Lucknownama: Old debutante

Health Minister Ahmad Hasan has found a new job for joint director-level doctors of the department – that of manning a call centre. Eight doctors,all drawing around Rs 1 lakh per month,have been posted for attending the department’s 24X7 helpline,which was inaugurated last month by the minister. The doctors receive calls,note down the complaints,inform the officials where prompt action is required,and ensure follow-up action. But,aren’t doctors supposed to treat patients and look after implementation of health programmes?

New head turners

Groups of elderly Jats are often seen at the Samajwadi Party headquarters at Vikramaditya Marg for past some time. It started after party spokesman Rajendra Choudhary,himself a Jat from western UP,became an MLC. The Jats see him as someone who could help them in their dealings with the government. They can be seen sitting in Choudhary’s room,or even napping in the airconditioned comfort of other offices. In the past,hardly anyone from the Jatland visited the SP office.

Maya reroute

When Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav spoke of financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the construction of memorials and parks under the previous government,BSP general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui was quick to come out with a rebuttal. But party president Mayawati,who is now based in Delhi,was reportedly not impressed. A detailed statement was drafted,sent to Delhi and,after Mayawati’s approval,released to the media in Lucknow. Since it came more than 48 hours after the Chief Minister’s statement,the BSP statement looked stale. Nevertheless,sources said that,in future,every statement from the state BSP will be released after Mayawati’s approval.

Touchy issue

Touching the feet of senior leaders has been a tradition in almost every political party. The practice is more common in the Bharatiya Janata Party which has several Brahmins in its top ranks. But the new state BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai,although a Brahmin,does not allow any party worker to touch his feet. Instead,he prefers a handshake or a simple “namaskar”. Nevertheless,several other BJP leaders continue to have partymen greeting them by touching their feet.