MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
On Wednesday, there an unknown woman was seen fulltime behind Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi when he addressed media inside the Parliament. Soon after the Press conference, SPG and Parliament Security nabbed her to know how she managed to came close to Rahul breaching all security arrangments. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge rushed to security personnel to save the woman from further embarrassment. She was idenitfied as Banda Karthika Reddy, a Mahila Congress leader and former Hyderabad Mayor. She had come to meet Kharge for some work, said the Congress leader.
SENIORS AT WORK
After crossing 70, no employment seems as lucrative as being head of a State Cricket Association. Chief Justice of India TS Thakur made this sarcastic remark last week after he noted how the State cricket associations headed by persons over the age of 70, had voted against reforms in the BCCI. Finding this amusing, Justice Thakur said, “What is it that people at 70 still want to continue and not give up.” A witty senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the BCCI, quipped,” “Why 70, why not 65.” This amused the CJI more as he realised what Sibal hinted at. Thakur is due to retire early next month at the age of 65, and post retirement, he is open to take up statutory and constitutional posts that allows him to work till the age of 70.
AT CROSS PURPOSE
As lok Sabha discussed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, the house was amused when SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav began to air his views on the issue. In his inimitable style Yadav repeatedly talked about the excellent work done in the poll-bound UP to better the conditions of women, farmers and children. “No one talks of this...there are 73 MPs from ruling party...they should speak about..”, he said even as he was told that he is supposed to speak on the Disability bill. “Mulayam SinghJi disability per boliye..”, repeated speaker Sumitra Mahajan. But the 77 -year- old veteran kept lauding UP under SP rule.
lIGHTER MOMENT
Amidst acrimony over the demonetisation issue, the Rajya Sabha had some lighter moments when it unanimously passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities bill last week. Wondering who was authorided to define “intellectual” or “mental” illness, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury pointed out that Opposition and Treasury benches often charged each other of suffering with these ailments. The entire House including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and others had a good laugh.
FOCUS ON VARANASI
For Tourism Ministry, Varanasi, the Parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have become the favourite venue where it has been recently holding most of its important events. While the Ministry has picked Varanasi to hold its week-long Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav which kicked off from December 17, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma selected the city to chair the second meeting of re-constituted Central Advisory Board on Culture. Many participants suggested that National level Cultural Festivals like Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav may also be organised in north eastern States too.
IRANI’S NEP A SMRITI NOW
HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced yet another committee headed by an educationist to draft the final National Education Policy, and word has it that the educationist is none other than Prof JS Rajput. Rajput was a member of a committed headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian on education and also NCERT chief under the Vajpayee regime. Appointed by former HRD Minister Smriti Irani, the Subramanian committee submitted its report for the evolution of a NEP in June this year, before Javadekar took over at the helms of affair.