Screen sense

Given the sensitivity with which the government treats the Naxalite problem,it was slightly apprehensive about the portrayal of the issue in the movie Chakravyuh

Given the sensitivity with which the government treats the Naxalite problem,it was slightly apprehensive about the portrayal of the issue in the movie Chakravyuh which was released recently. There was a section which was in favour of banning the movie,if it was found that it was presenting a distorted view of the subject. But then it was pointed out that bans invariably lead to more popularity,thereby having the opposite effect. Better sense is said to have prevailed within the government and it was decided to keep a safe distance from the film.

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

THE Indian Embassy in Mauritius was informed on Thursday that the scheduled visit of Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi over the weekend would not take place. Ravi was to attend a mini Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas type function. The information took not just the embassy but also officials in South Block by surprise,considering that no reason was given for the cancellation. But then word got around that it was the PMO which had asked Ravi to stay put in Delhi,immediately triggering speculation about the fate that awaits Ravi over the weekend when a much-awaited Cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place.

GOVERNORS PERKS

THERE was much debate in the Cabinet meeting on Thursday over the proposal to provide a secretariat to former Governors. Some ministers like Ambika Soni argued against the proposal,saying it would send out a wrong message at a time when the government is not exactly at the peak of its popularity. Others like Anand Sharma and S M Krishna spoke in favour. Krishna even argued that the proposed amount of Rs 15,000 for maintaining the secretariat should be raised to Rs 25,000. The Cabinet finally cleared the proposal but the money part would be decided at a later stage.

DATE ADJUST

CONVENTIONAL logic would have it that Raising Days of police forces,like birthdays,should have a fixed date. But that is not the case. CRPF has celebrated its Raising Day functions on different dates in different years,and now it seems the fashion is catching on. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police,which was raised on October 24,1962 to guard the India-China border,postponed its Raising Day parade by two days this year to because October 24 happened to be Vijaya Dashmi and also a public holiday.