Demonetisation debunked
In poll-bound Uttarakhand, when most of the political parties are crying foul of the note ban as something that has reduced the people to penury, one of the politicians is proving recklessly spendthrift, squandering away money with prodigious frenzy. The politician, presently the Panchayat president of one of the districts, is eying a constituency to contest from. The people sat up in wide-eyed amazement as he distributed quilts worth Rs 1.5 crore in the constituency his eyes are on. The story did not end here. After cutting ribbon of a jewllery shop, he bought gold chains worth crores after being prodded by his hangers-on. He offered a few to his acolytes and kept others with him to be showered on the electors of the particular constituency at the opportune time. He left not just the people in wonder. Those running the secretariat are also squirming over the volume of his spending audacity. The babus are literally under a spell, wondering how he is continuing with his spending spree-he has spent nearly Rs 5 crore till now-when the state is reeling under the grim spell of the lingering cash crunch. Moreover, his nomination for the seat is not yet certain. A babu quips that he faints to imagine how much he would spend if he secures the ticket finally.
Babu’s ‘invisibility’ relief
A secretary, running a key department, has suddenly become invisible. His close aides say he would come back into visibility only after the model code of conduct is enforced. The reasons are understandable. He scurried into invisibility having failed to withstand the tremendous pressure mounted on him by the overzealous MlAs. The latter were pouncing upon the hapless Babu, screaming for their share of the local area development fund, election inching closer. An MlA gets Rs 2.75 crore per annum under lAD. But what happens is that the lawmakers keep a large chunk of the funds till the time the election dates are officially announced to shower the electors with the largesse at the final moment. literally tearing his hair out, the Babu promptly decided to go invisible. He is now running his office from an anonymous place and sending notes-positive and negative-on the demands pressed on him. However, the invisible Babu has left his aides in the lurch. The fund- hungry MlAs are assailing them with a vengeance, asking them to unveil the veil of invisibility. However, the subordinates are holding their ground and telling them that the spell of invisibility would end once the ECI announces date and model code of conduct enforces.