In RS, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh was repeatedly referred to as desk ki laxmi by Laloo Prasad Yadav. Jaswant was visibly embarrassed by this attention. As if this was not enough, when Laloo sat down, chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat took over. ‘‘Yeh to sachmuch laxmi hai,’’ Shekhawat said, looking at Jaswant Singh. He reminded Laloo that Jaswant’s tenure had brought rains and hence luck to the country.Pappu Yadav in Mother Teresa avatarThere were some moments of mirth for members of Lok Sabha provided by Pappu Yadav, an independent MP representing Purnea, who suddenly adopted the avatar of Mother Teresa. An accused in several criminal cases, Yadav on Tuesday waxed eloquent about samajik hit (social welfare) and manav hit (human welfare). In the midst of the heated discussion on functioning of the CBI, he accused the other members of being motivated only by personal and party issues, ‘‘never by social and national issues.’’ He then went on to say that he could never see anybody from marginalised sections of society being hurt — ‘‘be it Muslim, Christian or Sikh.’’ As a principle, he said ‘‘I always stand to get justice for them.’’ Notably, Yadav was seen sleeping for a good part of the discussion.A record of sortsA record of sorts was created in the Rajya Sabha when the House completed the question hour three minutes before the stipulated time. Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat not only took up all the starred questions slated for the day, but also disposed them of by 11.57 am — three minutes ahead of the zero hour. After the House took up all the 20 listed questions, the chairman said ‘‘question hour is over’’ leaving members and newspersons in the press gallery wondering that it could be a record in itself. Flourescent bulbs irk JaswantFinance Minister Jaswant Singh sought Shekhawat’s intervention to change the ‘‘blinding’’ fluorescent bulbs in the House which, he said, could damage eyes. Shekhawat quipped he would have to tell this to the Health Minister. Singh said: ‘‘If we are not careful, we will be exposed to these lights which can damage our eyes. We need a better technology.’’And what about women mps? asks AlvaA senior Congress member in the Lok Sabha came out strongly against the Government’s decision to reduce the age of air hostesses for flying duties from 58 to 50, saying this was discriminatory. Raising the issue during zero hour, former minister Margaret Alva said 92 air hostesses who had reached the age of 50 had been grounded reducing their salaries and allowances by 70 per cent. She questioned the contention that women loose their looks by the time they turn 50 while men could go on till 58 with the flying duties. If that be the case, where will the women MPs go? she asked, while observing that such a decision was taken at a time when the Government had declared 2003 as the year of the women.
