Monsoon and solar scam
As the Congress-led UDF Government of Kerala faced heat over the solar scam, party spokesman PC Chacko found a unique way to avoid answering embarrassing questions about it. “Where is solar. It is monsoon now, and we are having heavy rain in Kerala. During this season, solar does not work. Only when sunshine comes, ask me about it,” said Chacko.
Belly & mind
The Congress leaders seeking support from the Opposition on passing Food Security Ordinance faced a unique predicament recently when journalists confronted them with the statement of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi that poverty was a state of mind. “Would it not be better to change the mindset of the people instead of passing the food Bill,” they asked. A cornered Congress leader responded, “We are bringing the Bill for those who are poor not just in mind but also in stomach.”
Babu culture
Professionals have no place in the country’s cultural institutions with at least three of them being headed by babus from the Union Culture Ministry. Pramod Jain, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, holds additional charge as Director General (DG) of National Archives since May after Prof Mushirul Hassan retired. Similarly, V Venu, an IAS, is overseeing the functioning of the National Museum as its DG, and Praveen Srivastava, another IAS, is holding additional charge as DG of the Archaeological Survey of India.
White elephant
Upset with the increasing number of pendency of cases at the National Commission of Women, WCD Minister Krishna Tirath recently cracked the whip on the autonomous body. Calling it a “white elephant,” the Minister has appointed a Joint Secretary from the Ministry to review and submit a report on the workings of the autonomous NCW.
lalu’s silence
last week, the lok Sabha saw several leaders lambasting the Supreme Court judgements related to disallowing reservation in AIIMS faculty and disqualification of convicted MPs and MlAs. Shielded by Parliamentary privilege, leaders minced no words in slamming the judges. The attack was started by Sharad
Yadav, followed by Mulayam Singh and other leaders. But RJD chief lalu Prasad was unusually quiet
even though Sharad Yadav signaled
him to speak. Not surprisingly so. The judgement on lalu’s plea to change the trial court judge at Ranchi in the fodder scam is pending before the SC.
Nalini’s presence
Nalini Chidambaram is keeping a close watch on the judicial proceedings taking place before the 2G bench of the Supreme Court. last week, Nalini was present in the courtroom when Subramnian Swamy and CBI counsel KK Venugopal were engaged in a fierce argument on the alleged culpability of her husband and Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case.
CCTV menace
The new CBI headquarters building has been equipped with close circuit television cameras at all the floors to monitor the movement of staff as well as visitors. Aware that their offices are under CCTV surveillance, officials are now reluctant to meet journos. Even if some official agrees to meet any scribe,
he would not speak on any sensitive issue and dispose the “news hungry” journos with tea or coffee.
Jayanthi’s plight
Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan is facing trouble from her Ministerial colleagues. While Tribal Minister Kishore Chandra Deo wants her to take step to prevent violation of the Forest Rights Act, now it is the turn of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to mount pressure on her to allow field trials of genetically modified crops.