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Dam
Upset Delhi:
After firmly telling the National Thermal Power Corporation
to be tough with defaulting states like Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa for non-payment of
dues, Union Power Minister P.R. Kumaramangalam is preparing to take on the anti-hydro
power project lobby led by well-known environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna and others. The
minister has taken strong exception to Bahuguna's proposal that a "dam break"
analysis of the Tehri hydro project be conducted by an American expert. Bahuguna
apparently had written to the US ambassador in India in this regard. An infuriated
Kumaramangalam dashed off a letter to the veteran environmentalist saying that anyone
other than an American would be acceptable. Reason: Bahuguna had no business to write
directly to the Americans. The matter is pending as no study has ever been conducted on
"dam break" before.
High and Dry
Bangalore: For
some Congressmen in Karnataka, Sonia Gandhi's diktat is just what the doctor would have
ordered. In keeping with her wishes, they are studiously avoiding liquor, at least in
public -- though some say that they have stopped imbibing for medical reasons. Former
deputy chief minister S.M. Krishna, who never hid his fondness for alcoholic drinks, has
suddenly gone on the wagon saying it's on the doctor's advice. Former chief minister
Veerappa Moily checks in advance whether liquor is being served at parties before he
deigns to attend. Journalists' hackles were raised last week when state Congress chief
Dharam Singh hosted a party for the media ... and failed to serve liquor. His explanation:
he wants Karnataka to be the first state to follow the new Congress code of conduct.
There's one hitch though: voters in several constituencies in the state are known to vote
for whosoever provides them the heady brew. State leaders are now discussing Sonia's 19
commandments in the light of such local factors.
Simple Traveller
Calcutta: So
what if it's a foreign trip, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee remains true to her
form. Wearing a simple cotton sari and rubber slippers, the firebrand politician from
Bengal reportedly carried in her sling bag half a month's stock of muri (puffed rice) and
peanuts for her visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York. But as she prepared
to leave, speculation exploded about a cabinet expansion and the possibility of the
Trinamool leader finding a berth at the Centre. "No scene," shot back Mamata who
still swears by the "Bengal first" line. But like famous saviours of the state
before her, Mamata realises she must first construct a global image for herself. The leak
about the contents of the famous jhola (sling bag) was a definite first step in that
direction.
New Convert
Thiruvananthapuram: What
does Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh have in common with K. Karunakaran? Both
are, of course, Congressmen. They are also devotees of Lord Krishna. While the former
Kerala chief minister has been a regular at the Guruvayur temple in Thrissur district for
over five decades now, Singh is a recent convert. For the third time this year, Singh flew
down to Kerala last week for a darshan. Not much is known about how Singh turned into a
Guruvayurappan devotee, but it is presumed he drew inspiration from Karunakaran's own long
and fairly successful political innings which he acknowledges is mostly due to the Lord's
grace. With assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh slated for next month, Diggy Raja needs
the blessings more than ever. |
