Hunt for translators
Defence Ministry is desperately looking for personnel who can translate letters written in Tamil into English. These numerous letters seeking help are written to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who hails from Tamil Nadu. However, South Block does not have staffers who can translate the letters into English thereby delaying follow-up action. Efforts are now on to rope in persons capable of doing the needful.
Treat for film buffs
Film buffs were in for a treat last week when the All India Radio paid tributes to Bollywood moghul Yash Chopra, flamboyant actor Shammi Kapoor and actor Ajit famous for dialogues like “Mona Darling.” Known as “King of Romance,” Yash Chopra, who directed hits like Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhi and Chandni besides others died on October 21, 2012. Ajit passed away on October 22, 1998. Credited with bringing in new style of acting, Shammi Kapoor was born on October 21, 1931 and died in 2011 and the 106.4 FM channel of AIR played dialogues and songs of these three legends.
Chinese gifts to CPI(M)
last week while CPI(M) Central Committee meeting was going on, a Chinese embassy car came to the front gate of the party office in Gole Market in central Delhi. The Embassy officials were seen entering to the CPI(M) office with big gift hampers. The party office said it was a normal Diwali custom and the gift hampers were meant for Central Committee members assembled here to debate whether or not to make alliance with Congress.
ASGs for SG
Following the resignation by Ranjit Kumar, momentum has gathered around the possible contenders for the post of Solicitor General, the second highest law officer of the country. Going by seniority, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh would fit the bill. However, Grapevine has it that the second-senior most ASG, Tushar Mehta is also a hot contender for the post. He hails from Gujarat and has held brief for BJP President Amit Shah in several politically crucial cases and is likely to represent Shah’s son in a defamation suit filed against a media portal.
Bullet speed
The Government’s decision to allow Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to appear for BJP Chief Amit Shah’s son’s case relating to reported controversial investments in his company led reporters to ask Power Minister Piyush Goyal as how the former got a go ahead so quick. To that, Goyal retorted “ you know our Government always acts fast..” and evoked a good laughter.
No Aadhaar
Worried over extra working hours, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and the public sector banks’ officer union have demanded that the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts must be put on hold. The other reason is that they will have to work extra hours for implementation of linking of
Adhaar with bank accounts. They also fear that the work will hamper because some manpower would have to be deputed to some of the banks to designate certain branches as special cells for enrolment of Aadhaar.