Chacko vs Dasgupta
The strained relationship between JPC Chairman PC Chacko and one of its more vocal members, Gurudas Dasgupta, has taken a turn for the worse. Both media-friendly leaders never missed a chance to accuse each over leak of the JPC proceedings. But the veteran CPI leader had the last laugh when the draft report was leaked to the media. Dasgupta wasted no time in holding Chacko responsible. Both were engaged in a bitter verbal duel inside lok Sabha last week. Chacko now firmly believes Dasgupta instigated other Opposition MPs to seek his removal from the chairman’s post.
PC plans ahead
Finance Minister P Chidambaram is believed to have gone out of his way to help several “winning” Congress candidates in the Karnataka Assembly polls. This is seen by many as PC’s plan to enter the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka next year, since the Congress may find difficult to even open its account in Tamil Nadu in the 2014 lok Sabha polls.
Better late than never
Two years after creating its national-level ‘IndiaMGNREGA’ on Facebook, the Union Railway Development Ministry has now asked all States to join its social media platform to “communicate and exchange ideas” as well “share good practices” adopted by them to push the rural job scheme. Interestingly, so far, Facebook has been mainly a forum to highlight “good practices” in Congress-led States and pinpoint shortcomings in anti-Congress States.
Changes at HRD Ministry
A recent exchange of powers at the HRD Ministry has left officials dumfounded at Shastri Bhavan. In-charge of HRD administration & co-ordination, much-respected 1985 batch IAS officer, Joint Secretary Amit Khare, has been ‘stripped’ of his responsibility. Khare will now look after book promotion, copyright, education policy, UNESCO, Indian National Commission and international cooperation cell. His low-profile batchmate Veena Ish will replace him.
Vahanvati breather
lawyers in the Supreme Court have started a signature campaign to demand resignation of Attorney General GE Vahanvati. So far, 253 lawyers have signed the petition but they lack support of their seniors. Except one senior advocate, no one has endorsed the campaign. Vahanvati has reasons to feel relieved, though his fate will depend on what the CBI tells the court about his role in the Government’s vetting of the Coalgate report.
love for the exotic
Even after the Supreme Court turned down the green Ministry’s ambitious plans to conserve “imported cheetahs” from Africa, its fetish for exotic species continues. According to sources, a proposal on conservation of Siberian cranes on our desi soil is making the rounds. The proposed site is Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan. Chuckling at such outlandish concepts, a noted wildlife expert commented, “Wonder where they get such ideas. These rare migratory birds have not been seen in Bharatpur for the past 12 years. Instead, why don’t they think of saving our indigenous speciesIJ”
Tough on Fourth Estate
The CISF staff that gives perimeter security to the CBI headquarters building has begun frisking of beat correspondents in complete disregard of PIB accreditation rules. PIB-accredited scribes are not even frisked at the high security South and North Block. Wary of nosy scribes, the CBI has instructed its staff to allow them in only between 4 and 5 pm and the spokesperson is instructed to ensure that the scribes leave the premises after that.