Mumbai Underground: Embracing aam aadmi
The poll results of the Assembly elections in four key states have forced the state Congress to ask the government to open the gates of the Mantralaya wider for the aam admi
Embracing aam aadmi
The poll results of the Assembly elections in four key states have forced the state Congress to ask the government to open the gates of the Mantralaya wider for the “aam admi” (ordinary people). Taking cue from the polls,a senior Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee leader said,“The Mantralaya makeover,which restricts its entry to aam admi,should go for another makeover.” He added,“The cabinet ministers should also ensure that instead of giving preferential treatment to VVIPs,they should also have a special entry for common people.” The suggestions were not restricted to the Congress. An NCP general secretary was quick to tease a minister saying,“Look,this hi-tech corporate outlook at our headquarters may not work. Arvind Kejriwal managed to sweep the polls with a broom in his hand to identify with common people.”
Respecting madiba
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan decided against hosting the customary tea party on the eve of the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur on Sunday. The decision to drop the custom was taken to pay respect to world leader Nelson Mandela,who passed away on December 6.
While the ruling Democratic Front (DF) government held discussions with opposition leaders at the state’s official guest house in Nagpur,the CM’s tea party,which usually follows the discussion,was dropped. In the wake of Mandela’s demise,a five-day national mourning has been declared in India.
Heritage hullabaloo
After the protest meeting held by residents of Dadar-Matunga area against the proposed heritage listing of their neighbourhood,some residents prepared a brochure of the state of affairs of the buildings. The Congress-led protest prepared a file of images of the dilapidated buildings and an irregular skyline that was submitted to Rajya Sabha MP B L Mungekar. Shiv Sena corporator Rahul Shewale said,“It is unlikely that the residents prepared the brochure. Only the builders,who have interest in redevelopment,will make such an effort. It will be better if there was a similar file for the proposed Shivaji Park precinct. Do they have a copy?”
Rumour has it
On Saturday,several reporters received a call from the Mumbai Police press room stating that Crime Branch chief Himanshu Roy would be addressing a press conference at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower. The news sent not only the reporters,but also half the crime branch in a tizzy. Confused reporters began to call up junior-level officers,who in turn called others. “Why has boss called for a press meet at a five-star hotel?” they wondered. The head-scratching went on till it was finally clarified that Roy was meeting the Supreme Court-appointed committee probing the Indian Premier League betting racket,and had only agreed for a sound-byte after the meeting. Last heard,Crime Branch officers were trying to find out why the press room personnel spread rumours about a press conference.
Ugly side
By involving itself in confidence tricks,a small section of the Nigerian community seems to have unnecessarily created prejudices among many Mumbaikars. On a suburban train ride,the ugly side of both communities,however,came to fore. Ticket checkers on the train approached two members of the Nigerian community and asked them to produce their passes. The two complied with the demand. However,the ticket checkers realised that the duo had bought only one first-class pass. They had,however,taken a coloured photo copy off the pass and had been passing it of as a genuine suburban pass. The TCs decided to apprehend the Nigerians,but not before both of them got an earful from fellow commuters. Albeit,the two had committed a crime,the behaviour of other commuters to racially abuse the two Nigerians seemed to have brought forth the unpleasant side of Mumbaikars.
Share
