Delhi Confidential: All Caps

AT A meeting chaired by BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday, all party office-bearers wore blue caps with the text ‘Bahujan Samaj Party zindabad’. This was the first time leaders were wearing the cap, introduced so that party members could be easily identified. At the meeting, it was decided that BSP leaders would such caps at all party events. The move is not new in Uttar Pradesh. SP workers are usually seen wearing red caps at public events, after instructions by Akhilesh Yadav.

Ready Remedy

At the national conclave of Farmer Producer Organisations, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave an impromptu directive to officials. He asked them to organise an open house with FPO members. Sources said the open house was not part of the original agenda. Although the hall and microphones were ready, the immediate challenge was arranging stenographers to record the farmers’ suggestions — many of whom had already lined up to speak. Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, quickly stepped in. Having earlier served as Managing Director of Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium, she sought help from two stenographers from her former office and both readily agreed to assist.