CJI’s protocol break
CJI Hl Dattu had his security officers in a tizzy at a Press conference in Vigyan Bhavan on Sunday when he asked for his chair to be placed alongside journalists. “They are my own, I must be sitting here with them,” the CJI said, pointing to the protocol that requires dignitaries to address media from a specially constructed high pedestal. At last, the media came to the rescue. The journalists pointed to the already positioned cameras of various TV channels in the hall to convince CJI to follow the protocol.
Nostalgic Harsh Vardhan
During his first ever-visit to Andaman and Nicobar recently, Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan became nostalgic about a project initiated by him during his stint as Union Health Minister. At the island to inaugurate the Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory set up by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism at Shoal Bay No. 8 in Port Balair, Hashvardhan fondly remembered hat a medical college project for the island, which was sanctioned by him as the Health Minister, was moving in the right direction. He also specifically recalled how the lt Governor and elected representatives made painstaking efforts to get the medical institute sanctioned.
losing his cool
Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot is often clueless when confronted with questions from journalists about the approximate number of drug taking population. Recently, when he was asked as to why the Government has not made any headway on the proposed survey on the drug consuming population, he snapped at the reporters, saying, “ Go and conduct the survey themselves.”
Risky operation
While the Navy warships are now engaged in rescuing Indian nationals from war-torn Yemen, senior officials are spending sleepless nights at Operations Centre of Naval Headquarters in New Delhi to ensure that the operation proceeded without a hitch. They were specifically tensed on the night when when INS Sumitra entered Aden harbour for the first time last week to rescue 350 Indians. The rescue effort was conducted in pitch dark conditions with firing and bombardment near the port. Navy officers controlling the operation in the headquarters were worried about the welfare of their colleagues and the evacuees. Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan also kept abreast of the ongoing effort throughout the night.
Ravi vs Chacko
Former Union Minister Vayalar Ravi heaved a sigh of relief after AICC cleared his re-nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat from Kerala last week. Ravi was engaged in keen tussle with PC Chacko. Though the state PCC supported Ravi, Chacko had the blessings of several leaders of Delhi and was trying his level best to enter Rajya Sabha after he lost the lok Sabha election.
Green mantra
The latest mantra of Environment Ministry seems to be ‘Zero Defect, Zero Effect’. This aims to make India a leading manufacturer while protecting its green credentials as well. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar is expected to impress upon this aspect in the State Environment Ministers and Chief Ministers meet on Monday.
Privatise RailwaysIJ
The recommendation of Bibek Debroy Committee for giving a role to private players in running of passenger trains, scrapping of railways-funded welfare schemes like school, hospitals, and dismantling of RPF have not gone down well with the Railway Ministry. Since his suggestions arte variance with Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu, who in his rail budget speech, announced continuation of all the welfare schemes and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly dismissed privatising the national transporter, few in the Ministry hope that any serious follow up action will be taken on the report. All-India Railway Men’s Federation has already said “it is an attempt to privatise railways and that it is a replica of Rakesh Mohan and Prakash Tandon Committee reports”.