Quality document
The stylishly-produced 168-page commentary brochure of Republic Day parade earned praises from all, including the delegation accompanying President Barack Obama. He was presented a copy of the brochure by an Army officer at the saluting base just before the parade began. The other delegates were also impressed by the quality of the document produced by the Defence Ministry and sought 20 copies a day later. The copies were promptly delivered as the delegation was to leave with Obama.
Modi’s imprint
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi being a strict vegetarian and the NDA Government stressing on simple and healthy servings even during Cabinet meetings, most of the paramilitary forces have now started to strike out non-vegetarian items during even annual Press conferences. During the UPA regime, the paramilitary forces used to treat the journos at conferences with both veg and non-vegetarian delicacies and, in some cases, even “drinks.”
Off the Puff
The fact that Chief Justice of India Hl Dattu cannot quit smoking became more than evident on two occasions in the recent past. The CJI transferred to another Bench a PIl seeking ban on cigarettes, wondering why this matter was before him when his smoking habit was not a secret among lawyers. last week, when yet another petition came before him seeking ban on sale of loose cigarettes, a proposal under active consideration of the Central Government, the CJI again disagreed to hear.
lost Appeal
Time is a good healer. Nobody realised it better than a law officer who was asked by the Centre to prepare an appeal challenging a Delhi High Court decision asking former DMRC Chairman E Sreedharan to advise on a perilous railway track in Jammu. Unable to find justification to keep off an expert like Sreedharan, the law officer bought time. After the Railways got a new Minister in Suresh Prabhu, Sreedharan was appointed to head a crucial Committee to draft financial viability of Railways. The appeal did not see the light of the day.
Young blood
The Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar, seems to have begun the year on a “youthful” note. In order to improve the efficiency of his Ministry, he has asked his young officers (aged between 35-45) to inspire him with fresh ideas. He is holding a six-part brainstorming ‘Chintan Shivirs’ with nearly 100 such officers to vitalise the functioning the Ministry. “Young officers are expected to come up with more innovative solutions to the mundane problems of Ministry. Their fresh out-of-the-box approach can be important for better management, conservation and regulation of environment,” said a senior official.
Focus on Bassi
At Hyderabad House, on January 25, where US president Barak Obama and PM Narendra Modi held their first Press interaction, Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi came in civil clothes. Shortly before the press interaction, Bassi reached the media gallery to check out security arrangement. As he peeped through the curtains of one of the doors, the photographers, who had been bored waiting for nearly two hours, found him to be a good target to ‘shoot’. What followed next was a strong sound of camera shutters which started clicking Bassi the moment he stuck his neck out from the curtains. Taken aback from the sudden focus that he became, Bassi made a quick retreat. Obviously, he did not want to be in news that day.
Mysterious security
On Saturday evening, most of the senior officials of Home Ministry were tightlipped about the news of arrest of former Union Minister Matang Sinh by CBI in Saradha scam. Sinh is understood to have lot of friendly “babus” in the North Block and South Block and still enjoys Z-category security, which was accorded to him as MoS in PMO during Narasimha Rao’s tenure. No one is able to explain why Sinh continued to enjoy Z category for the past 20 years.
Forgotten Ayush
Its more than two months since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a separate portfolio for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), which were till then under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. However, the portal of the new Ministry is yet to be updated accordingly. The website continues to be under the name ‘Department of Ayush, and the portals does not even display the details of new Minister Shripad Yesso Naik.