|
Emotional PressureDelhi: While the
last word is yet to be written on the Vajpayee-Jayalalitha duel, a section of Akali Dal
MPs has mounted pressure on the BJP-led Government by raising emotive issues. SGPC chief
Gurcharan Singh Tohra and MP Prem Singh Chandumajra have sent a missive to the prime
minister seeking Rs 100 crore for the reconstruction of the Golden Temple in Amritsar and
compensation for the gold and jewellery "stolen by the armed forces" during
Operation Bluestar in 1984. The duo made it clear that the compensation had nothing to do
with the reconstruction of the Akal Takht which was done by the SGPC from its own
resources. The demand by the Akali dissidents, coming 14 years after the event, is fraught
with serious consequences as it was never raised earlier, not even during the tenure of
I.K. Gujral who was perceived to be over-friendly with the Akalis.
Pleasing the Bosses
Delhi: Union
Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam may be new in the BJP, but is an old hand when it
comes to pleasing the party leadership. Though Ranga has a house in south Delhi, as a
cabinet minister he has also been allotted a government bungalow, right next to the BJP
headquarters on Ashoka Road. But his official residence is being used by RSS seniors like
BJP Vice-President Jana Krishnamurthy and former MP J.P. Mathur. At one point it was
suggested that party chief Kushabhau Thakre move in as well from his single-room tenement
next door. But the BJP is now searching for a new bungalow for Thakre. The voluble Ranga,
meanwhile, has scored some brownie points with the party leadership.
Animated Protest
Lucknow: It was
the kind of demonstration that even the iron-fisted Hardev Singh, administrator of the
Benaras Municipal Corporation, hadn't bargained for. In order to check pollution of the
Ganga, Singh -- popularly known as Baba -- ordered the dhobis (washermen) to stop washing
clothes on the banks of the river. Faced with eviction, the dhobis decided to protest. And
what better way but to herd their donkeys into the collectorate. Seeing hundreds of
donkeys marching into the premises, the alert policemen resorted to a lathicharge on the
poor animals. Disperse they did, but not before registering their trademark hind-kick,
injuring half a dozen policemen in the process.
Party Pulse
Hyderabad: According
to a survey conducted among his partymen, N. Chandrababu Naidu rates better as chief
minister than as TDP chief. His high rating as CEO of Andhra Pradesh should be comforting
for Naidu who leaves on a two-week tour of the US to woo investors. But the survey
revealed other problem areas: rampant corruption in the administration, feuding among
district-level leaders and the worsening law and order situation. The poll also showed
ministers and other MLAs as no match for their media-savvy boss. Now, that is what a
worried Naidu needs to keep the party together when he is away. So, while there is
speculation about holding assembly elections a year ahead of schedule, there is also talk
of a cabinet reshuffle. And, true to his style, he promises aspirants that he will do it
when he becomes a US-returned chief minister.
Relaxed Governance
Calcutta: His
recent trip to the UK may have been rejuvenating, but Chief Minister Jyoti Basu looks a
tired man already. A couple of hours of office in the morning and he heads back home for
his customary siesta. Recently, he skipped the CPI(M)'s Central Committee meeting,
fuelling fresh rumours about his retirement. The media, in fact, expected an announcement
along those lines when Basu called a press conference last week. But all that Basu
announced was a government leprosy eradication campaign, after which he vanished. Before
the assembled mediamen could collect their wits, his aides were ready with the standard
"CM-has-gone-home" reply. It was half past noon on Monday, and realisation soon
dawned that Basu really doesn't need retirement for relaxation. |
