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Ashok Kumar, fresh from Madras, shifted to Planning Commission

Home ministry Special Secretary Ashok Kumar, who headed a central team to Madras to assess the law and order situation, has been shifted to the Planning Commission, it was officially announced on Tuesday night.

Kumar has been appointed advisor in the Planning Commission in the rank and pay of secretary.

Kumar was in the eye of a storm for his public statement in Madras on April 15. He was sent there at the request of All India Anna DMK leader J Jayalalitha who complained to the Centre that the M Karunanidhi government had failed in controlling the law and order situation in the state in the aftermath of the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts.

Home Minister L K Advani too expressed displeasure over Kumar's observation.

Kumar, a 1965 batch Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS officer, comes in place of N Gopalaswamy who has been posted as additional secretary in the agriculture ministry.

P D Shenoy, a 1967 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer, has been moved from the agriculture ministry to the home ministry as additional secretary, by downgrading the post of special secretary. The special secretary post was held by Kumar.

UNI

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