Pecking order

Though the hierarchy within the Congress leadership is an open secret, the newly-inducted — some elevated — ministers have put this on record in their replies to congratulatory greetings. Two cabinet ministers and one Minister of State (independent charge) recently replied to a minister's congratulatory message with an assurance to work under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in that order. The young MoS (independent charge), however, did not hesitate to put on record Rahul Gandhi's leadership next in order in his thank you message.

History lesson

AT a time of momentous change in Myanmar, Karan Singh delivered a shot from the past in the presence of visiting Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi that left the Indian side a bit red-faced. He started his vote of thanks with a rather imperialist line of how Myanmar was a part of India. Many in the audience later pointed out in hushed tones that Myanmar was part of British India only as a part of the administrative unit. The British separated the province from British India in 1937 and granted the colony a new constitution.

Putting Agra on track

AS Railways Minister, Pawan Kumar Bansal's first attention has interestingly gone to the Agra station. He recently visited the place and directed officials to improve on the station's beautification programme. Considering its status as the gateway to the Taj Mahal, he felt the facilities were not really up to the mark. Meanwhile, Bansal has also instructed his officials that, depending on his schedule and purpose of travel, he will take the regular train and travel with the public instead of using his "MR Special", the train assigned for the minister. His recent trips to Agra and Rae Bareli were also conducted on regular passenger trains.

... contd.

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