Baijal front runner to replace J&K governor Vohra

NEW DELHI: Former Union home secretary Anil Baijal has emerged as a front runner to replace NN Vohra as the next governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Vohra had assumed office in 2008.

Baijal, a retired IAS officer had served as a principal secre tary to former Prime Minister IK Gujral. “His name is at the top of list of possible replacements,” said a government source.

Baijal was home secretary at the fag end of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. But he was trans ferred to civil aviation ministry after the UPA government came to power in May, 2004. His name had also featured for the post of prin cipal secretary to Prime Minister after the NDA was voted to power in 2014.

Former Delhi lieutenant gover nor Vijai Kapoor, another former IAS officer, is also in the reckon ing, said sources. Names of former army chief general VP Malik and retired lieutenant general Syed Ata Hasnain were reportedly also doing the rounds.

But, sources added, not many in Jammu and Kashmir may be comfortable with a former mili tary man as the governor amid present crisis.

“When rumours of him being replaced reached Vohra, the gov ernor apparently told New Delhi that it would be better if he does not get to know about his replace ment from media,” said the source

WASEEM ANDRABI/ HT Youngsters surf the internet on their phones after hacking into a Wi-fi network in Srinagar as mobile internet remains suspended in the conflict-hit Kashmir.