Antrix - Devas deals : PMO blacklists ex-ISRO chief Nair from government jobs

[JAYRAM]

Heard " GOVT IS RETHINKING BAN ON SCIENTISTS ". Madhavan Nair says " Govt was aware of complete Antrix - Devas deal & it is undemocratic that govt banned them before hearing what they have to say. Further said govt should have conducted proper investigation before firing them...!!"

Yes that is unconstitutional...

Think, there is some conspiracy going to protect someone somewhere in govt or dept. of space by sacrificing Nair & scientists. Or is this a play to save even Madhavan Nair & scientists by govt.. by banning them first & revoking the ban later after heat dissipates..


May be there is some bigger scam than 2g is hiding..

Prime minister or PMO is not replying yet as nair said they were aware of the deal. Even Radhakrishnan is not opening mouth.

This govt is destroying every major institution of the country..

 

[JAYRAM]

Govt to rethink ban on former ISRO chief?

30 Jan 2012, 1334 hrs IST, TIMES NOW

Sources on Monday (January 30) said that the government is willing to consider representation from space scientists including former chairman Madhavan Nair who have been blacklisted for their alleged role in the Antrix Devas deal. This development comes after Nair sought revocation from the Prime Minister's office of the ban against him.

Government yesterday 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 government 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.

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 said.

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 yesterday said Nair and three fellow space scientists were "thrown out like garbage".

Rao had targeted Narayanasamy for his reported comments that the government decision was taken to send a strong message to the scientific community that no wrongdoing would be tolerated.

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 May 31, 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.

Govt to rethink ban on former ISRO chief?- TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

 

[JAYRAM]

Video: The Newshour, Times Now,

Nair speaking

Direct: Madhavan Nair-The Newshour-TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

G Madhavan Nair, former ISRO chief, speaks exclusively with TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, on the issue of Devas-ISRO deal and Nair writing to the PM asking for a revocation of ban on he and three other scientists.

Demanding an apology from those responsible for taking punitive action against him and three fellow space scientists, former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair has written to PM Manmohan Singh for revoking the official order barring them from holding government posts.

Nair in the letter to the PM also wanted a probe into the entire matter that led to the action which has outraged the scientific community. Nair when asked by newsmen if those who issued the order should tender an apology said, "Certainly. They owe an apology not to me but to the whole country. Somebody has taken law into their hands and they have to apologise before the country".

In the letter to Singh, Nair wanted an inquiry into Government action blacklisting the four scientists in connection with the Antrix-Devas deal in which the private firm was allotted scarce S band spectrum by ISRO allegedly violating rules when he was the space agency's chairman. Nair told reporters there should be a "proper procedure" in proceeding with all these matters before an official order is issued.

On the statement of MoS in the PM's Office V Narayanasamy that the Govt is ready to hear their views, Nair said, "if it is a real move from Govt side it is good. He also said the Govt should approach him and the 3 scientists directly rather than seeking their views through media, asserting that truth has to be established as it's a question of their honour.

Direct: Madhavan Nair-The Newshour-TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

 

[JAYRAM]

Government knew of Devas deal at every stage, says Madhavan Nair

Madhavan Nair to seek revocation of order barring him from holding government posts

Indicted over the controversial 2005 Antrix-Devas agreement signed during his tenure as ISRO chairman, G. Madhavan Nair told The Hindu in an interview at his residence on Sunday that several people within the government — not least from the Prime Minister's Office — were well aware of the details of the deal at every stage.

Mid-2005, the Space Commission "cleared" the construction of two satellites for a private company, said Mr. Nair. A note prepared by the Department of Space for the Cabinet Committee on Security in February 2011 said the Space Commission and the Cabinet had not been informed of the Antrix-Devas agreement when their approval for building GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A were sought.

"In the case of GSAT 6 and 6A, there was a clear statement in the note to the Space Commission and the Cabinet to say that the major part of the transponder capacity was to be used by private operators. We do not name the private operator because it could have changed," said Mr. Nair.

The Space Commission, which is chaired by the ISRO chief, comprised the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PMO, the National Security Adviser, Member (Finance), and the Additional Secretary, Department of Space, he added.

Under the 2005 contract between Antrix Corporation (ISRO's commercial wing) and the Bangalore-based Devas Multimedia, the latter was allowed exclusive use of 70 MHz of the scarce S-band spectrum over a 20-year period for its digital multimedia services; and ISRO was to build two satellites for the company. As the contract was signed without a competitive bidding process, questions were raised about the preferential spectrum allocation. CAG's preliminary estimates placed the loss to the exchequer at over Rs. 2 lakh crore.

