Delhi confidential: Hearty Praise

Initiating the discussion on the ‘Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India’ in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman completed her speech in 79 minutes. The next speaker was Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who too finished his speech in 79 minutes. After Kharge concluded his speech, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar made a special mention of the duration of the two speeches, calling it “perfect timing”.

Green Initiative

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who started holding interactions with farm union leaders every Tuesday and meeting state agriculture ministers after taking charge of the ministry in June this year, has taken one more initiative. On Monday, Chouhan held pre-budget consultations with various farm sector stakeholders. After listening to their views, Chouhan said his ministry will “meticulously review” all their suggestions and inform the Finance Minister. Earlier this month, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also held a similar consultation with farm sector representatives.