Delhi has been through a hectic social week. A bunch of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and non-official after parties along with the FDCI Fashion Week and its bacchanalia, all coincided. The party of the first Indian Premier League match in Delhi was a ‘happening’ one in Delhi’s language. For a change the owner of the Mumbai team Nita Ambani and her two children were present. The Ambani children have been kept out of the media glare till now. This was actually a fun evening with the country’s top models walking on the ramp in Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna’s outfits. Of course in all IPL after match parties you have almost the same crowd of Lalit Modi, Rajiv Shukla and the relevant cricketers and team groupies who dance till the wee hours of the morning and then amazingly are again ready for the next match, next party, next city.
The much awaited fashion week of the FDCI was however a dampener. Obviously the FDCI’s carelessness led to commotion and frustration for many top designers. They could not get their fire license in time thus leading to the first day’s shows getting cancelled en-masse. So, Ritu Beri for example, could not get Sushmita Sen as her show stopper the next day because alas Sushmita was already booked for the next programme.
Actually the fashion weeks are now quite a public flop. In this fashion week one neither saw celebrities or major buyers. The designers were not, privately, happy with arrangements at all. But here once again the after party of some designers were quiet a hit. Free booze and free khana is after all, always welcome in Dilli.
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Drawing room Delhites are busy trying to keep tabs on the Common Wealth Games. This is a favourite pastime in Delhi circles today. Suresh Kalmadi’s apt reply on who’s going to be the face of the Common Wealth Games was well taken by some. It has to be a sportsperson and a young face and not a repeat of old Amitabh Bachchan of the Asian Games he indicated. It is as if the love-hate relationship that Amitabh and the Congress have is being carried on. And it cannot be that Amar Singh can remain out of it all. Delhites still cannot after many many years fathom - What is Amar Singh all about?
The Bachchans’ have a history of being in the way of Gandhi family controversy. It began when the Bofors case came up. Now Jaya Bachchan has for once not sided with her ‘dear brother’ Amar Singh. But obviously she is still busy humoring Mulayam Singh Yadav. Her Rajya Sabha seat is about to expire and she represents the Samajwadi party. The Bachchans’ also realize that there is no other political party that can accommodate Jaya Bachchan in the Rajya Sabha. The famous trio Amitabh, Anil and Amar which were known as Amar, Akbar, Anthony in Delhi circles seems to be in troubled waters now. So many people are now watching the Amar, Akbar, Anthony trio relationship closely as to see what the future holds for them and where they land.
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As the Congress gears up in Uttar Pradesh to take on Mayawati, Rahul Gandhi has his own agenda very clear. As he is already now known for his hardwork and honest opinions, he is working overtime to take in as much as he can, whether it is meeting editors over a quiet meal or spending time with renowned religious scholars. He frequently visits Dr. Karan Singh who is a master of literature, music, art and culture. The ICCR Chief, Dr. Karan Singh has authored books on Hinduism too. Rahul is frequently seen with dedicated NGO heads at the South Indian eatery Sagar Ratna regularly. He walks into conferences to hear speakers who interest him frequently without any fanfare. He recently swept Black Swan author Nassim Taleb away for a quiet lunch. All very quietly.
So, when Rahul is not campaigning across the country he is busy grasping all that he can by meeting people, right from scientists to thinkers and industrialists. He has a limited circle of friends where he might spend a quiet evening at home with them; otherwise this young man spends his time meeting Congress men from across the country.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
'The Tribune-Chatterati' 29th.March.2010
I had been hearing about the Ice-bar opening up in the capital for sometime. As the temperature soared up we decided to visit this minus 10 degrees bar. It was an experience that one has to share. “Freeze”, as it is called had a small changing room before you enter the bar; it is stocked with thermal jackets, gloves, scarves, caps which you have to wear before you enter the bar. In short everybody looks the same. Seems like all of us were Eskimos. It’s not a very big bar but very interesting. There are ice walls, ice tables, ice sculptures, everything was ice. It was freezing but the atmosphere was happy and charged as the DJ has some foot tapping music on. Little fingers came out of the jackets to taste the snacks but difficult to locate your friend if missing because everybody looked just the same.
This is the new wannabe place in Delhi at the moment with the rising temperature, its practical too. Delhities will be queuing up to get an entry even though it is 1,000 Rs per head but worth an experience. Maximum time to stay in the ice bar is 45 minutes. At the moment there are two ice bars in the capital but “Freeze” has an upper hand as it is the only one who serves food inside the bar. So we no longer have to go Stockholm or London for this enthralling experience of walking in from 45 degrees to -10 degrees in a matter of minutes. So, and this has got nothing to do with Common Wealth Games or otherwise.
