death as a great loss.
Mortal remains of Kerala Governor M O H Farook laid to rest

The mortal remains of Kerala Governor M O H Farook were buried on Friday with full state honours at the mausoleum near Puducherry.

Farook (74), former Puducherry Chief Minister, passed away at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai last night where he was undergoing treatment since last month for kidney and other ailments.

A gun salute was accorded to the departed leader.

Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed, Chief Minister Arjun Munda and Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Puducherry Lt Governor Iqbal Singh, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, his cabinet Colleagues and Union Minister in the Prime Minister's office V Narayanasamy were among those present at the burial ground.

Earlier, Defence Minister A K Antony, Union Minister E.Ahmed and Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy paid homage to the departed leader at his residence.

Others who paid their last respects included KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, some Kerala Ministers, PMK leader
S Ramadoss and former Union Minister E V K S Elangovan.

Antony in his condolence message said Farook was a source of strength to the Congress and to the government and had proved his capabilities in all positions he held including as Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia.

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi were among the leaders who condoled the death.

Farook was sworn in as the 19th governor of Kerala last September, prior to which he had occupied the gubernatorial post in Jharkhand.

While Kerala has declared a seven-day mourning, the government of the union territory of Puducherry, from where Farook hails, declared a three-day mourning.

Cold wave continues to sweep Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

Cold wave on Saturday continued to sweep Kashmir as the minimum temperature across the region plunged further and mercury in Srinagar fell nearly five degrees below the freezing point. 


The minimum temperature in Srinagar dropped by 2.6 degrees Celsius from Friday to settle at minus 4.8 deg C, a MeT official said.
In the famous Gulmarg skiing resort, in north Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 12.5 deg C, marking a drop of 0.7 points from Friday, he said.
Minimum temperature also dropped in south Kashmir's Pahalgam tourist resort as the mercury there settled at minus 12.2 deg C, a fall of 2.4 points from last night.
South Kashmir's Qazigund town, which acts as the gateway to the Kashmir Valley, recorded a freezing night with minimum temperature dropping to minus 7.0 deg C.
Kupwara frontier town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.2 deg C, the official said.
Leh town in remote Ladakh region recorded minimum minus 17.2 deg C, an increase of 4.4 deg C from Friday, he said.
The adjoining Kargil town, also in Ladakh region, recorded a low of minus 19.0 deg C.
Cold wave sweeps Punjab and Haryana
Cold wave swept Punjab and Haryana with minimum temperatures further dipping between 2-5 degrees Celsius in the region.
Hisar in Haryana was the coldest place in the two states recording a bone-chilling low of 2.6 deg C, down four notches below normal, the MeT said in Chandigarh.
Narnaul recorded a minimum of 3 deg C, down by three points below normal, while Rohtak settled at a low of 3.5 deg C, down by five notches below normal.
Ambala (4.4 degrees Celsius) and Bhiwani (4.8 degrees Celsius) also reeled under biting cold.
The minimum at Chandigarh dropped by three notches below normal since Friday to settle at 4.9 deg C.
Amritsar in Punjab reeled under biting cold at 3.6 deg C, down one notch than normal.
Piercing chill was back at Ludhiana, where the minimum settled at 3.4 deg C, down five notches below normal, while Patiala recorded a low of 4 deg C, three points below normal.
Sriganganagar coldest in Rajasthan
Cold conditions on Saturday continued in the desert state of Rajasthan with Sriganganagar recording the lowest minimum temperature of 3.4 degrees Celsius.
Churu recorded a low of 3.6 deg C. Pilani and Jaisalmer recorded a low of 4.7 deg C and 6.4 deg C respectively, while 'Pink City' Jaipur recorded a minimum of 9.9 deg C, MeT officials said.