 Space
Warrior
Delhi: The committee set up by the Centre
to review the Constitution ran into an unexpected problem recently:
suitable office space. Finally, it was Urban Affairs Minister Jagmohan who
bailed them out. Buoyed by the success of his anti-encroachment drive in
the capital, the minister decided to train his guns on overstaying
government departments. In the Vigyan Bhavan, for example, he found that
one ministry that was allotted a few rooms during the 1982 Asiad was still
occupying them. "Out," ordered the minister. The review panel
can now get down to work in the 41 rooms allotted to it there.
Dead Serious?
Lucknow: That Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Ram Prakash Gupta suffers from amnesia is a well-known fact. Now comes the
news that he is also an utterly insensitive man. Recently, some senior BJP
leaders, including a minister in Gupta's Cabinet, approached him with a
request for financial assistance for an ailing party worker suffering from
cancer. The cancer patient accompanied them. Gupta's astonishing remark
stunned them: "Death is certain for cancer patients. Money is going
to make no difference."
Names More or Less
Delhi: Last week, the Rajya Sabha Table
Office issued a circular declaring that several members had "changed
the style of their names". They included Information and Broadcasting
Minister Arun Maharajkishan Jaitley, who is now simply Arun Jaitley,
Geetha Vanga has become Vanga Geetha, Venerable Dhamma Viriyo is now
Ven'ble Dhammavuriyo, Faqir Chand is now known as Faqir Chand Mullana and
Janeshwar Misra has added an 'h' to make it Mishra. What's in a name, did
you say? Obviously plenty.
Son Shine Deal
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash
Chautala did not have to look far for a candidate for the coming assembly
by-election from the Rori constituency. The choice fell on younger son
Abhey. All opposition to such dynastic deals have been dealt with -- a
promise of a cabinet expansion.
CONFESSIONAL
Dissidents have been baying for her blood but
Delhi Chief Minister SHEILA DIKSHIT
says she will stay on with Sonia's support.
Now that the dissidents have been issued show-cause notices, are you in
control?
A. It's much easier when you know that you have the support of the
legislative party and the organisation.
While the party high command waited, a
lot of dirty linen was washed in public.
A. The high command cannot act in a hurry. To take firm decisions,
enquiries have to be carried out.
It is said that your good friend (AICC
General Secretary) Prabha Rao bailed you out this time.
A. I know not only Prabhaji but most senior leaders of the party. I
entered office because Soniaji wanted me to. And I will be here as long as
she wants me to.
Your detractors say you depend on a
handful of non-political assistants and some favourite bureaucrats.
A. In a democracy, governments always attract criticism. You can't
please everyone and fulfil all their wishes
-Kumar Sanjoya Singh
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