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The roll back on subsidies on to LPG in Delhi has provided some breath of life to the opposition. Having won her third consecutive victory the Sheila Dikshit Government is clearly keen to raise resources. The new budget raises the price of tea, milk and several other items of daily use. This helped the opposition in raising a ruckus over price rise. It claimed that the Delhi Government was unkindly breaking the backs of the public, given the overall inflation situation.
But it looks like Sheila will hold her ground – largely. The government believes that Delhi’s citizens are getting a brand new city almost. Even though its an account of the Common Wealth, several big infrastructure projects, new buses, new metro lines and new airports are suddenly changing the face of central Delhi atleast. The spirited defence of a better city aside Sheila has also taken defence behind the fact that even after the LPG price hike she is still providing it cheaper than the neighboring states. And unfortunately the Congress Government is stable in the centre and the Delhi State as elections are a long time away.
Those in the know believe that Sheila’s strategy of removing general subsidies and replacing them with individualized direct hand outs to the poor is a model that could provide others with inspiration. While these issues get debated the heat in Delhi just got notched up by a degree thanks to the opposition fury in the assembly.
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Puritans in India are upset over the Supreme Court’s judgment on living together. The three bench judge has dismissed plea to make pre-marital sex and live in relationship as criminal. Activist, usually of a certain age are unable to come to terms with their violation by the court of their sense of culture and national practice. Of course, they may not want to engage in a discussion with their own children on this subject lest they discover that if the court had not dismissed the notion of criminality, their children could pretty much be in hand cuffs. What is encouraging is that the government has stayed totally out of this emotional side show fuelled by some fundamentalist of the social variety. For a notoriously conservative supreme court this is a remarkably forward looking judgment Actress Kushboo who was the prime target of the original matter, is not going to be the only one relieved. Human rights actresses are also going to be thrilled that the apex court has defined that the right to live in is an integral part of the right to life.
This is the new wannabe place in Delhi at the moment with the rising temperature, its practical too. Delhities will be queuing up to get an entry even though it is 1,000 Rs per head but worth an experience. Maximum time to stay in the ice bar is 45 minutes. At the moment there are two ice bars in the capital but “Freeze” has an upper hand as it is the only one who serves food inside the bar. So we no longer have to go Stockholm or London for this enthralling experience of walking in from 45 degrees to -10 degrees in a matter of minutes. So, and this has got nothing to do with Common Wealth Games or otherwise.
=================================================
The roll back on subsidies on to LPG in Delhi has provided some breath of life to the opposition. Having won her third consecutive victory the Sheila Dikshit Government is clearly keen to raise resources. The new budget raises the price of tea, milk and several other items of daily use. This helped the opposition in raising a ruckus over price rise. It claimed that the Delhi Government was unkindly breaking the backs of the public, given the overall inflation situation.
But it looks like Sheila will hold her ground – largely. The government believes that Delhi’s citizens are getting a brand new city almost. Even though its an account of the Common Wealth, several big infrastructure projects, new buses, new metro lines and new airports are suddenly changing the face of central Delhi atleast. The spirited defence of a better city aside Sheila has also taken defence behind the fact that even after the LPG price hike she is still providing it cheaper than the neighboring states. And unfortunately the Congress Government is stable in the centre and the Delhi State as elections are a long time away.
Those in the know believe that Sheila’s strategy of removing general subsidies and replacing them with individualized direct hand outs to the poor is a model that could provide others with inspiration. While these issues get debated the heat in Delhi just got notched up by a degree thanks to the opposition fury in the assembly.
===================================================
Puritans in India are upset over the Supreme Court’s judgment on living together. The three bench judge has dismissed plea to make pre-marital sex and live in relationship as criminal. Activist, usually of a certain age are unable to come to terms with their violation by the court of their sense of culture and national practice. Of course, they may not want to engage in a discussion with their own children on this subject lest they discover that if the court had not dismissed the notion of criminality, their children could pretty much be in hand cuffs. What is encouraging is that the government has stayed totally out of this emotional side show fuelled by some fundamentalist of the social variety. For a notoriously conservative supreme court this is a remarkably forward looking judgment Actress Kushboo who was the prime target of the original matter, is not going to be the only one relieved. Human rights actresses are also going to be thrilled that the apex court has defined that the right to live in is an integral part of the right to life.
'The Tribune-Chatterati'22nd.March.2010
Bihari's are all over the world. But now Bihar’s famous snack litti-chokha will soon find place on the plate of US President Barack Obama.
A day after his meeting with US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer in Patna, Irfan Alam, has been invited to the Entrepreneurship Summit called by Obama. He wants to carry a tin of freshly baked litti with dry chokha, besides a model of his rickshaw, to hand over the President at the White House this April.
Irfan, the 30 year old an IIM-A graduate is the chairman of the SammaN Foundation that works for the upliftment of rickshaw-pullers and their families. There are around 10 million rickshaw-pullers in the country and mainly illiterate and poor. 90% are farm workers who migrate to cities for want of employment. They hire rickshaws and end up with a pittance for themselves.
