June 15, 1998

In-Camera Brigade

Delhi: The live telecast of the proceedings in Parliament has produced a new category of MPs -- the seat-changers. Anxious to be in the eye of the cameras, a new breed of pushy back-benchers have made it their business to somehow propel themselves into vacant front benches. Leading the pack is, of course, Andhra Pradesh Congressman and film producer T. Subbirami Reddy. Judging from the number of times his face appears on TV, few would have suspected that he is an inconsequential second-termer whose real strength lies in organising socialite evenings. But Reddy is in more august company. According to seating plans, former prime minister I.K. Gujral has been relegated to the distant back benches, along with other former prime ministers H.D. Deve Gowda and Chandra Shekhar. This doesn't suit Gujral. Capitalising on the vacancy in the Deputy Speakership, Gujral has now made it his business to plonk himself on the seat reserved for Balayogi's yet-unnamed deputy. The front-row seat of the Opposition benches ensures that he is constantly within focus of the cameras.

Flying Minister

Bangalore: Union Civil Aviation Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar -- like his predecessors from Karnataka, Dhananjay Kumar (in the 13-day BJP ministry) and C.M. Ibrahim -- seems to be in a hurry to beat former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda's record in air-dashing to Bangalore. The 39-year-old lawyer-turned-politician had, as a BJP MP, criticised the "humble farmer" for his frequent flights to Bangalore -- in the 10 months that he was prime minister Deve Gowda had visited his home state at least 20 times. Now, Kumar's critics are pointing out that the minister lands up in Bangalore almost every 10 days. Since he took charge on March 20, Kumar has made five trips to the state capital; his assignments have included opening a management institute, laying the foundation stone for a bus terminal and marking attendance at the state BJP's founding day. On a visit to Bangalore a day after he was sworn in, Kumar had said that only 55 of the 127 airports in the country were functional, and that he planned to "visit each of them" and make them operational. Given his penchant for flying, that should keep him airborne for a long time.

Birthday Hash

Hyderabad: For TDP faithfuls, May 28, party founder N.T. Rama Rao's birthday, is marked as "Telugu Self-Respect Day". But this year, they compromised on it by pleading that the Bharat Ratna be conferred on the late NTR. Oddly enough, at a function in Delhi the same day, TDP leaders announced that the prime minister had already agreed to it "in principle". Evidently, an anxious Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wants to impress TDP cadres and NTR fans that he calls the shots on Andhra Pradesh affairs. By playing on the NTR legacy, he also hopes to wipe out the claims of the rival TDP (NTR) of Lakshmi Parvathi. But Parvathi may have the last laugh. If the award is given, her claims to receive it as NTR's widow are greater than that of Naidu, the usurper son-in-law.

Burden of Proof

Chandigarh: What do SGPC chief G.S. Tohra and actress Pooja Bhatt have in common? A lot, says Tohra who is facing the Sikh clergy's ire for violating its edict on boycotting the Nirankaris. The controversy erupted over a photograph showing him in the company of leaders of the "ostracised" sect. Now, Tohra is citing the case of Bhatt's computer-generated nude image to allege that the picture incriminating him was also fabricated. His supporters even procured Bhatt's controversial photograph to convince the clergy. But the move has only embarrassed sober Akali leaders who feel that by producing the "Bhatt evidence", Tohra may have committed yet another sin.

Shopping Disaster

Delhi: Shopping festivals in Connaught Place are becoming a regular affair; yet business, admit shopkeepers, has never been worse. And this, despite CP hosting its third carnival in the last six months. The summer festival this time was a 15-day open-air show with amateur rock bands belting out uninspiring music. It drew the crowds, but there were no buyers. Besides the oppressive heat, a section of the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), the organisers, was also to blame for the fiasco. Nearly 350 of the 500 members, stung by bitter experiences of the past, chose not to participate in the festivities this time and did not make any monetary contribution either. Power struggles within the NDTA seem to have vitiated the atmosphere. Senior members feel left out of the decision-making process dominated by a crop of younger shopkeepers who have taken over the association. Says Satish Sundra, former general secretary of the NDTA and now an executive member, "We had no inkling about the shows to be put up. This is no way to conduct festivals in the country's most prestigious shopping mall." Clearly, the NDTA needs to get its act together for a better display.

