Back in action

Even though she was in prison,DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi kept herself abreast with the hot political debate of the day FDI in the retail sector

Even though she was in prison,DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi kept herself abreast with the hot political debate of the day FDI in the retail sector. The controversy had erupted last week and sources say that Kanimozhi asked for the Parliamentary Standing Committee proceedings on the subject to be sent to her. The DMK MP also has plans to approach the court seeking permission to attend Parliament as her bail conditions say she should be present in the court during the hearing but,as a DMK insider put it: For that Parliament has to function first.

Modi Spotting

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was in the Capital last week for a few hours to attend the wedding of industrialist Lakshmi Goels daughter. The venue turned out to be an opportunity to catch up with party colleagues including BJP president Nitin Gadkari. The two reportedly spent a few minutes together at the special enclosure for VVIPs,promptly setting off speculative stories among those who were present. Relations between Gadkari and Modi are said to be not exactly cosy with the distance reportedly widening after the Gujarat Chief Ministers fast programmes for which he never took the central leadership into confidence.

Repeat Offender

Kabir Suman has done it again. The popular singer-songwriter-turned Trinamool Congress MP has released two songs praising slain Maoist leader Kishenji and taking a dig at the operation that resulted in the killing,causing embarrassment to his party leader Mamata Banerjee,who has refused to speak on the matter. Faced with censure from senior party functionaries,the Jadavpur MP is understood to have said that his respect for Kishenji and the Maoists was no secret. The song Hero praises the outlaw without naming Kishenji,while a musical montage called Clean and Successful is peppered with pictures of Kishenjis dead body,and mocks the statement by the CRPF chief which had described the operation clean and successful. Suman had earlier found himself at the receiving end of Mamata Banerjees ire last year and earlier this year ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections when he dedicated his book to Kishenji and said the Maoists were helping Trinamool Congress against the CPM.

Out of Bounds

Civil society activist and Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was whisked away by security personnel from Parliament House on Wednesday after some MPs apparently raised objections to him giving interviews on Parliament premises. Kejriwal,who has been speaking vociferously on the Jan Lokpal Bill,has been coming to Parliament to meet leaders and then proceeding to the press area to respond to questions. But on Wednesday,Kejriwal briefed media at the entrance gate of the Parliament House citing the reason that only parliamentarians can air their views inside the Parliament House complex.

Tailpiece

While several parties are protesting in the well in both Houses of Parliament every day,the two TRS members of the Lok Sabha K Chandrasekhar Rao and Vijayashanthi seem to have long-term plans. Unlike most others,who make do with computer printouts,they walk into the well with elaborately prepared colourful placards from thick paper.