Uttar Pradesh
Video Threat
In the times of sharp communal polarisation, here comes a potent trigger from none other than a lawmaker. In a widely circulated video clip, BJP’s Charkhari MLA Brijbhushan Rajput was seen threatening Muslims that if they came in the way of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, they would not be allowed to go on Haj. “If they will disturb our religious events, we will pay them back in same coin,” he quipped in a reference to the terror attack on Amarnath yatris. When media persons queried him expecting a sharp denial, they got an unapologetic and nonchalant son of former MP Ganga Charan Rajput, known for party hopping.
Fleet Formula
The state government has readjusted the vehicle fleets of former CMs. While Mayawati and Rajanth Singh got two SUVs each in place of two antiquated Ambassador cars, Samajwadi Party father-son duo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav were on the losing side. Their two SUVs were substituted with Ambassadors. Akhilesh had only SUVs in his fleet, while Mayawati had only Ambassadors. Political experts were quick to read political message in the decision.
Chattisgarh
Leading from the Back
While disposing before the judicial commission constituted to probe the attack on a Congress convoy in May 2013 in Bastar’s Jhiram valley, then ADG (Anti-Maoist Operations) R K Vij said, “Top Maoist leaders remain in the background, keep themselves safe while their military fighters engage in gun-battles and get killed.” Vij was responding to a query on why senior Maoist leaders couldn’t be apprehended.
Chhattisgarhi Doesn’t Impress
The Raman Singh government made Chhattisgarhi the state language in 2007, and created Chhattisgarh Rajbhasha Ayog to spread awareness and increase its usage. But the efforts failed to engage government employees. Staff in the state secretariat have to say “Jai Johar” (Chhattisgarhi way of wishing others) instead of “namaste” or “good morning”. They are also encouraged to speak Chhattisgarhi and make it the working language. Many began the practice by writing leave applications—which were accepted.
Jogi Targets NCST Chief
After a scrutiny committe rejected former CM Ajit Jogi’s claim that he is a tribal, his son and MLA Amit Jogi released a picture of ex-BJP MP and chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Nand Kumar Sai. Amit said that Sai—except nurturing an agenda on Jogi’s caste for 14 years—had kept mum on issues and on welfare of tribals in Chhattisgarh. On a writ petition filed by Sai, the High Court had asked for constituting a committee. Sai had pointed out that Jogi had been claiming tribal status through “forged” evidences.
Bihar
Nitish’s Love for Tea
CM Nitish Kumar loves sipping tea and treating his friends to steaming cups of the beverage. The man who imposed prohibition in Bihar was surprised to know that a tea-shop owner in Patna had preserved a note he wrote to the shop 28 years ago. “Nandlaljee, saat cup special chai,” (Nandlaljee, seven cups of special tea) wrote Nitish on a bit of paper on July 30, 1989. Sanjay Kumar, the late Nandlal’s son who now runs the shop, was worried as it faced demolition for construction of MLAs’ quarters. After Kumar learnt of the matter, he invited Sanjay to meet him. The shop has got respite till alternative arrangements are made for it.
Hours after Nitish hinted he would decide his deputy Tejashwi Yadav’s fate in the next four days, a pall of gloom fell on RJD. But the party tried to show all is well with it. Tejaswi played cricket with his young nephew in the lawns of his residence. He then posted pictures and a video clip of it on Twitter. “He (Tejaswi) was a cricketer before becoming a politician. He enjoys the game as much as politics,” said an aide.