Irfan got banks to finance rickshaw pullers. He designed rickshaws, which can shelve newspapers, mineral water bottles and other such small items for sale if the passenger needs them. These rickshaws also carry ads and the pullers get 50% of the ad revenue. Irfan, who has gifted a model of his rickshaw to Roemer, started off with 100 such cycles in 2007. Now three lakh rickshaw pullers from across the country are registered with SammaN. The organization also provides books to rickshaw pullers’ children and imparts training in occupational skills to their wives.
Ambanis and Birlas have visited Bihar, but it is Bihari entrepreneurs on whom Bihar has to bank upon for enterprise in the state.
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A fashion show and workshop, a shoe designing workshop by designer label and a dance evening and workshop by choreographer Shiamak Davar. This is happening at Tihar jail not a fashion meet. A hundred and six inmates took lessons in a fusion of jazz, contemporary and modern dance.
Designer Sanjana Jon, who along with singer Shibani Kashyap, boxer Akhil Kumar and Indian women’s hockey team captain Mamta Kharab, walked the ramp wearing outfits created by inmates, had an “overwhelming experience”.
The next time you see the uber chic shoes they may just be handmade by Tihar inmates. The jail has tied-up with shoe designer for a three-month course in shoe designing. Prisoners will earn a livelihood, and according to their conduct, their imprisonment time may also be reduced by 25 percent.
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The new team of the BJP created by the middle aged President Gadkari is great lip service. Keeping in mind the 33 percent women quota he has adjusted the retired actresses Hema Malini and Smriti Irani. To them politics is a pass time whereas for the BJP it adds to the glamour quotient. Vasundhara Raje is the only lady General Secretary with substance.
The new BJP President Gadkari has coolly ignored his detractors and has put all the right hand men of the leaders who matter in the BJP and the RSS in plum posts. The new youth as they call it is hardly youth. The dynastic one’s like Anurag Thakur and Poonam Mahajan will be adjusted in the youth BJP. An interesting flash point that erupted immediately following the President’s new team was in Bihar. Shotgun piqued by other irritations has raised the obvious question as to why Yashwant was ignored at the cost of Ravi Shankar. Bihar is important because the BJP in partnership with JDU will soon be in election mode in that state. The real test is of course whether Gadkari stands his ground or whether Shotgun’s fulmination results in Gadkari having to change his team.
Inevitably, Gadkari’s choices will continue to be the subject of political whispering campaigns for a while more. But while Delhi waits for the famed for the AICC reshuffle Gadkari’s blood letting and team gathering show that this is a leader who is just getting to his scene two of his act one.
Shatrughan Sinha wants a Rajya Sabha berth from Bihar for his wife Punam, a former actress. The BJP, which has 54 MLAs in the Bihar Assembly, can ensure victory of only one candidate in the biennial Rajya Sabha polls due in April-May. Two in a family is not a problem here. Vasundhara Raje’s son and relatives and many others leaders are already adjusted.
Punam has campaigned extensively for her husband in the Patna Sahib constituency from where he won with a huge margin. The BJP keeps talking about 33 percent reservation for women but as a matter of fact, it refrains from giving even 10 percent representations for the fair sex. Also, the party is yet to send a woman to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar is Shotgun’s argument.
Shotgun was the first Bollywood star to join the BJP when it was a two – MP party in the opposition. He has contributed towards building the party. Despite his stature and popularity, he is neither a General Secretary nor a member of the Parliamentary board. What is wrong if he is seeking a Rajya Sabha berth for his wife?
A day after his meeting with US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer in Patna, Irfan Alam, has been invited to the Entrepreneurship Summit called by Obama. He wants to carry a tin of freshly baked litti with dry chokha, besides a model of his rickshaw, to hand over the President at the White House this April.
Irfan, the 30 year old an IIM-A graduate is the chairman of the SammaN Foundation that works for the upliftment of rickshaw-pullers and their families. There are around 10 million rickshaw-pullers in the country and mainly illiterate and poor. 90% are farm workers who migrate to cities for want of employment. They hire rickshaws and end up with a pittance for themselves.
Irfan got banks to finance rickshaw pullers. He designed rickshaws, which can shelve newspapers, mineral water bottles and other such small items for sale if the passenger needs them. These rickshaws also carry ads and the pullers get 50% of the ad revenue. Irfan, who has gifted a model of his rickshaw to Roemer, started off with 100 such cycles in 2007. Now three lakh rickshaw pullers from across the country are registered with SammaN. The organization also provides books to rickshaw pullers’ children and imparts training in occupational skills to their wives.
Ambanis and Birlas have visited Bihar, but it is Bihari entrepreneurs on whom Bihar has to bank upon for enterprise in the state.
