No nonsense, please
Is the word ‘nonsense’ unparliamentaryIJ Well, not really. But “bloody nonsense” certainly is. During a discussion on the Telecom Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha, Congress member Mani Shankar Aiyer used the word ‘nonsense’ while saying the Ordinance was designed for one person. When Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah objected and termed “nonsense” as unparliamentary, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien called for the Parliament dictionary. It was found that the word ‘bloody nonsense’ cannot be used in Parliament. However, to be on the safe side, Kurien asked even ‘nonsense’ to be expunged from the records.
For a few bucks
CBI Director Ranjit Sinha has sublet his garage at his official residence at 2, Janpath to a shop owner of Khan Market for a monthly rental of `3,000. The “tenant” hails from
Bihar and is engaged in flower business. Subletting of official premises is unethical, if not illegal, and such a move could be a security risk, an intelligence source aware of the development said. Media in Vaidik age last week in Parliament veteran MPs were seen educating journalists about
VP Vaidik after controversy raged over his meeting with Hafiz Saeed. According to MPs, Vaidik was not new to controversies. In early 90s, Vaidik’s name appeared in the list of journalists who allegedly accepted money from Uttar Pradesh Government during Mulayam Singh regime. The MPs accused the media persons of conveniently ignoring this fact while reporting on the Vaidik saga.
Non event The first ‘official’ media invite for the HRD correspondents to cover Minister Smriti Irani turned out to be non event. The function was organised at Manesar and that too late on Sunday evening. Both the distance and timing offered little incentives to the journos. Still some of them thought it prudent not to miss the opportunity for the first interaction with the new HRD Minister. But on their way, they received an update that the Minister’s interaction was not open to media. last month, Irani’s Press conference had to be scuttled after the PIB was directed to withdraw the invite in view of the ongoing the Delhi University FYUP-UGC-HRD Ministry row.
Babus in trouble
In an embarrassment for the three retired senior bureaucrats, the Union Urban Development Ministry has initiated legal action against IPS officials R Srikumar, an ex-vigilance commissioner and Ajay Chadha former DG ITBP and Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, an IFS and ex-ambassador for illegally occupying Government bungalows. The information was given by Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development in a written reply to the lok Sabha recently.
Saving time
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley chaired the first meeting of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex body for clearing acquisition of weapons for the armed forces, on Satudray last to clear pending projects. Since it was the first meeting of DAC after the Modi Government assumed office, Jaitley did not want to waste time. He ordered an austere lunch for the members including three Services Chiefs and Defence Secretary. The Ministry may be known for hosting sumptuous meals, but the Minister and others preferred to have sandwiches and coffee while reviewing various defence contracts in the three-hour long meet.
Set an example
Unlike his predecessors, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar is not appealing to school children to plant trees and help increase India’s forest cover. But he is reaching out to the young generation through social media to become good politicians for India’s vibrant Democracy. Recently, in one of such meetings in the capital, a child remarked, “I support you sir, But you must set examples for us to get motivated.”