Delhi Underground: Wasted Anna-Didi caps

The resignation of Ashok Agarwal, a prominent lawyer and national executive member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has shocked the party. The lawyer, who had been associated with the party since it was founded, quit the AAP some days go, saying it had become directionless and was working like a private limited company. Since then, he has been receiving calls from party members, asking him to reconsider his decision. Last Friday saw none other than Somnath Bharti visit the lawyer’s chamber, asking him to reconsider his decision. The lawyer, instead, was seen counselling Bharti on “managing his state of affairs”. “My mind is made up. I’m not going back on my decision. He (Bharti) should focus more on himself… instead of trying to change my mind,” he said.

Jurisdiction dilemma

Police were in a fix over jurisdiction after a German woman alleged she had been molested by an auto-rickshaw driver and her wallet robbed by a biker the same night. The woman visited the New Delhi district police station, where she narrated the incident but failed to identify the area where it took place. The woman said she was robbed near a Metro station on her way to Southeast Delhi. Police officers debated for a while if the FIR should be registered in Southeast Delhi or New Delhi district. Later, it was decided the FIR would be registered at the Barakhamba Road police station as she had taken the auto-rickshaw from there.

Spar and smile

The leader of opposition in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Farhad Suri recently accused SDMC Mayor Sarita Choudhary of irregularities related to installation of hoardings. While listening to the allegations, the Mayor kept a smiling face. Suri then complimented her by saying that she “always looked pretty when she smiled”. As the remark came in the middle of a heated exchange between the two, other members of the House also stated smiling.

Overworked lawyer?

Nursery admissions have been a cause of endless confusion for both parents and schools, but no one is feeling the pressure more than the lawyer appointed by the government. With as many as 15 cases going on in the court regarding different aspects of the admission process, it is the responsibility of the government’s lawyer to file counter-affidavits, explaining government responses in all the cases. Unable to keep track of all the cases, it took constant prompting from government officials to the lawyer while the court sought details of cases. This prompted the judge to ask if she was overworked.

Acting, in real life

A senior official in the Gurgaon administration was recently narrating to mediapersons stories from his past that included, according to him, his stints as an actor. “I have been an actor myself…” he claimed. Asked why he chose to become an IAS officer, he said, “Well, this is also acting, only in real life instead of reel life!”

Holi milan

The BJP organised a ‘Holi milan samaroh’ at its Pandit Pant Marg office this week. Apart from being an occasion to connect with cadres and senior leaders, it also gave party members an opportunity to interact with the media. But only a few leaders seemed to enjoy the festivities. Some leaders were disappointed with the way the party, they said, was functioning. They complained that party workers were becoming demotivated.