==================================================
A fashion show and workshop, a shoe designing workshop by designer label and a dance evening and workshop by choreographer Shiamak Davar. This is happening at Tihar jail not a fashion meet. A hundred and six inmates took lessons in a fusion of jazz, contemporary and modern dance.
Designer Sanjana Jon, who along with singer Shibani Kashyap, boxer Akhil Kumar and Indian women’s hockey team captain Mamta Kharab, walked the ramp wearing outfits created by inmates, had an “overwhelming experience”.
The next time you see the uber chic shoes they may just be handmade by Tihar inmates. The jail has tied-up with shoe designer for a three-month course in shoe designing. Prisoners will earn a livelihood, and according to their conduct, their imprisonment time may also be reduced by 25 percent.
=================================================
The new team of the BJP created by the middle aged President Gadkari is great lip service. Keeping in mind the 33 percent women quota he has adjusted the retired actresses Hema Malini and Smriti Irani. To them politics is a pass time whereas for the BJP it adds to the glamour quotient. Vasundhara Raje is the only lady General Secretary with substance.
The new BJP President Gadkari has coolly ignored his detractors and has put all the right hand men of the leaders who matter in the BJP and the RSS in plum posts. The new youth as they call it is hardly youth. The dynastic one’s like Anurag Thakur and Poonam Mahajan will be adjusted in the youth BJP. An interesting flash point that erupted immediately following the President’s new team was in Bihar. Shotgun piqued by other irritations has raised the obvious question as to why Yashwant was ignored at the cost of Ravi Shankar. Bihar is important because the BJP in partnership with JDU will soon be in election mode in that state. The real test is of course whether Gadkari stands his ground or whether Shotgun’s fulmination results in Gadkari having to change his team.
Inevitably, Gadkari’s choices will continue to be the subject of political whispering campaigns for a while more. But while Delhi waits for the famed for the AICC reshuffle Gadkari’s blood letting and team gathering show that this is a leader who is just getting to his scene two of his act one.
Shatrughan Sinha wants a Rajya Sabha berth from Bihar for his wife Punam, a former actress. The BJP, which has 54 MLAs in the Bihar Assembly, can ensure victory of only one candidate in the biennial Rajya Sabha polls due in April-May. Two in a family is not a problem here. Vasundhara Raje’s son and relatives and many others leaders are already adjusted.
Punam has campaigned extensively for her husband in the Patna Sahib constituency from where he won with a huge margin. The BJP keeps talking about 33 percent reservation for women but as a matter of fact, it refrains from giving even 10 percent representations for the fair sex. Also, the party is yet to send a woman to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar is Shotgun’s argument.
Shotgun was the first Bollywood star to join the BJP when it was a two – MP party in the opposition. He has contributed towards building the party. Despite his stature and popularity, he is neither a General Secretary nor a member of the Parliamentary board. What is wrong if he is seeking a Rajya Sabha berth for his wife?
'The Tribune-Chatterati'' 15th.March.2010
The new President of the BJP, it seems is a talented man, hailing from Mumbai. Obviously he has a soft corner for Bollywood. At the BJP meet at Indore Gadkari tried to create a new harmony amongst everyone present by starting a sort of ‘Antakshri’ on stage; you had Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and some Ministers sing along.
We know that Atal ji and Advani are both big Bollywood fans. Atal ji was a great poet and has written many books on poetry but Advani started writing his biographies which actually created controversies which he could not get out of it.
Well using Bollywood lyrics took at the leadership conclave to sing with them has not gone well with many in the party. The new President, everyone now thinks it is quite clueless about the sentiments of the Aam Admi. His song was well chosen may be keeping in mind from where he has reached to where – ‘Zindagi, Kaisi hai paheli haaye, kabhi to hansaaye, kabhi yeh rulaaye’. No one ever expected Mr. Gadkari to take over as the BJP National President, so obviously this is a paheli not only for him but for others too. While he is laughing all the way the other senior leaders who were in line for the post are crying.
Whatever else happened at the Indore conclave Gadkari’s singing along with his colleagues over shadowed all other resolutions passed. This is a new sing song twist to mind-storming conclaves.
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Amitabh Bachchan became the ambassador for Gujarat some time back. And of course we have Rekha who has followed him there, can Rekha be far behind? May be he thinks his own charisma is fading. Now, the grapevine is Rekha will be walking the ramp to promote Patan Patola saris. It seems Modi is also pulling all Bollywood biggies to promote his state.
Patola are traditional double ikat silk produced in Gujarat. Patan is the only place in India where these expensive saris are produced. However, the designing of Patola saris is a dying art and the artisans are hoping that Rekha will once more make them fashionable.
He has roped in the melody queen Lata Mangeshkar to sing Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat when the state celebrates 50 years of its formation on May 1. Other celebrities will also appear in the video version that will be modeled on Mile Sur Mera Tumhara.
