The administrator of Daman, Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DDDNH) might be quite insignificant for the rest of the country but certainly not for the Home Ministry. Satya Gopal (1988, IAS, AGMUT) is the person holding the post for the past two years. There is a CBI probe on regarding his activities.
Gopal happens to be close to Patna Sahib MP and film star Shatrughan Sinha and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. According to Home Ministry officials, these two leaders had persuaded Home Minister PC Chidambaram to appoint Gopal administrator.
But Nathubahi Gomanbhai, MP from Silvassa, complained to the Home Ministry about Gopal’s activities and the latter had to come to Delhi and explain himself to the bosses.
However,he was rescued by an influential godfather in the Home Ministry. Like Gopal, his godfather is also a Sai Baba devotee who visits the seer once a year.
Chatwal’s friend in the PMO
The media dust has settled over the controversial award of a Padma Bhushan to US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal but some circles still wonder aloud on whose recommendation he got it. Some insist it was Hillary Clinton; others say Maratha politician Sharad Pawar was instrumental.
The Prime Minister’s Office generally keeps an arm’s length from such characters but insiders say that, intriguingly, this was not the case with Chatwal. It is said that an influential PMO official has known Chatwal for long – and that Chatwal has “taken care” of the said official in the US for decades.
The hacks now understand why there was no reaction from within the government when the award controversy broke. Such are the uses of having the right contact at the right place.
One for the road…err…air
Twenty-four former Secretaries will be entitled to free upgrades to first class on Air India and access to VIP lounges for themselves and family at any airport across the country, for life. The announcement of this dream-come-true has come from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
But, is such misplaced munificence appropriate at a time when Air India is reeling under heavy losses? The difference between economy and first class fares is hardly negligible. A Delhi-London economy class return ticket ranges between Rs 50,000-60,000 while a first class seat can go up to Rs 2 lakh.
Ministry sources say Cabinet or Finance Ministry approval was not sought and the Prime Minister’s Office was not even informed. Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar mooted the idea and got it implemented. None dared object. Might we add that he retires this September….
Air India’s Jadhav outwits Patel
When he exited the Cabinet Secretary’s office last year, Arvind Jadhav was a happy man. He had been appointed Chairman and Managing Director of Air India. However, the minute he arrived at the Air India building on Mumbai’s Marine Drive, the realization must have hit him that he was now captain of a sinking ship.
But Jadhav also realized that people were unaware that the ship was sinking. So the first thing he did was to announce the till-then-unannounced losses in the balance sheet. This came as a bombshell for Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who was sorely responsible for the state of affairs.
It was the smartest move possible. With this one stroke, Jadhav halted Patel in his tracks.
