Opinion More than one link

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh considers politics a thankless profession. He has been in politics for over 40 years and feels no matter what you do for people,they will criticise you over something or the other. Singh’s views were relayed to Society magazine by his 24-year-old son,Jaivardhan. Although Diggy Raja felt his son would be better off in the corporate sector,Jaivardhan,who hopes to stand for elections from the family assembly constituency of Raghogarh,plans to join the Youth Congress and has accompanied his father on political tours for the last seven months. The scion of the erstwhile royal house of Raghogarh explained in the interview that he needs to fill the political vacuum in the constituency as “there is no one else”. Clearly,the plebs are not expected to contest from the former kingdom.

The Radia shawl

High-powered lobbyist Niira Radia made a fashion statement of sorts by turning up for an appointment with the Enforcement Directorate clutching a designer bag and wrapped in a modern jamawar shawl,khani,which costs about a lakh. The shawl,with tiny paisley motifs,featured prominently in the TV footage and newspaper photographs of Radia arriving for her cross-examination. The shawl has become so recognisable that Kashmiri shawl sellers have started referring to it as the Radia shawl and sales of it have shot up. Meanwhile,in the capital,speculation over more Radia tapes being leaked to the media continues. The buzz is that the next scandal on tape would concern granting of mining leases when Madhu Koda was Jharkhand Chief Minister.

Lifting bar on bar

Padamvir Singh,the new director of the IAS academy in Mussoorie,has opened a bar in the IAS probationers’ mess. Excise rules stipulate that no bar is permitted close to an educational institution. Apart from a number of schools in the vicinity,the academy itself is an educational institution. Five years ago when Singh was joint director at the academy,he had similarly suggested opening a bar at the training centre for young IAS probationers. The move was foiled thanks to the protests of a lady officer who was supported by the then director.

Disabled-friendly

At the entrance to the Prime Minister’s Race Course Road residence,a slight slope has replaced steps,to facilitate easier wheelchair movement. The PM’s residence follows the example of two government buildings in the Capital,Shastri Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan,which have already made provisions for easier access to the disabled.

Powerless ministry

At the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference,Vayalar Ravi,Minister for Overseas Affairs,blamed the Home Ministry for unnecessarily complicating the procedure for granting visas to people of Indian origin. Diplomats had perforce to follow the cumbersome rules introduced by the Home Ministry in the light of David Headley’s confessions. Ravi confessed candidly to a senior journalist that his own ministry was powerless to intervene.

Protest at doorstep

Congress rebel Y S Jaganmohan Reddy brought his battle against the Congress high command to Delhi last week. Twenty-four Congress MLAs,two TDP MLAs and two Congress MPs,along with some 1,000 supporters,joined hands with Jagan as he sat on a day-long fast in the Capital to protest the Krishna water tribunal award. Jagan,like many other regional leaders,believes the only way to ensure the message reaches the right quarters is to come to Delhi. Last year,the MDMK,the PMK,the DK,the AGP and the Kerala Congress (Mani) all staged rallies in the Capital.