Delhi Confidential: Gift of don’ts

The officials of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Monday received a lesson in austerity from Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Speaking at the inauguration of 6th International Agronomy Congress (IAC-2025), Chouhan told ICAR officials that they should stop spending money on mementos and shawls for one another, noting that they are all members of the same family. “We should make it a rule from today that no shawls, bouquets, or gifts will be given within the department,” he said.

Write, wrong

With Kerala entering a high-decibel electioneering, starting with local body elections in December and then Assembly polls early next year, narrative setting has become crucial for all the players. Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Benny Behanan has just come out with a book in Malayalam — Ezhayazhinjupoya innelekal (Yesterdays unravelled) — listing series of instances where CPI-M led LDF had created obstacles for the development works initiated by Congress-led UDF governments but proceeded with the projects when they came to power in Kerala. He listed industrial projects to modernise agriculture sector and progressive changes in higher education sector to support his claim.