lost and Gone
After losing out the legal battle to wrest the control of Delhi administration in the High Court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has done some much-needed course correction. The legal team which assisted him in the High Court was kept out of the filing of appeal in the Supreme Court. The Delhi Government roped in senior advocate Indira Jaising to salvage the case. Grapevine has it that upset over such unceremonious treatment, the legal team, which worked for Kejriwal in the High Court, has refused to be involved in any future assignment of the Delhi Government.
Rain can't deter Suhag
Heavy rain in the national Capital last week caused hardship for lakhs of commuters. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag was no exception. Scheduled to inaugurate the Army Design Bureau, he reached the venue more than 30 minutes late. The organisers requested him not to come and proposed to read his speech absentia. But like a true Army man, Suhag decided not to give up.
Ticket and social media
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's love for social media has prompted many BJP MPs to learn the way of the social media and update themselves on various Apps, currently in fashion. After lok Sabha MPs were asked to be have active profile on the social media and add at least 50,000 followers, Rajya Sabha members too have been asked to be social media savvy and remain 'connected'. RS MPs were imparted one-hour digital class in the recently held RS members meeting in New Delhi. A minimum of 25,000 following in social media is set for those aspiring to seek MlA tickets in upcoming UP polls. Digital click seems to be a gateway to political success.
Uma's volte-face
Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati was caught on the wrong foot in a recent Press meet. The issue was whether dolphins are "turning blind" due to Ganga pollutionIJ In Parliament the Minister recently accepted that pollution was in fact blinding the dolphins. But for reasons not known, the Minister did a volte face during the Press meet on her earlier claims, saying there is no study to back the contention.
Tension in MHA
The suspension of four officers for oversight in granting FCRA license extension to controversial Islamic preacher to Zakir Naik's NGO has created unrest in the Ministry of Home affairs. Four Joint Secretaries recently met Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi to plead against the harsh punishment given to the Joint Secretary GK Dwivedi. The officers contended that the MHA top brass was carried away by the newspaper reports on granting extension to Naik's NGO. They argued that it was an oversight and the extension can be easily cancelled. The officers are hoping for ‘mercy’ from Home Minister Rajnath Singh to reduce the punishment orders.
Going English
In an interesting move, English speaking classes for the residents of President's Estate has been started by President's Secretariat in association with a Delhi Power Ministry enterprise Tata Power Delhi Distribution limited (TPDDl). Secretary to the President of India, Omita Paul, on Sunday highlighted the importance of spoken English and hoped it would benefit the residents. As many forty four persons have enrolled themselves for the class.