Riding Amma146;s cycles

8216;Amma bicycles8217; 8212; ever heard of the brand! According to N. Jyothy, AIADMK member in the Rajya Sabha 8216;Amma cycle8217; happens to be the most popular vehicle in Tamil Nadu being used exclusively by a women force of about four lakh.

This was Jyothy8217;s subtle praise for AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha, 8216;8216;Amma8217;8217;, the mother to people. These bicycles, it seems, have been given by Amma8217;s government to girls from tribal and scheduled caste families for going to school.

Empty benches in RS

Rajya Sabha wore a near-deserted look today with most members getting back to old habit of taking it easy on Fridays. This, in spite of the House proceedings being aired for the entire nation. In fact, the attendance in the House had dramatically gone up since the cameras were put on. However BJP front benchers 8212; Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, and S.S. Ahluwalia 8212; in their party8217;s new role of a 8216;8216;responsible Opposition8217;8217; remained seated all through the proceedings.