Lucknownama: Naming woes

More than a week after he recommended the suspension of Lucknow Municipal Commissioner N P Singh,Urban Development Minister Azam Khan is still waiting. Khan was incensed,allegedly because the commissioner was not paying attention to complaints of garbage piled up at different places in the city. On August 11,the minister actually issued a statement to this effect. Released through the Information and Public Relations Department,the statement said that Khan had recommended the commissioner’s removal in the past also. Obviously,Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav,who alone can remove or suspend the commissioner,is either not convinced or is in no hurry. Sources said that was the reason Azam Khan stayed away from the Chief Minister’s iftar party on August 16.

Role change

Naveen Chandra Bajpai,deputy chairman of the State Planning Commission,often accompanies the chief minister to official meetings. Bajpai is considered close to Mulayam Singh Yadav and was chief secretary during his tenure as chief minister. Sources said this time Mulayam Singh Yadav has given Bajpai a different task — to accompany Akhilesh Yadav to important meetings and guide him.

Rumours abound

Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani’s almost a month-long absence has given rise to much speculation. Officially,it was stated that Usmani extended his leave because he got hurt in the USA. But the bureaucracy is rife with reports that Usmani is not really happy with his experience in UP and wants to go back to the Centre. When was the last time that a chief secretary stayed away from the capital for so long? The chief secretary’s office is not accepting important files; these are being sent back with a message that a discussion or decision would take place only after Usmani is back.

V K Sharma,who is holding the charge of chief secretary,is just clearing routine matters. Usmani’s absence has also meant that officials now need not bother about long meetings on holidays and weekends.

Steering away retirement

The drivers of the official cars of PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and Minister of State for Protocol Abhishek Mishra continue to work after retirement. Yadav’s driver Rampher Gupta retired on April 30,but the Estate Department,reportedly,did not send a substitute. Mishra’s driver Rajkumar Pathak retired on July 31,and the Estate Department named Anil Kumar Kanaujia as his substitute on August 6. But when Kanaujia went to take charge,he was turned away. On August 9,S K Awasthi,Mishra’s personal secretary,wrote to the Estate Officer,asking him to let Pathak continue to work since the minister had so desired. The episodes raise a few questions: How can people who are no longer in government service drive the ministers’ cars? Who will be responsible if the vehicles are involved in an accident,or some other unfortunate incident?

Art of negotiation

After Shia cleric Kalbe Jawwad Naqvi gave a call for a protest march on Friday,a panicked government deputed district officials to dissuade him. The District Magistrate and the SP (City) visited him several times,but the cleric refused to relent. Late on Thursday night,they informed higher officials that the cleric was adamant.

Much to their surprise,they were told to take it easy. It so happened that SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav had,in the meantime,asked the Imam of Tile Wali Masjid,a known SP loyalist,to work on Jawwad. A telephonic conversation was arranged,and Jawwad cancelled his protest.

Virtual presence

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is credited with increasing the internet presence of Samajwadi Party. After an official website of the party,and its accounts on Facebook and Twitter,it is the turn of the party’s mouthpiece — Samajwadi Bulletin — to go online. Preparations are being made to launch an online version of the magazine which is published monthly by Lohia Trust.