Family Meals

Seemingly unaffected by the political heat that was being generated by the BJPs national executive in Goa,the first family of the Congress party

Seemingly unaffected by the political heat that was being generated by the BJPs national executive in Goa,the first family of the Congress party had a relaxed weekend in Delhi,with Rahul Gandhi choosing to eat out on Saturday as well as Sunday. He was seen at a popular European restaurant in Khan Market on Saturday. Despite the sweltering heat,he chose to sit on the terrace section of the restaurant on the first floor and is learnt to have ordered sandwiches and spaghetti,and peri-peri chicken. On Sunday,Rahul was out again for lunch,this time with his mother,Sonia. The two went to a popular south Indian restaurant in Defence Colony,with Rahul dressed in casual jeans and T-shirt that said Mr Happy. While Rahul had chicken,prawns and appam,Sonia preferred to have something vegetarian. The restaurant,which does not have regular dosa on its menu,got a dosa for her from a neighbouring affiliate.

Dual Tone

HE has tried his hand at mobile-based poetry,a genre created by him,and at writing lyrics. Now,Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal has taken to satire. A satirical song penned by him on corruption in the Indian Premier League is doing the rounds on the Internet. Sung by Daler Mehndi,the IPL song,as it is being called,pokes fun at the game being turned into a money-making industry. It also talks of the fans being taken for a ride by corrupt cricketers and team owners. Incidentally,Sibal,who is also the Law Minister,is working on a legislation to check spot-fixing in sports.

New Broom

THE new Secretary UGC,Akhilesh Gupta,who has come to the apex education regulator from the Department of Science amp; Technology has also brought in a new work ethic to the commission. It is learnt that he is in the middle of an ambitious plan to convert UGC to a paperless e-office. From roping in NIC to develop an effective e-governance module to bringing transparency in UGC,Gupta is also sending off his staffers to intensive workshops so that they return adequately well-versed with computers to handle the new UGC e-office at work.

Hectic Schedule

BEING the Defence Minister of the country and a key crisis manager of the party can force you to stretch yourself at times. A K Antony went on a four-day three-nation tour this week Australia,Singapore and Thailand clocking 30 hours in the air. The decision to club his visits to the three countries saved him two days but became very hectic. Some of the jet-lag,though,was offset by the exceptionally warm hospitality he received in Australia. His counterpart,Stephen Smith,was waiting at the aircrafts door in Perth to receive him. The Australian minister then travelled with Antony to Canberra on an air force business jet and accompanied him to all appointments and fixtures during the visit. Once back in India,Antony headed straight to his home state where Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala have locked horns over the latters desire to enter the Cabinet as deputy Chief Minister with Home portfolio. The Defence Minister briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the state of play. However,it was learnt that he refrained from taking any sides calling both protagonists his friends.

ARCTIC CALLING

FOREIGN Minister Salman Khurshid is headed for Norway on Monday,where the highlight of his visit would be a trip to the Arctic. India has only recently been inducted into the Arctic Council with an observer status,and Khurshids visit,firmed up after that decision,is likely to further cement New Delhis role in activities in the region. Khurshid,however,is not the first Indian minister to set foot in the Arctic region. His colleague,Kapil Sibal,when he was the Science and Technology Minister in 2008,had inaugurated Indias first research station in the Arctic.