A delegation of farmers belonging to the Bharti Kisan Union met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to compliment her for the UPA governments decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. In a memorandum submitted to her,they quoted a suicide note left by a Vidarbha farmer,Gajanand Ghotekar,that said,Dont vote for the Congress and NCP; they dont care for farmers. The memorandum stated that the farmer had expected the state government and the Centre to take steps to ensure better prices,which was not happening,and therefore,he had urged people not to vote for them. Same is the general sentiment with farmers of Punjab and Haryana. This should be a matter of great concern for the nation as also the government, stated the farmers memorandum. A back-handed compliment on FDI,one would say,although Congress spin masters claimed that it proved that they were independent farmers and not sponsored ones. CHAMPION CRUSADE WHILE the National Sports Development Bill,2011,is hanging fire after senior UPA ministers rejected it at a Cabinet meeting last year,a Congress MLA from Uttarakhand plans to embark on a global tour to mobilise opinion against politicians in India heading various sports bodies. Pranav Singh,or Champion,chairman of the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation who enjoys Cabinet status in the Vijay Bahuguna government,plans to go to Frankfurt,Los Angeles,and other cities to meet sportspersons and hold press conferences on this issue. Once 10,Downing Street and White House take note of this issue,it will certainly have an impact in India, he says. Scion of the erstwhile Landhora Riyasat in Uttarakhand,the three-term MLA and former heavyweight champion in arm wrestling claims he would not spend any money from the state exchequer. I have asked my father to earmark Rs 50 lakh for my tours and he has agreed, he says. BILL OF FARE THE Indian Institute of Advanced Studies has probably one of the most impressive of addresses in the country as far as academic bodies are concerned. Housed in the picturesquely located Viceregal Lodge in Shimla,the IIAS sits pretty in the heritage building atop Observatory Hill. Heritage,however,comes with its own set of problems. In use since 1888 and home first to Viceroy Lord Dufferin,the building is now in serious need of repair. Any repair to this heritage building,however,has to go the ASI route. Reason enough for the Ministry of HRD and Ministry of Culture to sit across the table and decide on who shall foot the bill. The confabulations have begun. HEALTHY INITIATIVE HEALTH Ministers of BJP-ruled states are slated to meet at a workshop in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) next week to understand the work of famous Dr Abhay Bang in the neighbouring tribal regions towards controlling infant mortality rate and malnutrition to help them assess the efficacy of the efforts being undertaken by their administrations. The Health Minister of Gujarat,whose Chief Minister Narendra Modi had recently blamed the obsession with slim figures as one of the reasons behind high malnutrition rates in his state,is unlikely to attend the workshop. The obvious reason is the upcoming elections to the assembly.
