Delhi confidential: Twist in script

Trinamool Congress is bringing in innovation into its agitations. On Monday as the party protested against the Budget in Parliament, MPs carried black cane baskets to make the point that the Budget has nothing for NREGA workers. The baskets were painted in Kolkata and flown in for the protest by TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.

DEAL MAKERS

When the BJP appointed Ram Madhav, a leader with a strong RSS background, to thrash out a deal with the PDP to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP apparently wanted a “hardliner” to negotiate with him. It therefore fielded Haseeb Drabu, an economist who is considered ideologically tough. However, party leaders familiar with negotiations say both Madhav and Drabu developed a good chemistry which helped them to iron out their differences. Drabu was referred to as Sita as he had only one boss (Mufti Mohammed) to report to, while Madhav was described as “Draupadi” because he had “too many people” to report, including the RSS bosses.

MEETING GROUND

It isn’t just in the Central Hall of Parliament that politicians from across party lines get together for an informal chat. On Monday afternoon, three young politicians — incidentally all belonging to political families — were spotted chatting in Delhi’s Khan Market. Lok Sabha MP and NCP leader Supriya Sule, former MP and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit as well as Rajasthan MLA Manvendra Singh were engaged in a conversation in the middle lane of the elite market. All three are children of famous politicians.

BRIEFCASE CASH

The CBI has raised the monetary ceiling for some of its officers for ‘purchase of briefcases’. While the entitlement of the Director, CBI, has remained unchanged at Rs 10,000, Special Director can now spend Rs 9,000 on briefcases, instead of Rs 8,500 earlier. The respective brackets for joint directors, senior public prosecutors, and assistant sub-inspectors have also been increased by Rs 500 each.

INDIA OR HINDUSTAN

“India” versus “Hindustan” is what Parliament could soon be discussing. BJP MP from Mumbai-North Gopal Chinayya Shetty has been cleared by the Parliamentary Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions to move a Private Member’s Bill seeking to amend the Constitution by substituting the word “India” by the word “Hindustan” in the Preamble and subsequent references throughout the Constitution.