Tharoor Turns Left
As the world was remembering Cuban leader Fidel Castro who passed away on November 25, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared his memories of interacting with him during his days in the UN. When some CPI(M) leaders asked him to write an obituary, he agreed. The piece was published in Kerala CPI(M)’s mouthpiece Deshabhimani last week.
Constitutional Patriotism
If the national anthem is to be played in a place meant for entertainment, viz movie theatres, it should also be played in a more sombre arena. A senior Supreme Court lawyer wants it to be sung in the apex court, which decides the fate between life and death of people, and where the tri-colour flies forever. This is called “constitutional patriotism”, the lawyer said.
Team Work
The Winter session of Parliament has been marred with din. Former Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
M Venkaih Naidu makes it a point to give bytes to the media. He has been more active in countering claims of the Opposition than Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar. When asked why he’s not talking about the parliamentary logjam, he quipped, “My party and government believe in team work.”
Senior’s Surprise
Chief Justice of India T S Thakur was caught by surprise during a hearing in the Supreme Court when he told a senior citizen petitioner to approach the High Court instead of the apex court. The senior citizen replied, “Jab mein ganga kinare khada hun, aap bolte ho Gomti mein naha ao (when I am standing on the banks of the holy Ganga, you are telling me to bathe in the Gomti river).”
Smart move
Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the trial runs of Lucknow Metro with fanfare. The project is being showcased as a major achievement of the Samajwadi Party government. Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaih Naidu, was invited for the function in Lucknow, but couldn’t attend as he was in Delhi to participate in Parliament’s Question Hour. His office is livid that the CM “cleverly” chose the day and time of the function to ensure that Naidu could not attend.
Tooth & Nail
“You say demonetisation has been done in national interest. What about people who died standing in queues for the service of the country?”Sharad Yadav, JD(U) leader
“Before talking anything on ‘notebandi’ (note ban), first talk to your party if they are in favour or not on notebandi?”
Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister