BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad was dealt a nasty shock recently when he attempted to curtail the TV appearance of a man who is an independent ideologue, UNO expert and political analyst. The electronic media finds it difficult to find anyone in the BJP to speak rationally on controversial issues and an English news channel had invited this ideologue for a group discussion on the allotment and subsequent cancellation of land to the Amarnath shrine board, resulting in widespread protests in Jammu and Kashmir.
Midway through the discussion, the person received a call from a facilitator and son of a former Governor who conveyed that Prasad was displeased with his frequent appearances on TV and that the BJP had not authorized him to speak on its behalf. The ideologue replied that he was not a member of either the BJP or any of its outfits and he was invited by the electronic media as an independent expert. Convey this to Prasad and ask him not to interfere in my personal freedom, he said. The call was disconnected at once and nothing further was heard from Prasad.
Hazards in Rudy’s life
liquid refreshments and fire
Beverages that were categorized as forbidden fruit in the saffron party before its debut in North Block are now all the rage among the new crop of flamboyant leaders. And, surprisingly, the party high command appears reluctant to read them the riot act.
The latest addition to the list of such leaders as Sanjay Joshi and Prakash Javadekar is the former Civil Aviation Minister and Rajya Sabha MP, Rajiv Pratap Rudy. While holidaying last month in a south Indian city, Rudy was roused from sleep by a call from the caretaker of his official residence on Shajahan Road, New Delhi. The caretaker said a fire had broken out in such and such part of the house and would soon spread to the adjacent room.
Rudy ordered him to bring the fire under control at any cost before it spread to the other room. And, he cautioned, don’t call the fire brigade.
The staff understood the boss’ concerns at once. The adjacent room contained a stock of an inflammable liquid and the resultant explosion would have invited the attention of the long arm of the law and the even longer nose of the media.
Much to Rudy’s relief, the fire was put out and none came to know – except gfiles.
UP babu’s ascent to grace
eligible son turns talisman
A seemingly impending matrimonial alliance is currently determining who enjoys the preeminent position in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s secretariat, enjoying immunity from her infamous mood swings. The political architect of the social engineering concept that brought the Dalit leader to power has lately played kingmaker, lavishing important assignments on a civil servant who had earlier been virtually dumped in an unimportant department on return from Central deputation.
Both belong to the same caste and sources say the bureaucrat owes his sudden turn of luck to none other than his extremely eligible bachelor son. The young man is pursuing engineering studies abroad and has caught the fancy of his father’s political mentor, who has a daughter of marriageable age.
As yet, the subject of marriage has not been broached. But if, as the girl’s papa desires, the engagement does take place, the favours already bestowed on the boy’s father will turn out an innovative dowry.
Kalmadi’s Pune games
pawar foils game plan
Delhi is set to undergo cosmetic surgery at a huge cost to make it presentable to visitors during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Power, water, transport and sanitation infrastructure will be on a par with Western cities, or so the government claims. Let us hope Delhi does not go the Pune way.
Suresh Kalmadi , President of the Indian Olympic Association and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games’ organizing committee, is also Congress Lok Sabha MP from Pune. When he announced that Pune would be the venue for the Youth Commonwealth Games, it was the coming general election and not the Games that was uppermost in his mind.
He thought, correctly, that Pune would benefit from a huge government Budget and the entire government machinery would come together to give the city a face lift. And the credit would be his – to be encashed in the election.
But Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has put paid to all of Kalmadi’s plans. Through his nephew, Ajit Kumar, who is a Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra, Pawar has ensured that the city administration is not cooperating with Kalmadi.
