| Published on 27-11-2007 In National |
| Viewed 1335 times |
| Corridor Whispers - Nov 26 Part - 1 |
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Written by
Insider |
Amar Singh Choking Anand Sharma!
In Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma has been giving "dirty looks" to Samajwadi Party's Amar Singh. The bad blood has little to do with Congress-SP feud. It is a case of being bad neighbours in Delhi. If Anand is to be believed, Amar's presence in the neighbourhood poses a "threat" to his life. The occasion was festival of lights. Anand, an asthma patient had torrid time surviving smoke and fire from his neighbour's house for almost 48 hours. Since there was no foreign trip, the junior minister in MEA had to use an inhaler to survive.
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Too many awards for Maathai
When Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai was given the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development at a glittering function at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the organizers realized she was given the Jawaharlal Award for International Understanding six months ago. Dr Karan Singh told a confidante that he would have looked for more options had this little known fact was brought to his notice. Apparently, the decision to accord Nehru award to Maathai was taken by a jury chaired by then Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
At the Indira award, most of the Congress cabinet ministers were missing though the good doctor was present. The attendance was so thin that Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit had to ask the backbenchers to move forward - the ubiquitous Subbirami Reddy was there and only too happy to fill the front row seats. Apart from lesser-known MPs like Rajiv Shukla and Jitin Prasada.
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Arjun-Shivraj on Notice?
The recent AICC session saw Union Human Resource Development minister Arjun Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil shuffling uneasily. Party chief Sonia Gandhi went on to say that there were more deserving party men waiting to become ministers if the incumbents fail to perform. The remark was delivered in such a manner that instantly lots of pairs of eyes turned to Arjun-Patil duo who were sitting on the dais.
Arjun is particularly vulnerable, as his bete noire from Madhya Pradesh politics has joined Rahul Gandhi camp. The rise of Digvijay Singh as AICC general secretary in charge of young Gandhi's "karmabhoomi" UP, has caused lots of heartburn in the Arjun camp. Apparently, this was one assignment that Arjun had vied for years. Having been drafted in Congress by Jawaharlal Nehru, old man Arjun was keen to take personal charge of fourth-generation of Nehru-Gandhi.
Alas, it was not to be…………..
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Police Race
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Vikram Singh was in excellent mood till the serial blasts played the spoiler. Singh was happy over his achievement in Gorakhpur. On a visit, the DGP was struck with an idea of checking physical fitness and stamina of his subordinates. A race was organized and the officer came first beating all from DIG rank to constables. Vikram Singh thought it to be a great achievement when officials of all ranks formed a queue to admire his endurance. When chief minister Mayavati was told about the DGP's great feat, she raised a poser, "who would want to beat the big police boss!"
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The Nandigram effect on Bhopalis
Hundreds of miles away from Nandigram, Bhopalis are having a bitter taste of violence.
It is hurting their pockets too. The ongoing violence has made their favourite "paan" lot more expensive and dear. A plain paan that was available at Rs. two is now a rupee costlier, while "meetha" (sweet) one is costing Rs. four. There is acute shortage of Bangla paan. Against a daily demand of about 1,25,000 leaves, supply is less than one fourth of it. Apparently, most farmers in Nandigram and nearby areas whose livelihood was by selling betel leaf are unable to access Mecheda Market where large number of people is engaged in trade of betel leaf. There are similar reports from Chandipore, a small town that connects Nandigram to Haldia.
Eating Bangla paan is a major pastime in Bhopal. With wedding season on, the shortage of paan patta is causing great anxiety. Cutting across religious lines, paan forms part of many wedding rituals. Firstly it is customary to distribute folded betel leaf containing lime, catechu, areca nut, cardamom, etc. to all guests. Some communities have a special wedding custom in which the bride holds a betel roll in her mouth half of which the bridegroom bites from the other end. Among Muslims Betel boxes form essential gifts to the bride and bridegroom from their respective fathers-in-law. In hushed tones, many admit existence of a "palang tod" (bed-breaker) paan allegedly laced with opium given to every groom in the town. This variety of paan costs around Rs. 200 and supposedly blessed with aphrodisiac. |
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