Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Top intervention
AT the CWC meeting,while Rahul Gandhi expressed no opinion on FDI in retail,diesel price hike and cap on subsidised LPG cylinders,he was quick to intervene when a leader raised the issue of attacks on sarpanchs in Jamp;K. The government has to be told to provide security to them, Rahul is said to have remarked. At the same meeting,party leader Ajit Jogi said it should be announced that Rahul will lead the party in the next LS polls. Given that it has been Jogis theme song at every CWC meeting,it caused little excitement.
IN HIS NAME
WHILE Anna Hazare has been categorical in dissociating himself with Arvind Kejriwal on the plans to launch a political party,Kejriwal continues to cling on to the Anna name and brand while hoping for a rapprochement. The India Against Corruption website which,too,has become disputed property,incidentally no longer carries the blog of Anna Hazare,but persists with a prominent photograph of his. Hazares photos are displayed on the websites of all the other IAC chapters as well.
CHANGE OF GUARD
AFTER much speculation,it has now become almost certain that CRPF director general K Vijay Kumar is not getting an extension and will retire,as scheduled,at the end of this month. Vijay Kumar,a 1975-batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre,was initially marked out for a one-year re-employment in the same post but,following a change of guard at the Home Ministry,was offered only a three-month extension,with the possibility that it could be extended further. With little benefit in such token extensions,Vijay Kumar turned down the offer. With Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde having left for Maldives to attend a SAARC meeting,any dramatic change in his fate is unlikely. This has also started the guess-work over possible successors. As of now,Rajasthan DGP Harish Meena,NSG chief Subhash Joshi,DG of Sashastra Seema Bal Pranay Sahay and DG Home Guards in Orissa M M Prahraj are in the race.
STICKING ON
THE TMC may have walked out of the UPA,but its band of supporters heading various committees in Railways have decided to stick to their posts. Artist Suvaprasanna,who heads the committee on passenger amenities,and theatre personality Saoli Mitra,who heads the committee on heritage and culture,have both retained their posts,which includes a salary of Rs 50,000 per month. Another committee,on passenger services,is headed by TMC leader Joachim Buxla. The new Railway Minister,CP Joshi,can,however,disband the committees. if he so wishes.
