Delhi underground: All dressed up, but only a few get to go

For the 40th annual convocation of AIIMS last week, a month-long rehearsal has been conducted. The 100-odd under-graduates, post-graduates, specialists, scientists and nurses who got their degrees, were given complete training on presidential protocol as President Pranab Mukherjee was the chief guest. The drill comprised refining their gait and posture, salute to the President and how much time each student was to be allowed to stand on the dais. Full dress rehearsals were held for hours. But the dampener came when the President had to leave earlier than expected. Only 30-odd toppers in different streams could get their citations from Mukherjee. An MBBS student put it in perspective: "As one of our teachers says, 'Making it to AIIMS and managing to graduate isn't enough. You have to be a topper to get the degree from the President'."

Ill at ease

Caution is the final word for civic agency officials in their fight against dengue. As the city has been reporting a surge in dengue cases, officials were taking extra precautions not to fall ill. Even those who have fever have been attending office. And showing the way is East corporation commissioner S S Yadav. He had a mild fever the other day, but didn't give office the miss. The fear is not about contacting the mosquito-borne viral infection or the punishment that truancy might attract. It is ostensibly to avoid rumours that civic officials, at the forefront of the battle against dengue, are also "suffering from the disease".

Out of bounds

The volley of missiles — a slipper and an egg — thrown at Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and and some black flags at her recent public functions prompted a couple of ministers to suggest at last week's Cabinet meeting that extra security should be provided to her. Though they are known to be Dikshit loyalists, the ministers were promptly snubbed by the Chief Minister as she dislikes discussions on such issues at Cabinet meets. Her personal security remains unchanged despite a string of unsavoury incidents of protests against electricity tariff hike and price rise in the city. Nonetheless, police have restricted people from getting near Dikshit's dais at all public rallies, which for years enjoyed unfettered access.

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