The contract was cleared "collectively" by the Board of Antrix which had approved "hundreds" of similar contracts, including those with major players in DTH, said Mr. Nair. The Antrix Board included Member (Finance), who is accountable directly to the Finance Department and also the Joint Secretary of the Department of Space, he said.

"Discussed four times"

Moreover, a Technical Coordination Group appointed by the INSAT Coordination Committee (ICC) to look into the technical aspects of the project, discussed the Devas deal at least four times, he said. This working group — that assessed the frequency used and the judiciousness of spectrum utilisation — comprised representatives from the Department of Telecommunication and the Department of Science and Technology, he said. The ICC, an interdepartmental government agency, was constituted in the 1980s to facilitate the allocation of transponders to users.

The contract with Devas Multimedia was consistent with the satellite communication policy that encouraged private operators to use space-based services, he said. The contract was to work on a 'first come, first served' basis, he said, when asked about the lack of a bidding process and the apparent privileging of one company.

Mr. Nair said he would appeal to the government to revoke the order barring him from holding government posts over the Antrix-Devas deal. Mr. Nair, who recently stepped down as the chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT-Patna, said: "I am not looking for a government job. But I see [the order] as having tarnished my image."

He was waiting for a response to his application under the Right to Information Act for the two reports of the two committees set up under the PMO to look into alleged irregularities in the contract. Mr. Nair said he had not yet received the order of January 13 from the Department of Space that banned him and three senior ISRO scientists from holding government posts.
'Witch-hunt'

"This is a violation of due process. [When there is an alleged irregularity] the first thing you do is inform the party and give them an opportunity to explain. Without any such process, sending the decision summarily is unheard of," said Mr. Nair, describing the order as "nothing short of a witch-hunt."

Keywords: Antrix-Devas deal, S band spectrum, ISRO, Department of Space, Madhavan Nair

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2843025.ece

 

[JAYRAM]

Quash the order and conduct probe, Nair urges PM

In a bid to restore his reputation following the controversy over the Antrix-Devas deal, the former ISRO chief, G. Madhavan Nair, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday to repeal the order barring him from government posts.

He had, in his letter, asked the Prime Minister to quash the order and conduct an inquiry into the matter, Mr. Nair said. The order of January 13 from the Department of Space called for barring Mr. Nair and three senior scientists from government office for alleged irregularities in the agreement signed in 2005 under Mr. Nair's tenure as ISRO's chairman.

In an interview to The Hindu on Sunday Mr. Nair, said he "is not looking for a government job" but wanted to set right his "tarnished image."

He added that he was waiting to receive the reports of two high-level teams under the Right to Information Act set up under the PMO to look into alleged irregularities in the contract.

Most recently, C.N.R. Rao, head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, reacted strongly to a statement by the Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasamy, who said the order was meant to "send a strong message" to the scientific community that no wrongdoing would be tolerated.

The Hindu : News / National : Quash the order and conduct probe, Nair urges PM

 

[JAYRAM]

Morale of space scientists hit, says U.R. Rao

Eminent space scientist and the former Chairman of ISRO, U.R. Rao, on Saturday described as "sad" the Centre's action in the controversial Antrix-Devas deal barring four space scientists from holding government posts and the developments thereafter.

Dr. Rao, presently Chairman of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and co-Chairman, the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, was referring to the January 13 order in which the Department of Space sought exclusion of the former ISRO Chairman, G. Madhavan Nair, and three other space scientists from re-employment, committee roles or any other important role under the government.

"Unfortunate"

Talking to journalists here on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Karnataka Science and Technology Academy headed by him, he said, "Four scientists have been penalised, or whatever you call it. The way it went on and outbursts"¦it is a bit unfortunate."

Pointing out that the Space department enjoyed great respect in the country, he said, "Whatever is happening is not good for the country." This, he said, would affect the morale of all the people [scientists]. Not only that of persons being talked about"¦the organisation gets affected. After all, one feels proud of an organisation"¦If morale goes, it does hamper [work]."

Clarifying that he did not want to get involved in the controversy, Prof. Rao said, "The details of this the committee [constituted by the Prime Minister] must have seen."

Asked what should have ideally happened in the case, Prof. Rao refused to comment saying he did not have the details. "I have no idea. I don't want to get involved," he said. The controversy had arisen more than 18 years after he retired, he added.

"We build satellites in two-and-a-half years, whereas 25 years was the average period taken to build the first satellite. Nobody knew what a satellite was," he said, pointing out how parts of a satellite were taken on a bicycle or bullock cart for testing. "There were classic pictures published saying India goes from bullock carts to space age"¦It all happened because people believed in us."

India lagging behind

He regretted that India lagged far behind China. It could be partly due to the combining of defence with space research in that country. India needed to give far more importance to science and technology. Right people needed to be put in the right place. The country's development was dependent on its science and technology, not politics.

The Hindu : News / National : Morale of space scientists hit, says U.R. Rao

 

[JAYRAM]

S band deal: Govt ready to hear scientists' views?

Government on Sunday 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 government 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.

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 PTI.

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 yesterday said Nair and three fellow space scientists were "thrown out like garbage."

Prof. Rao had targeted Narayanasamy for his reported comments that the government decision was taken to send a strong message to the scientific community that no wrongdoing would be tolerated.

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.

Mr. Radhakrishnan has reportedly remained unfazed by Mr. 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 May 31, 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.

The Hindu : News / National : S band deal: Govt ready to hear scientists' views

 

[JAYRAM]

It is the personal agenda of ISRO chief: Madhavan Nair

The former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G. Madhavan Nair, and three other space scientists, have been barred by the Department of Space from holding any government posts, present or future. "The former officers "¦ shall be excluded from re-employment, committee roles or any other important role under the government."

The January 13 order was a fallout of the controversial Antrix-Devas deal.

Under the contract, signed in 2005 during Dr. Nair's tenure as ISRO Chairman, Antrix Corporation had allowed the Bangalore-based private company Devas Multimedia unbridled use of 70 MHz of the scarce S-band spectrum over a 20-year period for its digital multimedia services. The ISRO was to build two satellites GSat 6 and 6A for Devas.

In February 2011, the Centre scrapped the deal, days after The Hindu and the Business Line published an investigation into the inherent irregularities in the agreement.

The contract was signed without a competitive bidding process, raising questions about the preferential spectrum allocation, which according to the Comptroller and Auditor-General's estimates could have cost the exchequer a loss of over Rs.2 lakh crore.

In May last, the Prime Minister formed a five-member high-level team under the chairmanship of the former Central Vigilance Commissioner, Pratyush Sinha, to examine aspects of the agreement between Antrix and Devas. Two other high-level probes into the agreement were initiated early last year by the Prime Minister's Office.

"We still do not have a copy of the order. I received information of the order through the media," Dr. Nair told The Hindu.

He also suggested that "the government's decision reflects the clear personal agenda of the present ISRO Chairman, K Radhakrishnan." "What else would you judge from what has happened?"

Mr. Radhakrishnan refused to comment.

Dr. Nair will lose visiting professorship at ISRO. He also holds posts as Chairman of the Board of Governors in IIT-Patna, and Chairman of the Governing council of CSIR's NAL.

The Hindu : News / National : It is the personal agenda of ISRO chief: Madhavan Nair

 

[JAYRAM]

Ex-ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair writes to PM, wants ban order quashed

BANGALORE: Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for quashing an official order barring him and three fellow space scientists from holding government posts and to also probe this issue.

"I have represented to the Prime Minister and asked him to quash the order as well as conduct an inquiry into the matter," Nair said today, adding the Government should restore his honour.

"I am not interested in any government favours. What I am interested is restoring the honour of myself and my colleagues," said the ex-Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).

In the letter to Singh, Nair wanted an inquiry into Government action blacklisting the four scientists in connection with the Antrix-Devas deal in which the private firm was allotted scarce S band spectrum by ISRO allegedly violating rules when he was the space agency's chairman.

The architect of the maiden unmanned Moon mission Chandrayan-I separately said there should be a "proper procedure" in proceeding with all these matters before an official order is issued.

On the statement of Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy that the government is ready to hear their views, Nair said, "if it is a real move from Government side it is good.

Nair demanded an apology from those responsible for taking punitive action against the four space scientists.

"Certainly. They owe an apology not to me but to the whole country. Somebody has taken law into their hands and they have to apologise before the country", said Nair when asked if those who issued the order should tender an apology.

Nair said the earlier order was issued as per the direction of the government and "competent authority has taken a decision."

"Now, if the government is serious about it, it has to direct the so-called competent authority to do the needful (revoke the order)", he said.

He also said the government should approach him and the three scientists directly rather than seeking their views through media, asserting that truth has to be established as it's a question of their honour.

Ex-ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair writes to PM, wants ban order quashed - The Economic Times

 

[JAYRAM]

Order flawed, restore our honour: Madhavan Nair

BANGALORE: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chief G Madhavan Nair has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to quash an official order barring him and three other space scientists from holding government posts over the Antrix-Devas deal.

He also requested him to order an inquiry into the process by which the order was issued. "I believe the issuance of the order did not follow established procedures and would like the matter investigated," Nair said. "I'm seeking restoration of our honour," he added.

On the statement of minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy that the government is ready to hear their views, Nair said, "If it's a real move from the government, it's good."

Nair also demanded an apology from people responsible for taking the action. "They owe an apology not to me but to the whole country. Somebody has taken the law into their hands," said Nair.