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Mostly all well-off families of India invite Ministers to opulent weddings to show their influence. Mixing politicians and bureaucrats is the big thing. But a Chief Minister is the icing on the cake. However, the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, made it amply evident recently that he was not amused by all this.
This is the first Chief Minister who while addressing a gathering of Gandhians in Jaipur said how upset and ashamed he feels when people come to his house with wedding cards which costs Rs 2000 each. They also spend Rs 1000 per plate in the feast when we have no money to help poor”. After all it was Gehlot who he allowed only 11 baraatis in his own wedding and also held a simple marriage function for his daughter. He added that if he attended such weddings he would also become as shameless as those who conduct them. We can be pretty sure that nobody will be sending him wedding invites for a while. And I do hope all other Politicians are paying heed and follow suit. It is always the leaders who can set examples. And Gehlot has always led a simple life and yet performed well and delivers too.
I have seen this man since ages in Chandigarh and Shimla.The in Chandigarh police arrested 52 year old Shankar Mehta aka Mehto from a government guest house. He had seen staying at the guest house for two months and had paid Rs 6,000 for staying there. He is a beggar who smiles at familiar faces. He flaunts the latest electronic gadgets; frequently visit Shimla and other tourist spots. The police recovered Rs 3,000 and a mobile phone from him at the time of his arrest. He was booked under the Prevention of Beggary Act.
Mehto told cops that he was planning to shift Shimla in summer. Originally from Raipur district in Madhya Pradesh, Mehto had left home in childhood. He has been begging since then and spends money on living lavishly. He was arrested in 2007 too. He was staying at a private hotel. The police had recovered a colour TV, a VCD player and various electronic items from him. He is known face in Shimla and Chandigarh.
'The Tribune-Chatterati'8th.March.2010
Even though it is just one year now of the Manmohan Singh’s Government, the Congress party finds itself in a bit of a fix. In 2009 elections the Congress came back with a larger majority and confidently formed the Government in the Centre. But unfortunately due to the coalition era the Congress depends on the Trinamool Congress, the NCP and the DMK mainly.
How well NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has performed as Agriculture Minister everyone now knows. He did not work hard enough to bring prices down, his predictions of more price rise actually got prices up in the market. The economic logic of simple supply side shortages not being able to account for the astronomical rise in prices of basic commodities is seemingly beyond him.
Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee is still totally based in Bengal alone. She is preparing for the 2011 Assembly elections rather than attending Cabinet meetings and looking after the Indian Railways. The amount of recurring accidents ever since she has taken over and the need for taking steps of prevention for no more accidents does not seem to matter to her. It is really low on her agenda right now.
Down South DMK’s A. Raja and MK Alagiri, are of course the limits. The loss Mr. Raja caused to the Aam Admi by allocating 2G spectrum at throwaway prices. Mr. Alagiri like Mamata spends more time in Tamil Nadu than Delhi. The most unfortunate fact is that the Prime Minister, critically dependent on his allies, can do precious little to make this errand flock of ministers fall in line. Maybe the voter should learn from this about voting for the parties with a pan-India agenda in parliamentary elections.
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The long delayed women’s reservation bill now looks poised to finally pass through parliament. Having crossed the hurdle of being cleared by the cabinet. The bill has been hanging in limbo in various versions for a decade or more. The Congress party has always insisted that it is serious and passionate about seeing the bill through. But the karma of coalition politics that has dogged Congress Government in previous avatars prevented it from moving forward. But this time it seems that its set to pass. There was of course an attempt during the cabinet meeting by some Congress men to try and suggest that it should go to the Rajya Sabha first but fortunately it was over ruled.
But both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi are quiet clear that this is a bill whose time has come. Indeed, it has the potential of completely changing the nature and nurture of Indian political life. And women cutting across all party lines see this as a huge victory in a battle that sometimes seemed never to end.
Once passed this Act will seriously affect all parties and the very nature of governance. Whilst the Laloo’s and Mulayam’s will predictably storm out of Parliament during the final debate the real reason is that this Act could severely constrain parties like theirs with an obvious male and caste dominance. They could see seriously poll reversals since their vote banks could get eroded. But in big parties i.e. the Congress and BJP that will have to do the most work. Women in parties, other than inheritors and a few favored otherwise, have had to struggle to get tickets to fight. With this sea change the big parties will have to scramble to get new talent and make them accept the challenge of polls. This will be a whole new ball game for parties with established war horses minding most states that they have hopes of winning.
How all this will play out and who will emerge with an advantage is the new big googly of Indian politics. And this is one where only one thing is certain. Either way, women win and hopefully with that, the polity too.
How well NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has performed as Agriculture Minister everyone now knows. He did not work hard enough to bring prices down, his predictions of more price rise actually got prices up in the market. The economic logic of simple supply side shortages not being able to account for the astronomical rise in prices of basic commodities is seemingly beyond him.
Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee is still totally based in Bengal alone. She is preparing for the 2011 Assembly elections rather than attending Cabinet meetings and looking after the Indian Railways. The amount of recurring accidents ever since she has taken over and the need for taking steps of prevention for no more accidents does not seem to matter to her. It is really low on her agenda right now.
Down South DMK’s A. Raja and MK Alagiri, are of course the limits. The loss Mr. Raja caused to the Aam Admi by allocating 2G spectrum at throwaway prices. Mr. Alagiri like Mamata spends more time in Tamil Nadu than Delhi. The most unfortunate fact is that the Prime Minister, critically dependent on his allies, can do precious little to make this errand flock of ministers fall in line. Maybe the voter should learn from this about voting for the parties with a pan-India agenda in parliamentary elections.
=================================================
The long delayed women’s reservation bill now looks poised to finally pass through parliament. Having crossed the hurdle of being cleared by the cabinet. The bill has been hanging in limbo in various versions for a decade or more. The Congress party has always insisted that it is serious and passionate about seeing the bill through. But the karma of coalition politics that has dogged Congress Government in previous avatars prevented it from moving forward. But this time it seems that its set to pass. There was of course an attempt during the cabinet meeting by some Congress men to try and suggest that it should go to the Rajya Sabha first but fortunately it was over ruled.
But both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi are quiet clear that this is a bill whose time has come. Indeed, it has the potential of completely changing the nature and nurture of Indian political life. And women cutting across all party lines see this as a huge victory in a battle that sometimes seemed never to end.
Once passed this Act will seriously affect all parties and the very nature of governance. Whilst the Laloo’s and Mulayam’s will predictably storm out of Parliament during the final debate the real reason is that this Act could severely constrain parties like theirs with an obvious male and caste dominance. They could see seriously poll reversals since their vote banks could get eroded. But in big parties i.e. the Congress and BJP that will have to do the most work. Women in parties, other than inheritors and a few favored otherwise, have had to struggle to get tickets to fight. With this sea change the big parties will have to scramble to get new talent and make them accept the challenge of polls. This will be a whole new ball game for parties with established war horses minding most states that they have hopes of winning.
How all this will play out and who will emerge with an advantage is the new big googly of Indian politics. And this is one where only one thing is certain. Either way, women win and hopefully with that, the polity too.
'The Tribune-Chatterati'1st.March.2010
In a rare event a Union Minister just got married while in office in New Delhi. The inheritor of a quiet political lineage, Jitin Prasad’s marriage to the gorgeous Neha was naturally a high voltage affair with both Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi spending time charming guests who were themselves a rather V.V.I.P glittering. The bride and groom were easy and relaxed through all the many loops and hoops of a traditional Thakur style wedding. The easy air was best epitomized by the fact that at the main reception the bride and groom refused to confirm to any formal seating style and instead wandered through the crowds which consisted of politicians of various states, media barons and industrialists. But the spirit of fun and frolic started from well before.
The guests may be tight lipped about it but those in the inner circle who attended the sangeet know that the evening had some fun festivities. The mehendi lunch on its part was however traditional with India’s young parliamentary brigade in full attendance, with their spouses teasing Jitin on the last days of his bachelorhood. Dancing, trying on bangles and applying mehendi while relishing the typical U.P delicacies was the order of many meals. As Jitin’s mother is from a renowned family of Himachal her side of the family performed the local ‘Nati’ dance. There were other folk dancers who kept the guests busy while the family gracefully performed the traditional pre wedding festivities.
While festivities were the focus, the refined formality of solemn wedding was not missed out. It started with the baraat getting ready with young Sachin Pilot having to pitch in and help the team of turban-tiers to cope with the high and mighty whose heads required the multi hued turbans individually prepared. The groom left his home dressed in an Achkan and old family Emerald Kalgi looking very much a khandaani Thakur.
Amidst a flurry of coins fling outwards for luck but in keeping with the general diktat of austerity loud bands and disco lights were mercifully totally missing even as the baraat arrived almost on time. The wedding ceremony was simple and swift but eating was long and delicious with cooks brought in from the Uttar Pradesh heartland where Jitin’s political fortunes lie. The focus was on friends and family in all the events except a reception after wedding festivities where even both the Ambani brothers turned up.
The reception set an example with its simplicity and elegance. No pomp and show here. In Jitin’s constituency a lunch was hosted where the groom and bride were present. After Jitin’s wedding one is reminded of his father’s Jitendra Prasad’s wedding. He was already a Member of Parliament when he came to wed Kanta Thakur in Shimla. It was in four feet snow that the V.I.P baraatis had to struggle through. But that wedding the Himachalis will never forget for its elegance and simplicity.
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The other Member of Parliament who tied the knot within the same week of Jitin Prasad’s wedding was Deepender Hooda. In Delhi father Hooda, the Chief Minister of Haryana and his graceful wife Asha hosted a rather exclusive but traditional sangeet evening for only very close friends and family at their residence in Delhi. This function had the choori walas, the mehendi and the friends danced to the tune of Haryanvi songs lead by the groom’s mother Asha dressed in a typical elegant Haryanvi style.
