Swamy on Bhagwad Gita
last week, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had the company of a Congress firebrand spokesperson during a TV debate. The Congress leader appeared calm and quiet on the show, much to everybody’s surprise. Grapevine has it that the Congress leader after his recent isolation from the party had opened his heart out to Swamy. He asked how the BJP leader passed through such embarrassment and isolation over the years. Swamy advised him to read Bhagvad Gita daily in order to overcome such difficult times in life. Swamy’s piece of wisdom even caught the interest of the TV anchor and he agreed to buy a copy of Gita.
2G lawyers’ predicament
With the change of guard at the Centre almost certain, lawyers assisting the court in high-profile cases in Supreme Court want to make an early exit. last week, in the 2G case, senior advocate KK Venugopal, assisting the court on behalf of CBI and Enforcement Directorate, developed cold feet and offered to quit from the case. The judges foiled the bid and asked him to remain in the case, particularly when the investigation is in the final stage. But BJP leader Subramanian Swamy was quick to point out the amicus curiae’s unease. “Perhaps, he doesn’t want to defend the new Government,” Swamy said, drawing a smile from Venugopal who decided to continue with the case.
AAP’s winning comic
The recent beating of AAP leaders at election rallies has made them the butt of ridicule among the national parties. But in Punjab’s Sangrur, AAP’s popular comedian-actor candidate is making both the BJP and the Congress sit up and draw strategies to counter his jokes. A senior BJP leader last week said, “I think one of their candidates Bhagwant Mann from Sangrur seat has fair chances to win,” adding “a comedian winning is perhaps a fitting tribute to the new party.” BJP leaders are keenly watching this contest. If he wins, the AAP will laugh its way to Parliament, much to the chagrin of its political rivals.
FM’s media economics
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, at a Press conference last week, took a swipe at the media, daring the print and electronic journalists to show courage and publish the data glorifying the UPA Government’s achievements under his tenure. To buttress his claim that the UPA performed far better than the NDA, Chidambaram showed a detailed chart comparing the two regimes and “requested” print as well electronic journalists to carry the news item properly. “let me see which newspaper, since they are independent, carries this chart duly,” the Finance Minister challenged, reminding journos that any communication involves the communicator, communicated and the media. The media did carry his remarks as the FM later confessed that the Congress could not communicate its achievement properly.
Tiger on agenda
While the country’s top politicians are engaged in a war of words over so-called “paper tiger,” Bengal’s green lobby is not impressed. With plans to save tiger not figuring in any party manifestos, despite its dwindling numbers, the conservationists are already working on a green wish list for the new government at Centre. The top agenda of the list says do not make the real tiger go toothless under the garb of development but consolidate eco systems and wildlife habitats.
Stuck with e-rickshaws
After giving a go-ahead to manufacture e-rickshaws, the Government is now planning to stall further production citing lack of policy. This decision, however, has raised eyebrows as over 2,000 such motorised vehicles are already plying on the road and the order for at least 5,000 more is underway. While the Centre is clearly unhappy over the state of affairs, they have asked the Delhi Police to challan and seize them. The police on their part are unwilling and have passed the buck on State Government to take the call.
News drought in MoD
Picking stories from the Defence Ministry the ongoing lok Saba polls has become an uphill task for journalists. News flow from the South Block has dried up as bureaucrats and services officials shy away from sharing information and newly-appointed Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan is no exception. Pestered for a media interaction, his staff last week urged hacks to wait till the elections are over. The only succor seems to be the brooding controversy over the appointment of the new Army chief.