|
On the House Delhi: Delhi: It's not one of his virtues. Nor would he lay claims to it but since
it was the need of the hour, he certainly exhibited it with some ease. The bill seeking
repeal of the Urban Land Ceiling (Regulation) Act -- which has languished for years -- was
up for a vote in the Rajya Sabha. Considering the Government is in a hapless minority in
the Upper House, there was no knowing what the Congress would do. Especially after the
Bihar experience. Ram Jethmalani, the minister-in-charge, decided to play dumb and stay
out of harm's way. A difficult task considering he is known for his words. But it worked
and the bill was passed. Enough reason for Jethmalani to go home, uncork the champagne and
celebrate it with friends. The buzz word, the fizz word rather, was cheers.
A Fresh Act
Bangalore: We
have all heard about "ministers without portfolio" but Kannada
filmstar-turned-politico-turned minister Anant Nag is perhaps the only VIP whose calling
card merely states "attached to the chief minister". A close friend of Chief
Minister J.H. Patel, Nag, as his portfolio suggests, has nothing much to do. Last week,
however, he decided to do something. He went on short leave and donned the actor's garb
once again. The new Nag starrer in Kannada is titled Naanu Enumadila. Roughly translated,
this means "I haven't done anything". While his detractors say the title is apt,
his followers hope the storyline has nothing to do with Nag's record as a minister.
Light Banter
Mumbai: If
there was one thing that Manohar Joshi was known for during his tenure as chief minister
of Maharashtra, it was punctuality. Unlike most politicians, Joshi always ensured that he
kept nobody waiting. Even out of office, Joshi has a fetish for being on time. Last week,
he called a news conference in the wake of the damaging observations by the Bombay High
Court in its judgement on the case relating to his son-in-law, to announce his intention
to resign from the state Assembly and return to his old profession of teaching. When he
arrived more than 10 minutes before the scheduled time, a curious journalist sought to
know the reason for such punctuality. Joshi was candid enough to confess, "I can't
jump a red light any more. I have to stop with the traffic now." At least this is one
politician who is not a menace on the roads.
One Wheel Drive
Bhopal: The
cash-strapped Madhya Pradesh Government, under fire for its extravagant ways, is finally
doing some thinking about cost cutting. Last week Chief Secretary K.S. Sharma wrote to all
officers asking them to keep just one official car . Although officials are entitled to
only one car, many senior officers "requisition" more vehicles from
public-sector units or departments under them -- for Mem Sahib's shopping expeditions,
Baba Log's schooling or picnicking and sundry relatives' sightseeing. Last heard the
bureaucracy, enraged over the withdrawal of this "privilege", was trying to
evolve methods to circumvent the order.
On the Waiting List
Delhi: The
nation's capital is not a place where the octogenarian West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti
Basu likes to a spend even a minute longer than is necessary. Of late though, Basu
stretches his Delhi visits by a day or two in the hope that a call will come from 10
Janpath. After one very cordial meeting last year, Basu has been vying with Congress
leaders in appealing to Sonia to lead the country. Sonia evidently is far from impressed.
Last week, Basu stayed back for an extra day waiting for the much awaited call that never
come. What's worse, even an appointment he sought with Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha
never materialised though it could not be ascertained if it had anything to do with the
new found fondness for Sonia. |
