No Chacha-Bhatija, Bhanja
Ever since Suresh Prabhu has taken over as Railway Minister, the Ministry is abuzz with new announcements about and passenger-friendly measures and revival measure of Railways. Prabhu is working overtime on the budget preparation where policies on FDI and private-public partnership may figure prominently to put the Railways on fast tracks. A no-nonsense Minister, during one of his recent meetings with top brass of the Railways, one of the foremost Prabhu emphasised was that in the interest of the Railways and the country, they should shun the Chacha, Bhatija, Bhanja culture of the past. In this he meant to say that the officials do not “burn fingers” in the business of transfer-postings which has been rampant in the Ministry earlier.
Not even ‘hello’
It is not hidden from anyone that former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and new face of Delhi former Union Minister Ajay Maken do not see eye to eye with each other. It was all the more glaring at a Sunday luncheon hosted by a senior Congress leader where top Congress leaders and media personalities had gathered. Both Dikshit and Maken stayed for a long time interacting with media and other leaders. While Maken received congratulatory greetings from his party colleagues and senior journalists, but he and Sheila did not even say “hello” to each other.
PM’s way
An elderly woman, an old and frail fauji veteran on wheelchair, a bunch of young boys, officers, ladies and Prime Minister Narendra Modi — it was a picture perfect occasion that went so well with all-round bonhomie at Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh’s ‘At Home’ reception hosted on the Army Day on January 15 where the PM was undoubtedly the star attraction. The elderly woman who had waited for long to meet and greet the PM personally at the reception, started quarrelling with the security officers of the Delhi Police and Army for not allowing her to go near the PM. When she was repeatedly stopped she called for Modi and asked if he would come down to meet her. The PM responded with respect: “Ma’am, I am coming near you in while.” And after the President left, the PM did keep his promise. He came down to meet her, and her old husband on wheelchair before mingling with the crowd. And yes, he shook hands with the young boys as well.
Disappointed journos
After a long wait and lots of grumbling, reporters covering Union Health Ministry were finally called last week to meet Health Minister JP Nadda for the first time since he took charge in 2014. But the expectations to get some ‘breaking’ news soon died down. Nadda, a seasoned politician as he is, evaded all controversial questions and remained tight-lipped on the issues of BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj’s advice to Hindu women to deliver four kids or deep-rooted corruption in MCI. Much to the dismay of the correspondents, he just shared information on the policies already available in the public domain.
Sankranti politics
Several of Narendra Modi-Ministers ushered ‘Makara Sankranti’ by well-attended feast at their residences. If M Venkaiah Naidu’s house smelled with the flavour of authentic vada-sambar, Prakash Javadekar worked out a modern-metropolitan menu with a heavy stamp of Maharashtrian food. The air at the residences of Radha Mohan Singh and Ramvilas Paswan was thick with the aroma of Bihar’s famour churra, dahi and jiggery. While the Prime Minister briefly watched dance performance by children at Naidu’s residence, he chose to savour festive-food at Paswan’s house.
Desperate moves
While the Supreme Court has barred CBI Additional Director Archana Ramasundaram from functioning in the agency, the Centre has not yet found her a suitable post in any other departments. Almost five months ago, the Centre promised the SC to shift her to Home Ministry or Paramilitary Forces, hoping to get the consent of her parent cadre Tamil Nadu. The State Government had suspended and declared her as deserter after she joined the CBI. Due to her husband’s proximity with DMK chief Karunanidhi, the AIADMK leadership was reportedly upset with her and not ready to release her to join the CBI. Grapevine has it that Archana is hoping against hope to get clearance from CVC to remain in CBI and knocking all power centres in North Block and South Block.
Talkathon
One has often heard of marathons in the past. But in this era of social networking, marathons have made way for new age term ‘talkathon’. The Information & Broadcasting Ministry has envisaged this unique concept for the Ministers to reach out the common man through youtube and twitter. This will involved Minister taking up ‘live’ questions on social media network from aam aadmi.