Lucknownama: Consolation prize

On his wishlist

Azam Khan wants Rampur’s Raza Library to be part of his Jauhar University. The library was founded by Nawab Faizullah Khan in 1774. Now,its affairs are managed by the Rampur Raza Library Board,whose chairman is the Governor. Given the fact that the Government of India had taken over the library in 1975 by an Act of Parliament,which made it an institution of national importance,Khan’s wish may not be fulfilled.

CM Bharti?

Uma Bharti may be a MLA in UP,but she still can’t seem to get over the fact that,eight years ago,she was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Last week,she wrote a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna,regarding pollution of the Ganga river and related issues. It was on a letter-head which carried the Madhya Pradesh Government insignia,and a Bhopal address,although the UP government has allotted her a house in Lucknow.

Busy bee

Amidst the inactivity in the Congress,one leader is very busy these days. State Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi is flooded with applications,requesting for help in all sorts of matters in neighbouring Uttarakhand where her elder brother is the chief minister. Every day,a big bunch of applications arrives on her table. Being a woman,she gives first priority to applications from women from UP who are living or working in Uttarakhand.

One for humour

Azam Khan has a peculiar sense of humour. On the day of the presidential election,minister Mehboob Ali went to Khan and reminded him that he had yet to cast his vote. Further,Ali told Khan that he had already cast his vote and Khan should also go early to avoid the last-minute rush. Azam coolly replied: “You have cast your vote early because you have a moustache. I don’t have one,so I will go late.”

Love for lucknow

It may look unusual,but Lucknow’s DIG/SSP Ashutosh Pandey is,actually,an IG rank officer. The talk in the IPS circles is that he does not want to move out of Lucknow,even if it means staying in a post meant for a lower rank officer. But his love for Lucknow has reportedly stalled a chain of movements,including suitable postings for 10-odd IPS officers who were promoted to the ADG rank in May. They were then told that the new postings would be ordered after the urban local body elections were over on July 7,but the government seems to be taking its time.