Prime Minister Manmohan Singh avoided meeting people and chairing committees for several days during the crisis in the Government over the nuke deal. The official spokesperson attributed this to viral fever. But there were other explanations also making the round. While some suggested that the PM was still recuperating from his recent cataract operation, most believed that he had dug in his heels and threatened to resign over the nuclear deal. A minister, who had attended the banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the President of Syria on June 18, gave yet another spin. He claimed Singh had suffered severe indigestion because of the stale fare at the banquet that included leathery pastries and rancid boiled vegetables.

An indignant Rashtrapati Bhavan put out a clarification claiming that the food served at the banquet was perfectly “wholesome” and “on the contrary it was well appreciated and no complaint whatsoever was received”. Since the clarification was posted on the PIB and Rashtrapati Bhavan websites many of those who had not heard the original rumour were alerted to it.

Old is gold

CBI Chief Vijay Shankar retires on July 1 this year when he turns 60 and the process of selecting his successor has begun with a panel of names being prepared for the Cabinet Committee on Appointments (CCA). But the Government’s eventual game plan is to secure an extension for Shankar with the approval of the CVC. This can only be done with an amendment of the existing rules since Shankar is already on extension since December last year. There is a similar proposal to grant an extension to the Reserve Bank of India Governor Y V Reddy who turns 65 shortly.

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