Revamped go(es)-down
Defence Ministry’s reception office at South Block has turned into a godown within months after it was revamped some time back. Visitors including MPs, journalists, serving and retired Services personnel gain access to the Ministry through this office which in the last one month has become a console for CCTVs installed in the sensitive Ministry. The machines constantly emit a humming sound and heat affecting the health of visitors and employees alike besides cramping the already small office leading to heated arguments between the reception desk officials and others.
T20 matters
The T20 World Cup is on and in the midst of heightened cricket frenzy the proposed reforms in the BCCI following the recommendations made by the Justice lodha panel have taken a backseat. last week, the Supreme Court was expected to hear the BCCI on some of the key reforms proposed in Justice lodha’s report. But an unusual request for adjournment was made by BCCI to list the case on April 3. Incidentally, the World T20 ends on the same day. Grapevine has it that the BCCI officials told their lawyers not to list the cases in between the world cup fixtures as the event is happening in India and BCCI officials want to relax with cricket for now.
Goel live!
Hoardings outside BJP MP Vijay Goel’s residence reflect in a way the ‘changing political discourse’ in the country and what is hot on the menu from his side. A poster outside Goel’s 10 Ashoka Road said in February: “Attack (PM Narendra) Modi a thousand times if you want, but don’t honour Afzal and insult those who sacrificed their lives for the nation.” Now in March, with nationalism driving adrenaline, Goel’s latest hoarding has the Prime Minister’s image and a national flag fluttering. Of course, ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ holds it place of prominence on it.
Not well left
Friends in Bengal, foes in Kerala. That’s the left and Congress for you. Due to its alliance with Congress in West Bengal, CPI(M) is caught in a peculiar situation as elections will also be held during the same period in Kerala, where the two are locked in a fierce battle. The CPI(M) Central leadership is thus avoiding the media to avoid the issue. Normally, CPI(M) leaders in Delhi routinely brief the Press when the elections happen in their strongholds of West Bengal and Kerala. “You have to see the larger perspective,” is the readymade answer of party leaders on their diametrically contrasting stance in Kerala and West Bengal. In cricketing parlance, can it be considered a ball well leftIJ
Pak stars
At the National Day function of the Pakistan High Commission on March 23, it is usually the food and Kashmiri separatist leaders who grab the attention. But this time, the High Commission had the Pakistani women’s cricket team as special guests and all invitees were only interested in them. From selfies to group photos, general chit-chat to interviews the Pak ladies with the willow had all guests listening to them in rapt attention. And, ofcourse, they were more than happy to oblige everyone with autographs and photographs.
Never too lateIJ
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh took their own time to send their congratulatory messages to the first edition of ‘Atulya Bharat’ (Incredible lndia), the Union Tourism Ministry had no option but to delay the release of the fortnightly journal. While the journal is said to be covering the period from July to September 2015, the wishes sent by Modi and Singh for the Ministry’s initiative are dated November and December 2015 respectively. Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma himself too sent in his letter only in November.
For namesake
With the CBI beat reporters barely getting any response to their queries from the agency spokesperson on the WhatsApp group, the journos start discussion over the social media platform. This prompts the spokesperson to issue a subtle warning over the messaging site that it is meant only for official communication and should not be used for discussion. Knowing well that the group is hardly good for anything, the reporters continue to post their comments with their queries remaining unanswered.