Say cheese 

It appears that the newly-appointed deputy commissioner of Gurgaon, Rajender Kataria, in is love with cameras. The media savvy bureaucrat, since taking over the new job, has been everywhere and doing everything that draw the shutterbugs. From driving a tractor and an ambulance to going for a morning walk with all his paraphernalia, the new deputy commissioner leaves no chance to grab the media attention. Work on several incomplete plans and projects in the NCR, it seems, can wait till the flashes go off.

Attention all

Like everyone, Delhi Police officers can be seen unwinding at key watering holes in the Capital like CSOI (K G Marg), PSOI (Yashwant Place), India International Centre and Habitat Centre after a hard day at work. But the at-ease stand may become distant with Home Minister P Chidambaram in charge at North Block. The Home Ministry has sent instructions to Delhi Police to hold frequent security drills to test the capacity and response of its personnel, including ACPs, DCPs, Additional CPs and JCPs, in case of any terrorist attack or emergency situation. The city police have also been told to hold routine firing practise for its quick reaction teams and special squads. The message is clear. The Home Ministry does not want a repeat of 26/11, when all the 210 AK 47 rifles of the Mumbai Police were locked in the armoury and terrorists were running amok.

Who’s next?

All eyes are trained on the HRD Ministry for the appointment of new Vice Chancellor at Jamia Millia Islamia after Mushirul Hasan completed his tenure recently. A number of names are doing the rounds, while some are even lobbying for Hasan to be given another tenure. But HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has other plans. Don’t be surprised if the next V-C is more liberal and carries forth Hasan’s tradition.

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