Delhi Confidential: Stepping Out

A SPECIAL guest graced the inauguration of the students’ union office of Campus Law Centre (CLC), Delhi University, on Thursday. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav’s daughter Aditi Yadav participated as the chief guest at the event. This was the first public programme outside Uttar Pradesh for the 21-year-old, who had campaigned for her mother Dimple Yadav in the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat earlier this year. A graduate in international relations from University College London, Aditi is likely to venture into politics in the future. CLC students Arpit Verma and Sachin Yadav, who hail from UP and are connected to the SP, brought Aditi to the CLC event, but the permission was granted by Akhilesh, said the sources.

Big Brother

During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, newly elected MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was seated in the fourth row, came up to the front seat to talk to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. After a brief conversation with her brother, Priyanka turned to walk back to her seat. This prompted Speaker Om Birla to gently remind the first-time MP: “Honourable member, you should not turn your back to the Chair.” Although Priyanka did not hear the Speaker, Rahul quickly raised his hand and apologised. He then called Priyanka back and was seen saying something to her. Priyanka nodded and went back to her seat. According to the Rules and Conduct of Etiquette for MPs, “A member should not sit or stand with his/her back to the Chair. This is considered disrespectful.”

Father’s Pride

Usually among the most sought-after guests in a room, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made his presence felt as an unassuming audience member at the launch of Dhruva Jaishankar’s book on Thursday evening in New Delhi. Among the first ones to arrive and the last ones to leave the venue, the Union Minister cheered for the first book of his son, who helms foreign policy think tank Observer Research Foundation’s US arm.  Unlike the usual format, the book launch had no chief guest or any presence from the ruling dispensation