Bhupinder Hooda did not make this a show of strength or power but more or less a family affair. The food was vegetarian but delicious. The evening saw the likes of close friends Gulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and Ahmed Patel’s family. It was a relaxed evening, full of fun where everyone was at ease. The next day the baraat took off to Jaipur in Volvo buses to get the beautiful Mirdha girl home to Rohtak for the reception after.
The guests may be tight lipped about it but those in the inner circle who attended the sangeet know that the evening had some fun festivities. The mehendi lunch on its part was however traditional with India’s young parliamentary brigade in full attendance, with their spouses teasing Jitin on the last days of his bachelorhood. Dancing, trying on bangles and applying mehendi while relishing the typical U.P delicacies was the order of many meals. As Jitin’s mother is from a renowned family of Himachal her side of the family performed the local ‘Nati’ dance. There were other folk dancers who kept the guests busy while the family gracefully performed the traditional pre wedding festivities.
While festivities were the focus, the refined formality of solemn wedding was not missed out. It started with the baraat getting ready with young Sachin Pilot having to pitch in and help the team of turban-tiers to cope with the high and mighty whose heads required the multi hued turbans individually prepared. The groom left his home dressed in an Achkan and old family Emerald Kalgi looking very much a khandaani Thakur.
Amidst a flurry of coins fling outwards for luck but in keeping with the general diktat of austerity loud bands and disco lights were mercifully totally missing even as the baraat arrived almost on time. The wedding ceremony was simple and swift but eating was long and delicious with cooks brought in from the Uttar Pradesh heartland where Jitin’s political fortunes lie. The focus was on friends and family in all the events except a reception after wedding festivities where even both the Ambani brothers turned up.
The reception set an example with its simplicity and elegance. No pomp and show here. In Jitin’s constituency a lunch was hosted where the groom and bride were present. After Jitin’s wedding one is reminded of his father’s Jitendra Prasad’s wedding. He was already a Member of Parliament when he came to wed Kanta Thakur in Shimla. It was in four feet snow that the V.I.P baraatis had to struggle through. But that wedding the Himachalis will never forget for its elegance and simplicity.
===================================================
The other Member of Parliament who tied the knot within the same week of Jitin Prasad’s wedding was Deepender Hooda. In Delhi father Hooda, the Chief Minister of Haryana and his graceful wife Asha hosted a rather exclusive but traditional sangeet evening for only very close friends and family at their residence in Delhi. This function had the choori walas, the mehendi and the friends danced to the tune of Haryanvi songs lead by the groom’s mother Asha dressed in a typical elegant Haryanvi style.
Bhupinder Hooda did not make this a show of strength or power but more or less a family affair. The food was vegetarian but delicious. The evening saw the likes of close friends Gulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and Ahmed Patel’s family. It was a relaxed evening, full of fun where everyone was at ease. The next day the baraat took off to Jaipur in Volvo buses to get the beautiful Mirdha girl home to Rohtak for the reception after.
'The Tribune-Chatterati' 22nd.February.2010
Instances of the Congress and BJP agreeing on anything are too rare. So, everyone was shocked when BJP chief ministers, especially when Gujarat CM Narendra Modi praised the Home Minister for impeccable handling of internal security. It shows to some extent a maturing of the Indian polity.
We are so used to the opposition parties protesting government policies just for the sake of it. Right after the Mumbai tragedy, the BJP lashed out at the UPA government and tried to make it a poll issue. This did not sell right for the BJP with voters. Terrorism is worldwide the biggest threat today. No party can afford to play politics on securing the country against possible terror attacks. Therefore it was a pleasant surprise that both the Congress and BJP seem to have realized that the country expects the political class to tackle the danger of terrorism unitedly.
Anyway it is time that our political parties realize what it means to be in the opposition and how to play the role responsibly. The culture of parties indiscriminately going hammer and tongs at the governing party should be finished. In a mature democracy, the opposition must play a constructive role. The opposition to keep the government on its toes they must talk of prices of essential commodities but on issues such as national security and terrorism, the government and opposition must work together. So, one was so impressed and relieved at this new development. How long it lasts let see.
================================================
One has been hearing of one man one post. So a reshuffle of the cabinet and A.I.C.C everyone is anxiously waiting for. But speculation about AICC reshuffle is quiet now with all in the Congress lobbying for Cabinet berths at the Centre as UPA-II will complete its first year in May. And as usual the back biting and leg pulling has started full on.
But now the mood at AICC headquarters here is not for a change. No one wants to disturb the process of organizational elections. Also, the party’s victory in the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls has delayed the reshuffle. The “one man, one post” even as half dozen Union Ministers are still General Secretaries.
