Farewell pilgrimages
Bangladesh Defence Attache Brigadier General Mohammad Abdul Hamid left for Dhaka after completing his three year tenure in New Delhi. However, before he packed up to leave India, the officer travelled to Nizamuddin Dargah in New Delhi, Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, Imambara in lucknow, Golden Temple in Amritsar and several other places of religious importance to offer prayers and “see the diversity of culture”. The man who helped in strengthening of India-Bangladesh military ties also left home satisfied on another front: He reached an understanding with some Indian hospitals to provide specialty medical care to the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces (BAF), their retired personnel, and their family members.
Claim vs counter-claim
It’s a case of claim vs counter claim. Days after India released video showing targeted attack on Pakistan post used for launch of terrorists, the Pakistan Army on Sunday released a 27-second video with footage of destruction of Indian military posts across the line of Control. On Saturday, Pakistan claimed to have killed five Indian soldiers, the exact number of Pak jawans Indian army reportedly eliminated while retaliating to ceasefire violation by Pak. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor posted the video on twitter on Sunday morning. “Video clip showing destruction of Indian posts on lOC by Pak Army in response to unprovoked Indian firing on innocent citizens,” he said in a brief statement with the video. Indian officials here have mocked at the claim, saying Pakistan know nothing better than generating fake videos.
Gadkari bats for NHAI officers
All is not well between Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. The Rawat Government in Uttarakhand wants CBI probe into the alleged NH-74 scam involving NHAI officials, in which the agricultural land was shown as non agricultural land to spike compensation which led to the loss of revenue apart from increasing the project cost. Gadkari had written to the Uttarakhand CM, saying that nothing should be done to bring down the moral of NHA officials.
Race for CRB
Even before Chairman Railway Board (CRB) AK Mittal completes his one-year term of the two-year extension given to him by Modi Government, knives are out in against him. Rail Bhawan is now agog with the speculations that if Mital is asked to go, Member (Mechanical) Ravindra Gupta and Member (Electrical) Ghanshyam Singh could be in the race for the coveted post. Singh is already dropping such hints among his colleagues. Another former railway officer also credited to be the turnaround man Ashwani lohani, now serving as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India, is also seen in the race. Amidst talks that the national carrier is on the verge of strategic sale, lohani maybe the dark horse to take over as boss of the national transporter.
Mysterious deaths
Sudden death of two IAS officers under mysterious circumstances has shocked the IAS fraternity. First, Anurag Tewari of Karnataka cadre recently died on the road in lucknow during his morning walk. Interestingly, Thakur was not known to go for morning stroll. The second is the case of trainee IAS officer Ashish Dahiya, who died in swimming pool in Delhi while trying to rescue a female colleague. Swimming is mandatory for all IPS officers and, Dahiya was a former Deputy Superintendent of Police in Himachal before he was selected as IAS. How come the swimming pool was open at mid-night and how did the woman officer slip into the poolIJ
Fake mail
A fake email generated in the name of Dental Council of India (DCI) President Divyendu Mazumdar has been received by dental colleges with regard to the inspection of their premises. The Council has filed a complained with the police against the ‘unknown person’ for sending fake mails/letters and creating ‘panic’ among authorities of the dental colleges. Incidentally, Mazumdar and three others are facing CBI charges for alleged cheating and corruption for favouring a dental college in increasing seats.