Himachal Confidential

CM’s snub
“Polythene? Go away!” This was how Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal reacted at the function held to mark the birth anniversary of noted Russian painter and artist Nicholas Roerich,at Roerich Art Gallery in Naggar (Kullu). Dhumal’s response left top foreign dignitaries,including the Hindi-speaking Ambassador of Russia,A M Kadakin,stunned. The CM refused to accept a photo print of Roerich’s painting as it was wrapped in a polythene. It was only after Alena Adamkova,executive director of the International Roerich Trust,offered public apologies and resolved not to use polythene again that Dhumal accepted the souvenir.

Friendly foes
The spat between Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Vinay Tandon and PCCF (Wildlife) A K Gulati is well known now,especially in their cadres. Gulati is the man waiting in the wings to rise to the post of PCCF. Last week,Tandon and Gulati shared a common stage where Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Avay Shukla were also present. As Gulati’s turn came to felicitate Tandon with a Himachali cap,the audience at Gaiety Theatre burst into applause to cheer up the quarrelling duo.

The critic within
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had not been keeping well for some days,though his blood pressure,sugar and cholesterol levels are absolutely normal. Doctors say the CM is overworked and needs a complete rest. But he travels frequently and spends long hours in office. Said a BJP legislator and former minister in favour of a cabinet reshuffle: “Reasons of overwork are quite obvious. There is not even a single minister who has a satisfactory two-and-a-half-year record,or who has done something innovative in the department.”