Nair said the copy of the order hadn't reached the scientists. "Such communication has to be made to us directly, not through the media," he said, adding that he has filed an application under the Right to Information Act seeking all details. "The truth has to be established as it's a question of our honour. The government should try to collect details from the people concerned," he said.

The other scientists barred from holding any government job were former scientific secretary A Bhaskarnarayana, Isro's satellite centre former director KN Shankara and former Antrix Corporation executive director KR Sridharamurthi. The scientific community has rallied behind Nair and the three scientists.

Order flawed, restore our honour: Madhavan Nair - The Times of India

 

[JAYRAM]

ISRO-Devas deal: BJP attacks PM, Sonia for silence

New Delhi: Amid the controversy over banning of four space scientists, including former ISRO chief Madhavan Nair, from government jobs, BJP on Friday attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for their "silence" on the matter and wanted the deal to be made public.

BJP also revived the corruption plank against Congress alleging UPA was "covering up" corruption cases and not even replying to querries raised in Parliament on graft.

Attacking the Prime Minister on ISRO-Devas deal, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said since ISRO was directly under his charge, Singh was required to answer questions about the deal.

"The Prime Minister needs to answer...What happened to the report of the high-level probe ordered by the Prime Minister"? she said.

She said "The Prime Minister's Office has got a lot of things to answer especially on ISRO-Devas. The PMO has a lot of things to answer why Shunglu Committee has remainied in paper and nothing else. The PMO has to say inspite of briefing him why is Raja being questioned and why not Mr Chidambaram.

The PMO is remaining silent.

"It is not revealing for the benefit of the nation the actual decision-making process which has resulted in huge loss all over 2010 and 2011. It is spending time in cover-ups", Sitharaman alleged.

Asking the government to come clean on the ISRO-Devas deal, the BJP leader asked why the UPA chairperson and the Congress general secretary were "silent" on corruption charges against UPA.

"The vital question today is inspite of orders the UPA chairperson and the general secretary of Congress who is very keen on taking this fight upfront against corruption are not answering questions. They are going around the country saying that they are in the fight against corruption. Please give us answers for all these. Answers are not coming in Parliament," she said.

ISRO-Devas deal: BJP attacks PM, Sonia for silence

 

[JAYRAM]

Nair fights for 'honour', wants ban revoked, scientists says Nair was made fall guy

Bangalore: As voices get stronger against the government's decision to bar four scientists of ISRO from holding government posts, including former chairman G Madhavan Nair, the heat is on the Prime Minister's Office. It is now a question of honour, says Nair, who wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier on Monday, asking him to revoke the ban.

Sources say that the government, under pressure and facing criticism, has now decided to reach out to the four scientists and listen to their version of the story.

The BJP, meanwhile, is busy firing its political salvo and targeting the PMO.

BJP spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharama said, "The government, even in this matter, has resorted to diluting and defaming institutions."

The PMO had come under the scanner for allotting 70 mhz of spectrum for Rs 1000 crore, considered a throwaway price, to private firm Devas. The deal was scrapped later on.

Scientists claim that Nair has been made the fall guy in the controversial deal.

Meanwhile, the PMO is silent and the uncomfortable questions remain.

Shouldn't the PMO itself share responsibility as the deal was inked while the PM held the atomic energy portfolio?

Why has no official from the PMO been questioned?

Shouldn't the then Principal Secretary to the PM, TK Nair, be asked to explain?

Present ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan had written to TK Nair on December 2, 2010 reminding the PMO of the law secretary's objections to the deal. Why then did they go ahead with the deal?

First, the Army chief's age row and now, eminent scientists of the country being singled out in controversies - it couldn't have gotten worse for the UPA.

Government sources, meanwhile, say that revocation of the ban may not be ruled out.

Nair interview Video & news : Nair fights for 'honour', wants ban revoked - India News - IBNLive

 

[Bhadra]

General vks part II

How, why and what? Gen VKS is not involved in making billions like this chap? It is an insult to the Gen to be associated with Nair case.

 

[KS]

Congress ki jai ho.

 

[nitesh]

How, why and what? Gen VKS is not involved in making billions like this chap? It is an insult to the Gen to be associated with Nair case.

the said gentle man is asking to prove that he has done wrong, he clearly says that nothing has been done wrong, the committees reports only remained in paper, check the drama

Nair fights for 'honour', wants ban revoked - India News - IBNLive

 

[Ray]

I believe the Govt is backing down!

 

[Mad Indian]

Long Live congress.... Lets all vote for Congress in 2014... Let the evil HIndoos of BJP rot in hell... Congress ki jindabad(BTW who cares if Congress rapes us everyday by looting us, we should not let Evil BJP to rule).........

I am proud of our Democracy.....