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This is an archive article published on June 22, 2009

Lucknownama

On the day when the media’s attention was focussed on Chitrakoot,where a lone dacoit had been testing the skills of UP’s 400 policemen for 48 hours...

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Bad timing
On the day when the media’s attention was focussed on Chitrakoot,where a lone dacoit had been testing the skills of UP’s 400 policemen for 48 hours,Chief Minister Maya-wati called a press conference. What else could be the subject except the success of the police in gunning down the dacoit? But one can always trust Mayawati to spring a surprise.
At the appointed time,she walked in with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and announced her party’s electoral alliance with the Haryana Janhit Congress Party. When her statement ended,a reporter rose from his chair and inquired: “Kya encounter par kuchch nahin bolengi?” (Will you not say anything on the encounter?). Mayawati ignored the question and walked away.
As expected,the main news in the next day’s newspapers was the Chitrakoot gunbattle,not Mayawati’s alliance with Bhajan Lal.
The episode not only showed Mayawati’s sense of priorities,but also her sense of timing.

Caste cauldron
The Chief Minister has never liked the Congress’s attempts to reach out to the Dalits. Her barbs at the Congress ‘Yuvraj’ after his much-publicised visits to the homes of Dalits are well known. Last week,the Congress again prompted Mayawati to get into action mode when it asked its leaders to visit Dalit bastis and slums on Rahul Gandhi’s birthday and share meals with the people. Mayawati immediately announced a state-wide programme of rallies on the same day to expose the Congress’s casteist mentality. In the pamphlet brought out on the occasion,she went so far as to cast aspersions on Mahatma Gandhi. Now,there is more bad news for her. Subodh Srivastava,chief spokesperson of the UP Congress Committee,said that they were planning to have similar events at regular intervals.

Paying the price
Remember Manjul Saini,the IPS officer of the 2005 batch who had busted the kidney scam in her tenure as a probationer in Moradabad? A year after,it seems she is paying the price for her good work. The state government has posted all her batchmates as district police chiefs,while Saini is with PAC in Meerut. No one is sure why she has been singled out for this treatment,but a senior officer recalled that Saini’s work had caused some unintended embarrassment to a powerful man in the government.

Dowry declaration
A recent government order,seeking a declaration from employees that they have not accepted dowry,has landed them in a Catch-22 situation. Making the declaration is compulsory for all those who joined service after April 31,2004. There is no problem for those employees who have not taken dowry. But given the wide social acceptance of dowry in UP,it is anybody’s guess how many employees can honestly make such a declaration. If they make a false declaration,they can land in trouble. They cannot ignore the order either,for it threatens action against those who fail to comply. While the employees do not know what to do,the government is planning to send reminders.

Shuttlers bring cheer
After the bad news from cricket,comes the good news from badminton. Saina Nehwal has lifted spirits by winning her first super series event in Indonesia. Back home,a budding shuttler Sara Naqvi has been selected for the India Under-16 team for the Sub-Junior Asian Badminton Championship to be held at Colombo. Sara is a SAI Lucknow trainee who practises at the Uttar Pradesh Badminton Academy. Her coach Devendra Kaushal said,“We are proud of Saina’s feat and feel she is a source of inspiration for young girls. But please do not write about her today as I do not want the news to get buried in reports of the Twenty20 World Cup final.” Don’t worry,Mr Kaushal. Good luck,Sara!

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