Freedom of speech

On Thursday,just before it passed the Copyright Bill amendments,for which Akhtar had campaigned relentlessly,the Upper House was having a discussion on atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan.

Freedom of speech

With the amendments to the Copyright Bill finally getting the approval of the Rajya Sabha,lyricist and MP Javed Akhtar could turn his attention to other issues he feels strongly about. On Thursday,just before it passed the Copyright Bill amendments,for which Akhtar had campaigned relentlessly,the Upper House was having a discussion on atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan. Akhtar by that time sure of the passage of the Bill sought the chairs permission to speak on the condition of Hindus in Pakistan. Since he had not given a prior notice to speak,permission was refused. Akhtar,however,persisted,even approaching leaders of political parties to support his request to speak. Many did oblige him with Samajwadi Party MP and actress Jaya Bachchan saying that Javed Saheb can deliver a great speech on the topic but that failed to change the decision of the chair. But when the Copyright Bill came up for consideration a few minutes later,no one could deny Akhtar a chance to speak.

FAREWELL TO ARMS

WITH his tenure coming to an end,Army Chief General V K Singh is making his farewell rounds to various commands and formations. On Saturday,he will visit the Eastern Command that is headed by his successor,Lt Gen Bikram Singh. While there has been speculation about the cold vibes between the two,it is learnt that a red carpet welcome is awaiting the Chief. In fact,Lt Gen Bikram is learnt to have visited the locations of all events planned out personally on Friday to ensure that no stone is left unturned for the grand affair.

BEATING AUSTERITY

THE Home Ministry has narrowly survived the restrictions that are likely to come in once Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjees promised austerity drive is put in place. Just a few days before Mukherjee announced in Parliament that he would soon issue austerity measures,new cars were ordered for Home Minister P Chidambaram and Home Secretary R K Singh. The gleaming new white sedans have arrived and been put on the job. The austerity regime is likely to limit the purchase of new cars only for defence purposes.

REWARDING LOYALTY

TOTAL loyalty to Mayawati pays. As is evident in the case of Jamil Akhtar,a one-time journalist who wrote the biography of the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister in 1999. Mayawati had appointed him her media advisor during her recent tenure as chief minister. Though reduced to just a Rajya Sabha MP now,she has not forgotten Akhtar and appointed him as her private secretary. For Akhtar,it is a far cry from the Minister of State status that he enjoyed as media advisor,but still an important assignment to underline his closeness to the BSP supremo.

SERVICE RECORD

A K Antony has now become the longest serving Defence Minister at one stretch. The minister has held the post uninterrupted for almost six years now. With this he has surpassed V K Krishna Menon who was Defence Minister between 1957 and 1962. However,the person to have served as Defence Minister for the maximum number of years continues to be Babu Jagjivan Ram,who held this position between 1970 and 1974 and again between 1977 and 1979.