JOURNOS SHOCK CBI
The newly created WhatsApp group meant for dissemination of official information to the ‘beat’ reporters has now become a source of entertainment for some irresponsible journos. While a reporter from a leading English television channel posted a song of Madonna titled ‘I am virgin’, another scribe from a Hindi daily posted some undesirable comments. Following these posts, a shocked CBI spokesperson was forced to issue a clarification saying the group is exclusively for official communication. The unprofessional behaviour of the two journos did not go down well with the serious reporters who have welcomed the clarification issued by the spokesperson.
AKHIlESH’S CHOICE STUNS lEFT
The full timers in CPI(M) headquarters on Sunday were stunned to see Balwant Singh Ramoowalia’ entry in the Akhilesh Yadav’s Cabinet in the Saturday’s reshuffle. Considered as a protégé of former party general secretary Har Kishen Surjit, Singh was a permanent fixture at the CPI(M) headquarters for years. It is an open secret that Surjit’s blessing made him a Cabinet Minister in the Deve Gowda Government. After the demise of Surjit, Ramoowalia’s entry was limited to the reception in the CPI(M) headquarters. Few in the left are able to grasp what made Akhilesh pick up their forgotten ‘comrade.’
DISHES FOR CHINESE PAlATE
Indian dishes were in great demand during the India-China fortnight-long joint Army exercise ‘Hand in Hand’ which concluded last week. The Chinese troops relished mutton and chicken curries cooked by Indian cooks and did not mind the spicy touch. The host commanders also made an exception by doing away with the rule of not drinking liquor during such drills and allowed the Chinese troops to have whiskey and rum along with Indian soldiers during the barakhana. The Indian officers also learned to eat with chopsticks to savour tasty Chinese food, including noodles and vegetables.
BIG BANG
With the present Chief Justice of India Hl Dattu due to retire on December 2, his successor Justice TS Thakur set to begin the new year with a bang. Out of several cases lined up before him involving interesting Constitutional questions, one is a matter filed by former SC judge Markandeya Katju. The former judge has challenged a Parliament resolution criticising his views on Subhash Chandra Bose. Justice Thakur, while listing the case for January, told the counsels in the case, “We could begin the New Year with a Constitutional bang.”
CORRUPTION-FREE DEFENCE
The Defence Ministry has gone all out to spread the message of bribe-free governance by putting up huge banners outside and inside its headquarters at South Block. Visitors got to see last week stern messages like ‘Corruption is like cancer to mankind’, ‘Honesty is not for sale’ and ‘Corruption free service is true service to mankind’, placed along the corridors of the sensitive Ministry.
DEADlINE
While the Central Government babus are burning midnight oil to shape the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call to keep away lower level Government jobs from interviews procedures, State Governments have expressed inability to meet the deadline given to them of January 1, 2016. Two meetings in this regard were held last week — one involving Chief Secretaries of States and another of the Secretaries and heads of Bureau of Central Ministries and departments. The meetings remained inconclusive due to absence of a policy framework. A peeved DoPT has convened another round of consultation in this regard during the next fortnight. After this only six weeks will be ill be left to implement the tedious task.
DOVAl OBlIGES ITBP
An extremely busy National Security Advisor Ajit Doval who was the chief guest at the ITBP Raising Day celebrations last week at Greater Noida sought to return soon after inspecting the parade and presenting the medals to men and officers decorated on the Independence Day. But ITBP DG Krishna Chaudhary insisted that the NSA should also witness the various drills lined up as part of the celebrations, for the ‘boys’ had rehearsed for several months for the occasion. Doval obliged the DG and agreed to witness the drills. After Chaudhary requested the NSA to give his remarks on the visitor’s register. Doval again obliged the DG. But he did not agree for a cup of tea on the latter request and quickly left the venue.
BOOK WORMS
Many officials of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) are not returning the books issued to them from agency’s various central libraries and Central Archeological library located at the second floor of the annexe of the National Archives of India. Though the stipulated time to return the book within 21 days from the date of issue, interestingly some of the defaulters have been keeping the books since 2013. Most of these books and periodicals are rare and from various subjects namely history, archaeology, anthropology, architecture, art, epigraphy & numismatics, indology, literature, geology among others.