‘Virtual’ vote bank
BJP chief Rajnath Singh tweeted at 10.56 pm on May 29: “Rituparno Ghosh’s demise is an irreparable loss to Bengali cinema. His ability to capture human emotions on celluloid was outstanding.” Someone replied: “Sirji, Indian cinema.” Three minutes later, at 10.59 pm, the BJP chief tweeted again: “Rituparno Ghosh’s contribution to Indian cinema will always be remembered.” The person responded: “Am impressed at the promptness in correcting it. My respect grows.” In an era of competitive politics, even “virtual” fans matter a lot.
look before you speak!
Here is a Congress spokesman who does not even know his own party’s stand on the Chhattisgarh Naxal mayhem. Meem Afzal conveniently slammed the Opposition for missing no opportunity to seek the resignation of the Prime Minister and his Ministers. He went on to claim that this despite such provocation, the Congress had refrained from replying in kind in the case of Chhattisgarh. It’s a different matter that his party colleague Bhakta Charan Das had repeatedly demanded Chief Minister Raman Singh’s resignation from an AICC podium.
Sweeping exemptionIJ
The Home Ministry has moved a proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to grant toll tax exemption for private vehicles of serving as well as retired personnel of Central paramilitary forces. While the proposal to grant exemption to serving officials may be justified, the benefit to retired personnel may face criticism.
Ram’s next move
Expelled from the BJP for indulging in indiscipline, lawyer-turned-politician Ram Jethmalani is a “free man” now. While his next move is a matter of intense speculation, rumours about the yet-to-be-formed Third Front being his next destination has already started doing the rounds. Not to forget, he has, as lawyer, represented Kanimozhi (DMK), YS Jaganmohan Reddy (YSR-Congress), BS Yeddyurappa (KJP) and many more.
DCI’s sore tooth
Jittery over the CBI cases against its members, the Dental Council of India (DCI) shut down its website after the investigating agency raided its office-bearers across the country early last month. This has left students in the lurch, as they try to get online details of the admission process in dental colleges.
Highway to the stomach
The country’s road-making agency, NHAI, is adding some good cuisines while issuing tenders for catering services at its corporate office in Dwarka. While the quantity and demand for non-vegetarian meals in Indian lunch and dinner buffet has been augmented by almost 30 per cent, addition of continental cuisines, diet milk coffee and tea, besides green, herbal and lemon hot beverages on the list of a host of Indian snacks under the ‘special events conference meal’ label has brought a bit of cheer for NHAI staff.
The auspicious hour
Credited with the successful design and launch of the Agni series of missiles, newly-appointed Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander believes in following rituals before embarking on an important task. He preferred to assume the new responsibility last Friday as late as 9.30 pm. The buzz is that this was suggested as an auspicious muhuratam for him.
For Antony’s sake
As Defence Minister AK Antony travels to Australia for an official visit this week, his counterpart Stephen Smith is set to break all protocol to personally receive him at Perth airport. Having met Antony thrice in the past year — in Hanoi, Singapore and New Delhi — Smith is impressed with the Minister and will travel with him in an Australian military aircraft from Perth to Canberra. Though formal talks are scheduled to be held in Canberra, both leaders will hold intensive dialogue during the four-hour flight between the two cities.
All in a name
The Great Indian Bustard, which is almost on its way to extinction, once almost became our National Bird. Today, there is a great hue and cry for saving it but during the 1960s, the GIB was found in abundance. The interesting fact is that it lost the place of pride to the peacock over just an alphabet! An environmentalist disclosed, “Officials were wary that a possible spelling error could cause embarrassment to the country, so they preferred the peacock over the bustard (as National Bird).” Now that’s saying it like it is!