Kolkata confidential

Political (dis)curse

It is well known that many superstitious politicians fall back on astrology,numerology,etc for their success. So during a recent function in Kolkata former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee narrated an instance where he was exhorted by some ministers to take back a ‘curse’ which he had ‘cast’ on them during a Lok Sabha session. According to Chatterjee,when things went out of hand during an uproarious session he stood up and said he wished that those members who were creating trouble in the House did not win in the next Lok Sabha elections. “After I came back to my chamber,I found a few of those ministers were waiting for me. They told me that unless I took my curse back they would not leave my chamber,” said Chatterjee.

Secured journos!

It is news to the journalists of Kolkata that they are under the security cover of Kolkata police. And this “piece of information” came from none other than Commissioner of Police Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti. When asked about objections from a political party about the setting up of a police memorial next to a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose,Chakrabarti said: “I want to ask the media if they have any problem with the statue being erected in the area. The police not only provide security to common people but also provide security to all the journalists working in Kolkata.”

Reading between lines

So far none of the initiatives of the Union Human Resource and Development Ministry have gone down well with the Left Front government in the state. Now,the state higher education council is coming with a publication in which the history of all the colleges set up in the state before 1950 will be dealt with in detail. Now,if one is trying to figure it out how it subverts Union ministry,here lies the catch. “We want to make it clear the difference between private initiative in higher education for philanthropy and private enterprise in higher education for commercial purpose,” said an official of the higher education department pointing to the fact that most of those colleges were set up in the land donated by wealthy landlords who never eyed the profit from these institutions. In other word it means,the Left Front government is all set to oppose the foreign university Bill proposed by the Centre and this publication is just a step towards it.

When bloopers turn habit

Not surprisingly,the Indian Football Association (IFA) made a goof up yet again — during the IFA Shield final at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday. Five minutes before the end of the match,it was announced on the public address system that Churchill Brothers coach Roberto Carlos has been name for the ‘Best Coach’ award named after former Indian football team coach Abdul Rahim. But later the audience found that the prize was given to Tata Football Academy coach Vijay Kumar instead! The committee members tried damage control by blaming the announcer for the faux pas. But by then damage had already been done. “This is Kolkata football for you,” quipped a coach,who is just into his second season at the Kolkata Maidan and did not look amused at all.

Duronto track ‘corrections’

Originally slated for September 13,the launch of the first non-stop,end-to-end Duronto train,between Sealdah and Delhi,was postponed to September 18 at the last minute. Reportedly,it was pointed out to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s office that flagging off the train during the ongoing pitra-paksha (shraddh) could prove inauspicious for both the new train and the minister. While there was talk earlier that Mamata may take a ride on the inaugural Duronto,that plan too got shelved,with Railway officials realising the potential embarrassment that could result out of the train failing to take one-and-a-half hour less than the corresponding Rajdhani.

Buddha’s biting austerity

IT seems Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s writ does not run even inside the Writers Buildings. Just a month ago in a Cabinet meeting,Bhattacharjee — a strong votary for austerity — had expressed his displeasure over splurging money on food served during official functions and had even expressed his anger when plates of snacks were offered to him and his ministers. But within a month,a lot has changed as his ministers don’t seem to pay any heed to his austerity drive. Last week at a meeting organised by the Consumer Protection Council under the Consumer Affairs Department,large food packets,each costing about Rs 40,were served. There were about 100 packets and it cost the government Rs 4,000. The meeting was presided over by state Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Naren Dey and was held inside the Writers’ Buildings.