Khaki blues

The Home Guards are a neglected lot. They are poorly paid and, in cases of the lower ranks, are actually daily wagers. But so dismal is their situation that even the post of director-general has no willing takers. After Kiran Bedi, its first DG was moved to the Bureau of Police Research and Training two months ago, the post is wanting. The first choice, Y S Dadwal, Additional Commissioner of Police (DG rank) in Delhi, was not too keen on the post. Then two other senior officers managed to wriggle out of their appointment. Finally, the Home Ministry found the candidate in Neeraj Kumar, an IG-rank IPS officer, who wanted to come back to Delhi from Goa. The Deputy Secretary (Home) issued transfer orders for Kumar last Friday, but one wonders how long the officer stays in the department once he arrives to Delhi.

Lecturing/hectoring

Now that his pet peeve, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has reportedly been invited by IIM-Ahmedabad to give a talk, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is not pleased at all. Lalu, who is all set to deliver a lecture on Indian Railway’s turnaround story to the students at Ahmedabad, has huffed to all and sundry saying, “We have a success story to narrate. What can the Bihar CM enlighten the audience about? Non-governance in the state?” he complained. “This just goes on to show the desperation of Laluji’s detractors,” said a Lalu groupie in Rail Bhavan. However, the RJD leader’s only consolation is that he will get the first applause as Nitish Kumar’s invitation is slated for November.

... contd.