HARD TASK MASTER
The stupendous victory of BJP in Uttar Pradesh has made Prime Minister Narendra Modi more demanding in terms of work. In his victory speech at the BJP headquarters Modi said people often ask him itna kaam kyon karte ho. Thereafter, he added “I am fortunate that it is said about me, it is a blessing.” Few days later in the Parliamentary party meeting, Modi told party MPs to work harder to achieve ‘new targets’ and left them perspiring saying na baithuga na baithne dunga.
RUlE 325
The spirit of BJP’s big win in Uttar Pradesh found its reflection in Rajya Sabha last week. When Naresh Agrawal (SP) sought to know the rule under which his notice for suspension of business in the House was rejected, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi quipped under “rule 325,” in an apparent reference to his party bagging as many seats in the State. The entire house had a good laugh.
RARE PRIVIlEGE
Nepal’s deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi had an interesting ‘privilege’ when he was told by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj last week that he was the first foreign dignitary she was meeting after returning to office from long absence due to health reasons. In December, Swaraj underwent a kidney transplant and was not meeting visitors for the fear of catching infection due to her fragile state of health.
CVC SAYS All OK
It took two days for CVC to issue rejoinder on the reports of crash of its documents in the portal and missing of old case details. People in the know says all these goof up happened due to the technology change and upgradation works given to the private operators. Anyway, the CVC has admitted of delay in uploading materials and running the website with new features. The same is the case with Ministry of Corporate Affairs website on registration of companies.
READY TO HElP
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has proved lately to be the man Friday of the Supreme Court. Invariably, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) banks on A-G to implement any order requiring action from the Government at the highest level. For instance, when PIls are filed pointing out vacancies in crucial positions of National Commissions, Tribunals, etc, the Court dials A-G for help. Recently, the A-G told CJI JS Khehar that it was getting too much. “These days I am only filling up posts,” the top law officer said. The CJI made light of the grouse and wittingly remarked, “What a big honour it is. Such big posts that you are filling up. Even we can help you.”
POllS SHADOW
The results of Goa and Manipur Assembly polls have delayed the promotion s of several IAS, IPS and DANICS and DANIPS officers of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre as the Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled the meeting of Joint Cadre Authority (JCA) last week due to political uncertainty in these two Union Territories.
OVER AMBITIOUS JARNAIl
AAP leader Jarnail Singh is in the lurch due to his over ambition. Singh had resigned from his original seat Rajouri Garden to contest recently concluded polls in Punjab. Now, he has not only lost Assembly polls from lambi but also cannot get the party nomination from Rajouri Garden due to fund crunch, low winnability, and shift in voter registration from Delhi. “There was no need to resign as law permits MlA/MP to contest election and they can resign after winning the seat. But, over confident Singh resigned his seat as he was 100 per cent sure that he would defeat Sukhbir Singh Badal,” said his close friend on condition of anonymity.
WOMEN POWER
Don’t get surprised if you see more women security officers in President’s security. Delhi Police is working on a proposal to add more women officers, especially in the Close Protection Team (CPT) of the President security. Presently, there are around a dozen women officers with President’s security, of which two are in the CPT.
RAIlWAYS’ GROUSE
Seldom does it happen that the head of one organisation appreciates the functioning of another organisation when both the heads were once strong contender for one post. Battling a lot of negative reports against Indian Railways, Chairman Railway Board (CRB) A K Mital was recently forced to take note of positive publicity generated by national carrier Air India. Talking at an International Women’s Day function organised by Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation (RWWO) at National Rail Museum last week, Mital regretted the fact that railways is also doing good things, but media gave better coverage to Air India which received a world-wide attention. The national carrier is being led by top railway officer Ashwani lohani who was once the top contender for CRB post, but Mital got an extension. Soon after the event, guests which also included a large number of women started chit chat over lohani’s current aviation responsibilities and his earlier stint with the national transporter and in tourism sector.