Reaching out

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is preparing to avert any such situation over sugar prices.

As the UPA government is at the receiving end of the opposition attack over rising onion prices,Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is preparing to avert any such situation over sugar prices. He got SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and RLD chief Ajit Singh they do not see eye to eye to sit with him over a cup of tea on Thursday. Pawar was getting feedback from them over subjects like sugarcane production,the health of sugar companies,sugarcane farmers expectations and administrative preparedness to ensure maximum production from Uttar Pradesh. If only his junior colleagues in the Union Council of Ministers had shown such diligence!

BACK TO BASE

In a move that has got the corridors of the National Investigation Agency NIA abuzz with speculation,a senior IPS officer of Kerala cadre,Loknath Behera,deputed to the agency,has been repatriated. He was one of the three officers who had gone to the US to interrogate key 26/11 Mumbai attack suspect David Headley whose purported reference to Ishrat Jahans LeT connection caused a political storm in India. The Home Ministry has maintained that there was no reference to Ishrat in Headleys confession. A seasoned investigator,Behera was earlier associated with the CBI and is one of the first IPS officers to join the NIA when it was formed in 2008. Behera still had nearly two years left for central deputation. During his stint in CBI,he handled Babri Masjid demolition,Madhumita murder case and IC-814 hijack.

IMPACT STUDY

With law enforcement agencies still trying to figure out the implications and impact of social media,especially in the wake of the flash mobs that came out in the streets following the infamous Delhi gangrape,the Intelligence Bureau IB has proposed to hold workshops and discussions on social media and its impact at the Asia Pacific police chiefs meet scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 8 to 10. Delegates from foreign countries,including police chiefs,are expected to attend the event. Among the topics of discussion is Vancouver Stanley Cup riots and role of social media. During the 2011 Stanley cup riots,the crowd had turned violent during the game and damaged big TV screens.

CHALKING STRATEGY

After getting the contentious Land Acquisition Bill approved by Parliament, the Congress is bracing itself to use it to the maximum electoral advantage. The party has prepared an extensive document on the legislation for its spokespersons. The Points for Spokespersons was circulated this week. The document addresses five major issues pertaining to the Bill and each issue is followed by what the oppositions contention can be and what the response of the party should be.