Rahul as a charismatic leader has made Congress party “feel good”. The one role everyone longs for in the Congress is to strengthen the hands of the young leader. Rahul, Congressmen feel has revived the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, made the party number one in Maharashtra and will now concentrate in Bihar. In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Congress is bringing talent and youth into the party. Also Rahul’s taming of Bal Thackeray has gone well with all Congress men.
Lobbying for Cabinet berths in the Congress is interesting now because those in the second line in the ruling party want to prove their mettle by becoming ministers. Youngsters feel that the Prime Minister and the Congress Chief can create a space for a second rung in the Cabinet by giving other assignments to the senior ministers. The lobbying could become intense once the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are over. As many Union Ministers term will get over too.
===================================================
Sharad Pawar is at the receiving end from all political parties including the Congress on the price rise issue. Pawar personally went to call on his old friend Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray and this visit has put the Congress on guard. Though Pawar claims that he went to request Bal Thackeray to control his forces when the Cricket matches will take place in Mumbai. But surprisingly, Pawar did not take his Home Minister, Patil with him for this visit. Wonder what comes first for Pawar Cricket or price rise.
The relationship between Pawar and Congress is rocky. R.R.Patil as state home Minister is cozying up to the Congress. He specially went to watch My Name is Khan at a multiplex in Mumbai and even stood in line and bought a Rs 350 ticket. The Shiv Sena in its 40 years of existence has never been so badly hit as now with Raj Thackeray out and Shah Rukh having the support of Congress. These Shiv Sainiks had been left red faced and also the fear of the Mumbaikers of the Shiv Sena is over it seems. With Pawar being pressurized for wearing too many hats and not concentrating on the Agricultural department one wonders if he went there for support and for what?
We are so used to the opposition parties protesting government policies just for the sake of it. Right after the Mumbai tragedy, the BJP lashed out at the UPA government and tried to make it a poll issue. This did not sell right for the BJP with voters. Terrorism is worldwide the biggest threat today. No party can afford to play politics on securing the country against possible terror attacks. Therefore it was a pleasant surprise that both the Congress and BJP seem to have realized that the country expects the political class to tackle the danger of terrorism unitedly.
Anyway it is time that our political parties realize what it means to be in the opposition and how to play the role responsibly. The culture of parties indiscriminately going hammer and tongs at the governing party should be finished. In a mature democracy, the opposition must play a constructive role. The opposition to keep the government on its toes they must talk of prices of essential commodities but on issues such as national security and terrorism, the government and opposition must work together. So, one was so impressed and relieved at this new development. How long it lasts let see.
================================================
One has been hearing of one man one post. So a reshuffle of the cabinet and A.I.C.C everyone is anxiously waiting for. But speculation about AICC reshuffle is quiet now with all in the Congress lobbying for Cabinet berths at the Centre as UPA-II will complete its first year in May. And as usual the back biting and leg pulling has started full on.
But now the mood at AICC headquarters here is not for a change. No one wants to disturb the process of organizational elections. Also, the party’s victory in the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls has delayed the reshuffle. The “one man, one post” even as half dozen Union Ministers are still General Secretaries.
Rahul as a charismatic leader has made Congress party “feel good”. The one role everyone longs for in the Congress is to strengthen the hands of the young leader. Rahul, Congressmen feel has revived the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, made the party number one in Maharashtra and will now concentrate in Bihar. In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Congress is bringing talent and youth into the party. Also Rahul’s taming of Bal Thackeray has gone well with all Congress men.
Lobbying for Cabinet berths in the Congress is interesting now because those in the second line in the ruling party want to prove their mettle by becoming ministers. Youngsters feel that the Prime Minister and the Congress Chief can create a space for a second rung in the Cabinet by giving other assignments to the senior ministers. The lobbying could become intense once the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are over. As many Union Ministers term will get over too.
===================================================
Sharad Pawar is at the receiving end from all political parties including the Congress on the price rise issue. Pawar personally went to call on his old friend Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray and this visit has put the Congress on guard. Though Pawar claims that he went to request Bal Thackeray to control his forces when the Cricket matches will take place in Mumbai. But surprisingly, Pawar did not take his Home Minister, Patil with him for this visit. Wonder what comes first for Pawar Cricket or price rise.
The relationship between Pawar and Congress is rocky. R.R.Patil as state home Minister is cozying up to the Congress. He specially went to watch My Name is Khan at a multiplex in Mumbai and even stood in line and bought a Rs 350 ticket. The Shiv Sena in its 40 years of existence has never been so badly hit as now with Raj Thackeray out and Shah Rukh having the support of Congress. These Shiv Sainiks had been left red faced and also the fear of the Mumbaikers of the Shiv Sena is over it seems. With Pawar being pressurized for wearing too many hats and not concentrating on the Agricultural department one wonders if he went there for support and for what?
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