Delhi Confidential: Special Subject

It took 67 years for Rajya Sabha to get a joint secretary from a Scheduled Caste, though it has passed several legislation on affirmative action including reservation in promotion since it came into being in 1952. Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu last Friday promoted Vimal Kumar, who put in 29 years of service in the secretariat, to joint secretary. Naidu was apparently aghast when he learned that the secretariat did not have an SC officer at that level and directed necessary action during a review of personnel and promotion policy soon after becoming Chairman of the Upper House in 2017. Kumar has four years of service left.

Diwali Message

BJP leaders seem to not miss any chance to wear their commitment to party work on their sleeve. Even their Diwali greetings had outreach messages on them. While BJP national president Amit Shah put a quote from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his government’s drinking water mission on his greeting card, another senior leader wrote a long letter talking about the government’s August 5 decision on Jammu and Kashmir. The Diwali greeting card sent on behalf of Shah and his wife Sonal said: “Our resolve is to reach drinking water to every household. Today, the country has set out to fulfill the Jal Jeevan Mission.” The greeting from BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha said August 5 is no less than a national festival, and lauded the PM for his move that has taken the country towards “Akhand Bharat”.