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Journalism of Courage
Cosying up
As he reaches towards the end of his controversial tenure,Army Chief General V K Singhs political overtures are becoming more and more evident. At the recent function where he released the book of advocate R K Anand on civil-military relationship,politicians of all hues were present. Amongst them were Tarun Vijay of the BJP,Sajjan Kumar of the Congress and Malwinder Singh,estranged brother of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh.
ANXIOUS MOMENTS
WHILE the Congress Working Committee,reconstituted in March last year,is expected to meet on June 4 to discuss the political and economic situation in the country,many of its members are having anxious moments. They are eager to put their points across but are not sure whether they will remain in the CWC by then if the organisational reshuffle,due anytime now,is effected before that. For many of them,it could be the first and last chance to speak at a CWC meeting. Although the CWC has met twice since its reconstitution last year,it was just to pay homage to departed leaders Arjun Singh and Dorjee Khandu. The last time the CWC had met to discuss a political issue was in October 2010 in the wake of Allahabad High Courts verdict on Ayodhya title suit case.
SILENCE ON FAST
AS Team Anna guns for ministers in preparation for the July 25 fast,the joint fast of Anna Hazare and Swami Ramdev on June 3 seems to have fallen on their blind spot. There is little effort to publicise it either through the social media or during media interactions. The IAC website features pictures of all tainted ministers and their details but does not mention the June 3 fast. Sources in the Ramdev camp say given that Hazare will take part,Team Anna is in principle a participant. However,it is our event,said a Ramdev aide. If my daughter is getting married,bulk of the responsibilities will be mine, he said.
SPORTING GESTURE
SPORTS Minister Ajay Makens effort to endear himself to the sportspersons continues. This time he has decided not to take a delegation of Sports Ministry officials to the London Olympics. Instead,a delegation of eminent sportspersons is planned to be taken. An eight-member delegation comprising of the Secretary,Joint Secretary and director level officials has always accompanied the minister in past Olympic events,though they have little to do except to encourage the Indian team. The delegation has been traditionally split into two over two weeks with the minister leading a four-member delegation for the first week,and the Secretary with another four members for the second week. No such luck for the officials this time,as Maken seeks consent of decorated sportspersons like PT Usha to be a part of the official delegation to London.
Plea against CIC order: HC says President not above law
New Delhi: Observing that the President was not above the law,the Delhi High Court Tuesday reserved its verdict on an appeal against a Central Information Commission order to make public donations by presidents of India on humanitarian grounds between 2004 and 2011. Also staying the CICs May 4 order,Justice Vipin Sanghi remarked: If somebody goes with a begging bowl,which kind of privacy he wants to maintain? The court said,We are not a monarchy but a republic8230; The President of India is not above the law.
