Under the world: The escape clause

Every year,teachers of Mumbai University and affiliated colleges are forced to come up with new tactics to pressure the state government to meet their demands. Earlier this year,the teachers went on a strike,boycotting assessment duty,which stretched for over a month. They were demanding Sixth Pay Commission arrears. Now,to protest non-payment of salary for two months and an installment of 20 per cent arrears,teachers in Mumbai plan to wear black badges while delivering lectures and otherwise on Thursday. They also intend to sport the badges at the senate meeting on Friday.

Shock and awe

The shock element in the Ajit Pawar resignation was so high,his press relation officers were not given a copy of the release to be circulated. Even his office staff carrying the release in an envelope was shocked at its contents. Watching NCP leader talk in stunned silence,they had to be told by Pawar himself to circulate the release. So much was the dissent in NCP over the resignation,that after the legislators meet asking Pawar to withdraw it,a minister remarked,“Next show on Friday”.

Wait,I’m not resigning

A few reporters were camping outside the cabin of a senior IAS officer for more than two hours on the day TV channels were flashing the ‘breaking news’ of Ajit Pawar’s resignation. At last when the official was available,the reporters trooped in and whined about the long wait. They told him he should make their wait worthwhile by parting with some interesting story. The officer said,“Sure,but I am not offering to resign.”

Clueless on the job

Although Government Railway Police personnel have been deployed at every station in the city,many are unaware of how to react to basic policing situations. Two children,one nine and the other six,who had allegedly run away from home in Pune and come to Mumbai to visit Ganpati pandals,were reported to railway policemen on duty at Kalyan station last week. However ,Instead of immediately initiating a mandatory preliminary inquiry and preparing a report before calling the railway helpline number,the constables expected by-standers to intervene. When one curious passer-by asked why railway police were not doing anything,a constable replied they were new recruits and not well-versed with the standard operating procedure.