Misplaced Optimism

Especially since his ministry had been changed just six months ago

Misplaced Optimism

His absence from the Capital on the eve of the recent Cabinet reshuffle was seen as a sign of his confidence that his position as the Rural Development Minister would remain unaffected. Especially since his ministry had been changed just six months ago. But Vilasrao Deshmukh,it now emerges,was as anxious about a possible change in his portfolio as anyone else. A few days before the reshuffle,he had shot off a long letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh listing out the achievements of his ministry under his short tenure. The letter clearly seems to have had no impact,as Deshmukhs transfer to the Ministry of Science and Technology shows.

Countering the Naxals

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh who was in Delhi on Wednesday to meet Home Minister P Chidambaram quietly paid a visit to Jhandewalan to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The meeting has a background. The RSS,it is learnt,is keen to play a more active role in the state in tackling Naxalism,especially after the Supreme Court recently banned the use of Salwa Judum. The Sangh-affiliated Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram works extensively among the tribals and often faces threats from the Maoists. In fact,several top RSS and BJP leaders,including Raman Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan,had recently attended a two-day closed-door session on countering Naxalism,organised by the Hyderabad-based Martyrs Memorial Research Institute which has links with the Sangh Parivar. It is not clear,however,as to what kind of role the RSS is seeking for itself in the state.

Web Security

Story continues below this ad

Fearing a cyber attack,the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has shut down its website. The agency feels the information available on its website can be misused to hamper its ongoing investigations. It has been more than three weeks now that the website has been shut,with maintenance being cited as the official reason. Apparently,the website is being equipped with enhanced security feature. The NIA clearly seems to be learning its lesson from sister investigating agencies such as the CBI and NSG,both of which recently suffered attacks on their websites.

Great Escape

Senior officials in the Human Resource Development Ministry are increasingly seen to be keen to opt for a nine-month training in public policy. Reason: It is a good excuse to escape from a hectic work schedule in the ministry where senior officials routinely stay in their offices till late in the evening. One director-level officer,whose training had recently been approved,heaved a sigh of relief and remarked that for the next nine months at least she would be able to spend her evenings with her family.

Waiting Game

The NCP top leadership seems to have largely ignored the recent remarks of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on how allocation of key ministries like Home to Congress ally was affecting police management in the state. NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a closed-door meeting with his trusted lieutenants Praful Patel,Ajit Pawar and R R Patil earlier this week in the Capital and decided that picking up a fight with the Congress at this juncture,when Mumbai had been hit by another terror attack,might be counter-productive. Party insiders,however,say that the NCP was only looking for a better opportunity to get back at the Congress.