The government is not planning to jump over the line on the mercy petition of the convict Afzal Guru. He is the main accused of the parliament attack. This has been informed by Home secretary G. K. Pillai. He has said that Afzal Guru is waiting for the decision of the mercy petition in the President's office.

Nobody will expedite the execution of Afzal Guru. He has also denied that the government is not considering any fast- track decision on the victim's destiny.

The home secretary GK Pillai has said on Monday that no upcoming sporting event in the country is under any threat from terrorist organizations.

The central government has reaffirmed that it will provide foolproof security for the international events happening in the country. Mr. Pillai said that the government has planned for security cover for events such as the Hockey World Cup, Indian Premier League (IPL) and Commonwealth Games.

He said that the government has not received information on any threat from terrorist organizations. He further said, "At the moment, there are no credible threats to any of these sporting events in India. But we will take all possible precautions in the coming months."

Darjeeling (West Bengal), Dec 21 : There was no consensus on the issue of a Gorkhaland state but discussions to find a solution to the problem would continue, union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai said here Monday after meeting representatives of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and the state government.

"We had detailed discussions with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and state government representatives regarding the formation of a separate Gorkhaland state and various other issues. We'll continue to hold discussions on this to find a solution to the Gorkhaland problem," Pillai said at a press conference after the three-hour tripartite meeting.

Jammu, Dec 12 : Union Home Secretary G K Pillai on Saturday asked United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leader Paresh Baruah, to understand the reality of Assam and stop working against the interests of the state.

Addressing the media in Jammu, Pillai said: "He (Paresh Burva) has quiet discredited himself. He is staying in Bangladesh and literally acting against the interests of his own state (Assam)."

Hyderabad, Dec 11 : Ministers and legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions Friday reacted strongly to union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai's statement that the process of formation of Telangana state would continue and that Hyderabad would be the capital of the new state.

Cutting across party lines, the legislators from the two regions and others who are opposing division of Andhra Pradesh said Pillai's remarks were "provocative".

New Delhi, Dec 11 : Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai Friday said that Hyderabad would be the capital of the new state of Telangana after it is carved out from Andhra Pradesh.

"I think Hyderabad will always be the capital of Telangana," Pillai told reporters here Friday.

Pillai said that dialogue was a way out for resolving most conflicts.

New Delhi, Dec 9 : Union Home Secretary G K Pillai today said the Indian software companies are on the hit list of terrorists.

Speaking at a conference here that placed emphasis on the challenge of terrorism to the infrastructure and economy of the country, Pillai said adequate protection would be provided to the software companies keeping in mind the terror threats.

The Central Government is tying up with the private companies to provide maximum cover in order to avoid any future troubles, he said.

Bhubaneshwar, Nov 21 : Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, said the Maoists are using Chinese made arms and added that they did not enjoy any support from Beijing.

Interacting with the media here, Pillai clarified that a similar statement made by him recently, was quoted out of context in a section of media that Beijing was aiding the rebels.

The government on Sunday said no one has been given a clean chit in terror suspect David Headley’s case, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt’s son, Rahul.

“We’ve not given a clean chit to anyone. Investigations are still on,” Home Secretary GK Pillai told reporters here.

Asked if Headley and his aide Tahawwur Hassan Rana had gone to Jammu and Kashmir during any of their India visits, and if there was anything to connect them to last November’s terror attacks in Mumbai, Pillai said: “It will take us at least four to six weeks to complete the probe.”

New Delhi, Nov 15 : Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said on Sunday that no clean chit has been given to anyone including Rahul Bhatt in David Headley terror plot probe.

Rahul son of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, is under scanner and is heading for intense interrogation by th eNational Investigation Agency (NIA) due to his alleged links’ with Headley.

Headley, a Lashkar operative, was in Mumbai for five days prior to the attacks on 26/11.

Arms for Northeast militants and Maoists are finding their way into India from southern China’s Yunnan province, a fact now admitted to by Union Home Secretary GK Pillai.

A report by Jane’s Intelligence Review (JIR) last year said China had replaced Cambodia and Thailand as the main supplier of weapons to insurgent groups in India’s Northeast and Myanmar.

New Delhi, Sep. 3 : Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai on Thursday said that the missing Bell chopper carrying Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajshekhera Reddy and four others had crash-landed about 40 nautical miles east of the Kurnool mountaineous area.

Pillai said that as of now he could not hazard a guess about whether there were any survivors or whether the chief minister and the people accompanying him were injured or had moved to another location.

He confirmed that the chopper was in a very damaged state.

New Delhi, July 30 : Union Home Secretary G K Pillai is undertaking a two-day visit of Assam beginning Thursday amid indications that the Black Widow militant group may lay down arms and accept the Centre''s offer for talks.

Pillai is scheduled to visit the North Cachar Hills on Thursday, to review the situation with top civil, police and army officials.

New Delhi, Mar 19 : Commerce Secretary G K Pillai today said that in order to minimize the effects of global slowdown, both India and China need to strengthen the bilateral trade and economic relations.

Speaking at the India-China bilateral meeting here, Pillai requested the Chinese side to explore the possibility of more diversified exports from India.

New Delhi, Mar. 25: The Indian growth story is continuing and moving forward at a steady pace overcoming problems, said Commerce and Industry Secretary G. K. Pillai while speaking at the Chem Summit 2008 in the capital today.

He also said that the Electronic Data Interface (EDI) system would be in place and working before the end of the current financial year.

New Delhi, Jan 21: Union Commerce Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Approval (BoA), G K Pillai, on Monday said that the Commerce Ministry has sought the Law Ministry's opinion on the Goa Government's proposal to scrap Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the state.

“We have sent it (the matter) to the Law Ministry,” Pillai told reporters here.

Pillai also said that since the three SEZs, including the pharmaceutical zone of Cipla, that were cleared by the BoA, adding that the issue would also be deliberated by the board at its next meeting in February.