Conference queries

It is no secret that Air Chief N A K Brownes recent statement that the outcome of the 1962 war would have been very different if air power had been used

It is no secret that Air Chief N A K Brownes recent statement that the outcome of the 1962 war would have been very different if air power had been used did not go down too well with the government. In fact,Browne had,at the same interaction,also said that the Air Force would be participating in a conference this month that would deliberate on how the course of the war would have changed in case air power was used. As it turns out,the conference which was to be organised by the Centre of Air Power Studies has suddenly been cancelled,leaving many to wonder if that has something to do with the governments discomfort over Brownes remarks.

Bed Bugs

Passengers on trains like the Garib Rath Express,Duronto,etc,have been complaining of terrible sleeping experiences during overnight journeys thanks to the poor quality of bedrolls supplied by railway staff. Those travelling on the low-cost Garib Rath trains are given bed-rolls for Rs 25 a set and the money is collected by the on-board attendant. For some time now,the Railways has been swarmed with complaints that said they were being supplied used,unwashed bed-rolls. Many were not receiving the whole set despite paying the full amount. The Railway Ministry has,therefore,decided that from now on,passengers will be able to book and pay for the bed-rolls while booking tickets at the counters or online,thereby ending the practice of on-board staff collecting the money. The amount charged will remain the same. The number of bed-rolls booked will be sent to the zonal railways in advance so that they can make sufficient arrangements. And if despite this the bed-rolls are found substandard in quality,the passengers can lodge complaints against erring officials.

Homing In

Congress MP Naveen Jindal is being seen frequently in the Home Ministry these days. In the last week or so,he has made multiple trips to North Block visiting the offices of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Minister of State for Home Jitender Singh. Jindal was recently in the news for alleging that a television channel was trying to extort money from him. The extortion charges are being investigated by Delhi Police that comes directly under the Home Ministry.

Hostage High

At a recent meeting with senior police officers of states affected with Left-wing extremism,the Home Ministry had discussed the possibility of framing a hostage policy in order to deal with situations in which public officials get kidnapped. Following the meeting,the Home Ministry circulated a note to the states for comments,outlining the possible ways to deal with this. Almost every state has been silent thus far and yet to send its comments. Except on one suggestion,that is. The Home Ministry had suggested that some senior police officials could be picked to undergo a short training in hostage negotiations from organisations in other countries like the United States. Not surprisingly,several expressions of interest have come to the ministry about this good proposal.