Newsreel: 25.08.02

» As letters poured into Express office over the plight of govt staff not paid for years in Bihar, Laloo and family maintained complete silence. But someone did speak up, Congress’s Cooperatives Minister in the Rabri Cabinet, Veena Shahi, who asked her party to withdraw support.

» The brown haze the UN talked of followed Environment Minister T.R. Baalu to the Earth Summit, with UNEP Director Klaus Topfer meeting him to know the Govt stand on the matter. India had earlier rejected the report. Brown haze, the UNEP report says, is caused by emissions from small vehicles, heavy diesel trucks, burning of trees, and smoke from stoves that burn wood and dried cowdung. Sounds familiar?

» In J-K elections, those keeping out still continue to make more news than those who are fighting. Shabir Shah says almost yes before again pulling out. Hurriyat doesn’t budge despite appeals from the US, but gets a shock when some members of ally People’s Conference — including an associate of the slain Abdul Gani Lone — decide to contest. A bigger shock comes from Ladakh, where candidates of all political parties decide to boycott and instead form a front to demand Union territory status for the region.

» After PM’s rap and a study that says the BJP is losing control of Gujarat, Narendra Modi steers clear of the R-word the entire week, even courting rival Keshubhai Patel at the Narmada meet. In fact, the river provides good news for the state after a long time, as water from it fills Sabarmati for the first time in almost 20 years. Thousands throng bridges in the riot-torn city to see the sight.

» Mayawati casts another caste die this week, only to withdraw it within 24 hours. She first reserves 50 per cent seats in sports colleges and hostels for SCs and Backwards, and when there is an outrage, blames it all on the Sports Secretary and sacks him. However, the same quota is then transferred to the fair price shops.

» Two Tamil Nadu ministers bow out this week. One, Housing Minister C. Durairaj, quits after his presence at a Madurai temple ritual, where children are buried for ‘‘one minute’’ to please deities. Jayalalithaa accepts his resignation, but ‘‘points out’’ the ritual has been happening for centuries. The other minister’s ‘‘crime’’ attracts swifter action. Rural Industries Minister R. Vilwanathan goes after he accidentally refers to Her as former chief minister.

» What Pramod Mahajan couldn’t do is accomplised by a Congress councillor who few have heard of before this week when another sex and crime in politcs story hits the Capital.

The Shivani Bhatnagar case is pushed to the inside pages as news comes of Congress councillor Sharda Jain getting corporator Atma Ram Gupta killed for jilting her in favour of councillor Memwati Barwala.

To the BJP’s delight, all the three belong to the Congress. The latter sacks the two women involved.

» Manisha Koirala loses her fight against director Shashilal Nair when the court decides that the film Ek Chhoti Si Love Story will be released without the cuts she had demanded.

» In a last ditch effort to stave off pressure to privatise petroleum marketing companies Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), the petroleum ministry has suggested that the two firms be merged which will greater value for eventual disinvestment.

» The last time Indian cricketers won in England was at Leeds 16 years back. At same venue Saurav Ganguly’s men managed a English August on Monday.

The biggest ever away win meant the series against England was tied at 1-1. No Ganguly didn’t wave his shirt this time but revealing sportswear kicked a gender debate at the US Open in New York.

While there was no problems with Serena Williams’ Puma designed cat-suit, the orgainsers asked Tommy Hass to change his sleeveless Nike shirt. Maybe it’s a women’s world in tennis these days. Plus the nations lesser sporting heroes had their biggest day this Thursday. Arjuna Award and date with the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan.