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Journalism of Courage
Sonia Gandhi8217;s shot at self-effacement boomeranged a bit last week: on March 29 a government advertisement dropped her photograph but kept the caption8212;making the ex-NAC chief and present UPA chairperson that much more conspicuous by her absence. The faux pas appeared in a large advertisement issued by the Ministry of Power on the launch of Powergrid8217;s Barh Transmission System. In the fashion of most government ads, it carried mugshots of all the VIPs associated with the event: former PM Chandra Shekhar who was the guest of honour, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a faceless slot with the caption reading 8216;8216;Smt Sonia Gandhi, Hon8217;ble Chairperson, UPA will be the chief guest8217;8217;. Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, we hasten to add, was also pictorially represented. Sonia8217;s photographs were reportedly dropped under 8216;8216;instructions8217;8217;. But since the UPA chairperson was attending the function as a chief guest, the Power Ministry could not very well drop her name. Strange that it didn8217;t occur to the babus to change the layout of the advertisement so that their dilemma was less publicly obvious.
Airy-fairy?
Beauty and the list
Are dissatisfied beauty clinic customers that dangerous? A lucky policeman8217;s enchanting duty is to protect Shehnaz Hussain. Hussain, security officials say, has to be most curious entry in the list of those who get government-paid protection. She had complained about anonymous calls. A review by concerned officials concluded that she was not quite in serious danger. But, senior officials say, the home minister apparently had a different assessment. On being petitioned by Hussain, Shivraj Patil greenlighted state security for her. Pity there8217;s nothing much Hussain can do for the minister8212;Patil cannot possibly look nattier.
Ship of state
How8217;s this for bad timing? When George Bush arrived in New Delhi, his pocket bulging with the nuclear deal and his heart warmed by India8217;s stand against Iran at the IAEA, two Iranian navy ships arrived at Kochi. IRIS Laval and IRIS Bandar Abbas had arrived for courtesy visits. But it took some persuasion on the part of the naval brass and the foreign secretary to make the Americans understand that nothing more was on offer from India for the 200 Iranian cadets than hellos and handshakes. The
Americans understood. Which is why when Senator Tom Lantos raised the spectre of the Iranian navy receiving military training in India, the Bush administration last week could confidently tell him he was more off-target than a malfunctioning missile.
What me worry?
Some of the most anxious Indians right now are to be found in the few square miles of Power Delhi. They are asking, Will it be me? They include Women and Child Development Secretary Reva Nair, Finance Secretary Adarsh Kishore, Economic Affairs Secretary Ashok Kr Jha and Commerce Secretary SN Menon. One of these could become the next cabinet secretary, the primus inter pares in the bureaucracy. Or may be none of them would. Anxious whispers abound that the PMO hasn8217;t even thought about the new cab sec although the new candidate8217;s name has to be announced in a month8217;s time.
It takes a village
What8217;s a rulebook between friends? Or between friends of the Family. Pure Rampurbali, a UP village that has the incredible good fortune of having Rahul Gandhi as its MP, has got the first tranche of funds for a welfare project to be run by the Dr Ambedkar Foundation, which answers to the Social Justice Ministry. The money was cleared in an astonishing six months by the ministry. At such speed, it is natural to overlook some procedural roadblocks. Rules say that for projects worth over Rs 10 lakh, the lucky beneficiary has to be a taluk headquarters or bigger towns. No doubt Pure Rampurbali has many charming attractions.
But it isn8217;t big enough by welfare funding rules. Officials, already stressed at having to process the file so fast, are now hoping the minister will 8216;8216;understand8217;8217;. After all, Meira Kumar had sent Rahul8217;s request along with the note: 8216;8216;For immediate action8217;8217;. Rahul had requested the application be processed 8216;8216;appropriately8217;8217;.
House call
In sickness and in health, Delhi always has hierarchy. All sarkari types have access to the Central Government Health Scheme, but some have it better than others. About a month back, the Health Ministry directed CGHS dispensaries in MPs8217; colonies to employ an extra attendant and pharmacist. The new recruits work 7-to-7. So, medicines are delivered in two hours to current and former MPs. For bureaucrats, 24-48 hours are the norm. MPs are now reimbursed in a fortnight, babus in 3-4 months.
