GRAPEVINE
VVVIP lose sleep over disaster alerts
Last week, people in the national Capital region lost sleep many times due to the newly devised emergency call alerts on mobile phones regarding rain and thunderstorms at midnight. The NDMA and the Department of Telecom’s new venture did not even spare a ‘prominent VVVIP’ who lost his sleep through this high-pitched alarm buzz. The very next morning came the order to stop this nuisance testing practice on mobile phones in the name of emergency alert messages and try some other citizen-friendly alarm mechanism. Telecom officials rushed to Sanchar Bhawan to suspend disaster alerts temporarily.
Keyboard Ke Sipahi
On the occasion of 12 years of the Modi Government, a full two-day media briefing was conducted by the Cabinet at Bharat Mandapam. BJP President Nitin Nabin presented a speech on the achievements of the 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government. There were different sessions, including one for TV journalists, another for Print journalists and one for social media influencers. In his opening remarks, Nabin indicated print media as the most significant because it sets up a narrative in the making and shaping of a vibrant democracy like India. Another connotation came from BJP Media chief Anil Baluni. “Kalam Ke Sipahi jo ab Keyboard Ke Siphai Bun Gaye Hain,” Baluni quipped brining instant smile to those present in the hall.
Reshuffle to await MPs’ exodus
The great reshuffle is about to happen just before the Monsoon session. In the grand theatrical tradition of Indian Cabinet reshuffles — where no one is ever truly fired, merely “relieved of responsibilities to focus on the party” — whispers are once again swirling that two incumbent Cabinet ministers may soon be given important party positions. Grapevine has it that the mega reshuffle would happen once there is clarity on realignments of the sitting Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT), and some of them from Jharkhand as well. Also, the Government is waiting for the smooth completion of Re-NEET exams and the turn of events due to the West Asia crisis affecting the fuel economy.
