Goyal's gesture
Even as tempers ran high in the Rajya Sabha last week on the issue of atrocities against Dalits and minorities, the House witnessed some touching scenes, too. Power Minister Piyush Goyal walked up to veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora after the proceedings were adjourned following sharp exchanges between the Opposition and treasury benches and touched his feet. later, the Minister was seen cracking jokes with Congress leader Digvijay Singh and DMK member Kanimozhi.
Jaya's anger
A day after actress-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan received the Best Parliamentarian Award for her conduct in the Rajya Sabha, she took on members of Treasury Benches when she made some sarcastic comment when she along with the Opposition members returned to the House after a staging a brief walkout. An angry Jaya demanded an apology from Union Minister Ramdas Athavale for being the source of those comments. The chair manage to placate Jaya, but she was able to convey that she would not allow anyone to mess up with her.
Staff shortage and yet…
The CBI has about 20 % positions vacant and the vacancies have not affected the performance of the agency adversely, said Minister of state for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh in a written reply in lok sabha last week. The CBI officials are wondering on what basis the minister has claimed the agency's work remained unaffected despite such huge vacancies.
Sainik school features in KVA
The Human Resources and Development Ministry has working on a proposal to implant the Sainik School features in Kendriya Vidhyalya and Jawahar Navodaya Vidhyalayas after advice from the Prime Minister Office. The idea was first discussed at the 64th advisory meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education last year. The PMO has proposed inclusion of such elements in all schools for "holistic development" of students.
Mantri and mahamantri
NDA's Vice-Presidential candidate M Venkaiah Naidu displayed his typical sense of humour at a Press conference in Parliament library last week. While referring to BJP's General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who is assisting him in the election process, Naidu said while he was Rs MantriRs at the centre, Yadav held the post of Rs MahaMamatri' in the party". (General secretary is translated as 'Mahamantri' in Hindi.)
Blackmailer
Media persons were curious to about the background of Shivani Saxena (54), the Dubai-based businesswoman, who was last week arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with AgustaWestland bribery case. Then it was revealed that in 2000, she had accused then Miss World's Priyanka Chopra's father of molesting her in 1976. Shivani's interview came a week after Priyanka Chopra had won the Miss World title. Shivani's alleged "blackmail" tactics failed as the court rejected her charges
For mother's sake
1983 batch Punjab cadre IAS officer NS Kang, Secretary Department of Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. has sought repatriation to his parent state to head the newly set up State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). Kang who has also served as additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry said going back Chandigarh would also help him to take care of his old mother.
A Minister with passion
Since his taking over the Union Environment Ministry, Dr Harsh Vardhan has been on the sapling plantation spree. The Minister did not mind getting drenched in rain at a recent event in the national capital to plant saplings. The minister had displayed similar passion for immunization programme that led to making the country polio-free.
State of Happiness
The debate over privacy being a fundamental right had its share of lighter moments in SC last week. A lawyer supporting privacy argued it's ironic India is still debating on privacy when its neighbor Bhutan has a full-fledged Ministry of Happiness. Pat came a repartee by Justice RF Nariman, "So you are saying we have a Ministry of Unhappiness."