Babus’ woes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision took the entire country by surprise and top bureaucrats were no exception. Nearly 500 of them, including Department of Economic Affairs Shaktikanta Das and some other functionaries of the Finance Ministry live in multi-storeyed colony in New Moti Bagh in the national capital. All the four ATMs located there have not received money for the last two weeks and like ordinary citizens, bureaucracy for once is also surviving on credit as ready cash from the ATMs is not available.
Atomic wit
Din marred debate on demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha last week had its moments of wit and sarcasm aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present in the House. Taking him to task, Derek O’Brien(TMC) remarked the Government claimed secrecy had to be maintained while taking the demonetisation decision. Secrecy surrounded the US decision to drop atom bomb on Japan in 1945 and “I will not say anything further,” O’Brien quipped.
Tricolour moment
The sprawling premises of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT)in Hyderabad under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) has become first research laboratory in the country to install the 100 feet tall tri-color. The occasion is the CSIR’s Platinum Jubilee being celebrated on its completion of 75 years of existence. The tri-colour flag which measures 30X20 ft was hoisted by Girish Sahni, Director General of CSIR in the presence of IICT Director S Chandrasekhar and staff recently.
Mother’s advise
laboin mein unke baddua nahin hoti, ek maa hain jo khafa nahin hoti,” said Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the lok Sabha, alluding to lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Amidst pandemonium in the House on the issue of demonetisation last week, the Speaker broke into a suppressed laughter saying “Mother also wants his children be one and not to fight with each other.”
Father and son
Anti-corruption crusader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan has been out of action in the Supreme Court after undergoing a prostate surgery. Veteran lawyer and his father Shanti Bhushan argued in his place last week in a matter relating to lokpal appointment in the Supreme Court. When the court enquired about Prashant’s absence, the senior Bhushan had a witty response. He said, “Since Prashant had a prostate operation, I decided I should come as his junior.”
Singh-Swamy-Antony talks
Amidst acrimony in both the Houses of Parliament last week over the demonetisation issue, many spotted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy engaged in long serious discussion in the Rajya Sabha before it assembled. Many MPs were curiously looking and trying to overhear their talks. Only Congress leader AK Antony joined the talks with them and MPs says the discussions were on demonetisation and economy related issues. They say as soon as Swamy started talking politics and especially on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, both Congress leaders started dispersing.
Clean Ganga & Cleaner India
Here’s a cleanliness drive with a difference for our national river - Ganga. Cutting cross faiths, various religious and spiritual heads from across the country have joined hands for an initiative called “Wash” under the leadership of Swami Chidanand Saraswati. The idea behind the programme is that sanitation and meditation should go together. The protagonists feel that it is not just enough to sanitise our surroundings but purify our minds, heart and soul too- only then will emerge a clean Ganga and a cleaner India.