Dung Problems

Patna: The capital of Bihar is undoubtedly among the filthiest of cities. But thanks to a public interest petition culminating in a recent high court order, Patna may soon begin to look a lot cleaner. The new initiative is being welcomed by most citizens and environmental groups, but there are pockets of resistance.

The clean up drive envisages, among other things, the shifting of about 2,000 khatals or cow sheds from the city. Problems arise not only because milkmen form the support base of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal. Among the more lucrative dairies in Patna is one located in the backyard of the Anne Marg residence of Chief Minister Rabri Devi. The locals are waiting to see how the authorities tackle that one.

Diamonds and Rusts

Bangalore: For more than a year, a diamond-studded necklace is lying unclaimed at Bangalore's Cubbon Park police station. It would have remained just another item in the police locker but for the fact that its original owner is the daughter-in-law of Dhirubhai Ambani of the Reliance Group. In May 1997, Tina Ambani along with her two sisters were guests at the Lavelle Road residence of one Raja Khara. Apparently, the former actress had kept her necklace, which police estimate is worth about Rs 75 lakh, in the living room when she went for a bath, only to realise when she came out that it was missing. Her hosts feigned ignorance and though the police was called in, Tina soon left for Mumbai minus the glittering necklace.

The police say though the inmates initially denied any knowledge about the missing necklace, the crime branch recovered it from the house itself; Khara told the police that the necklace could have been misplaced by their two-year-old baby, but the officials refused to buy this line. The police have registered a case of theft against Khara and though Tina was informed about the recovery of the necklace, she has not so far come forward to claim it. A spokesman for the Ambani household has, however, clarified that Tina will collect it on her next visit to the city.

Aping the Railways

Thiruvananthapuram: For years, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has bled the state exchequer, its accumulated losses being in excess of Rs 300 crore at the end of last year. Now, the bosses at the biggest loss-making PSU in the state have hit upon an idea to cut down on its losses.

The KSTRC wants the Motor Vehicles Act amended in order to introduce harsher punitive measures for ticket-less travel. According to them, the KSRTC at present loses about Rs 20 lakh per day on account of freeloaders. Ticketless travellers are merely fined double the fare and allowed to continue their journey, while the bus conductors are let off with a show cause notice. Says KSRTC Chairman M.N. Krishnamoorthi, "We have requested the Government to introduce a fine on ticketless travellers as is done in the railways." He also admits that there is large scale pilferage indulged in by bus conductors, who even after taking the fare do not issue tickets or issue "dead" or used tickets to travellers. Now that's something no law can tackle.

Critical Job

Jaipur: While India's decision to weaponise its nuclear capability has raised questions about cost effectiveness, Indian scientists have achieved another milestone with the second 220 MW unit of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) at Kota going critical last week. The unit will achieve optimum power production by June-end.

The achievement is significant as it is only the second time in the world that an almost dead atomic reactor has been resurrected. When the Canadians, who did it the first time, were approached, they quoted a phenomenal Rs 1,200 crore fee. Indian scientists then decided to develop the technique to change 306 highly radioactive coolant tubes on their own. So, bamboo sticks replaced the expensive robot arms to push in the radioactive tubes, indigenous black and white cameras and television screen did the job of advanced computerised eyes and a mechanic developed an inexpensive heater which did the job of a Rs 60 lakh temperature raising unit. "Our local workers found it easier to adapt to and devise simple techniques of doing complex things,'' recalls Project Director V.K. Chaturvedi. The job cost India Rs 100 crore, with nearly 1,000 scientists contributing to it. The operation is expected to extend the life of the raps' second unit by 25 years. Besides, of course, improving the situation in the chronic power-starved northern states.

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