| Published on 13-02-2008 In National |
| Viewed 1577 times |
| Corridor Whispers - Feb 13 Part - 1 |
|
|
Written by
Insider |
Akbar, Shahabuddin changing colours?
Two prominent Muslims who love to hate each other and contested 1989 Lok Sabha from Kishanganj (Bihar) are now vying for Rajya Sabha ticket from NDA. M.J. Akbar, one of the best and towering editor and former AICC spokesman has been disillusioned with Sonia Gandhi for quite sometime now. Prime minister in waiting, L.K. Advani is keen to get Akbar on his side. Indications are that the April Rajya Sabha polls may see the distinguished editor on the other side of the political spectrum.
Meanwhile radical Muslim leader Syed Shahabuddin too has quit the Congress. Upset with Sonia, Syed Shahabuddin is vying for Janata Dal (United) ticket. Since JD (U) is part of NDA, it will be interesting to see both Akbar and Shahabuddin on the same side. For over four decades, Akbar and Shahabuddin have agreed to disagree on all issues of importance.
-----------------------------------------------
Hiding from male wrath
At a recent BJP national executive in Delhi, party's Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Khiren Rijiju went into hiding. Rijiju had reasons to disappear. He was one of the male members of a party panel, which recommended a mandatory 33 per cent reservation for women in the party hierarchy. Angry BJP delegates were looking for Rijiju to seek an explanation why they failed to protect his tribe in the panel. Least he could have done was to tip off the vocal male brigade when the proposal was in the pipeline.
-----------------------------------------------
Reason behind Raj's wrath
Raj Thackeray ko gussa kyon aata hai? Perhaps Ram Gopal Verma has an answer. Yes, if one goes by Thackeray camp. Apparently Sarkar Raj, a sequel to Sarkar (2005) starring Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai has some references that did not please the MNS leader. The film is currently under post-production in which character-actor Ravi Kale plays a character inspired by Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray's nephew Raj.
Ramu denies it saying he has no reason to unnecessarily politicize Sarkar Raj or a character that resembles Raj. The filmmaker insists that he doesn't have real-life politicians in Sarkar Raj though the film is political.
But the damage has already been done.
-----------------------------------------------
Minister but not an MP?
With each passing day, Congressmen and ministerial hopefuls are getting jittery. There is no sign of a cabinet reshuffle that was supposed to take place on January 30-31. Lobbying has become more intense and ministers who were supposed to get the axe are now coming up with various defence. Take Union Minister of State for Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances Suresh Pachauri for instance who is tipped to head Madhya Pradesh Congress unit. Pachauri, whose fourth consecutive term is coming to an end in April, has a special request for Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh. Can he continue in office till next few months without being Member of Parliament? The rationale is that a ministerial tag would give Pachauri a protocol cover in a BJP-ruled state. Now all eyes are on Sonia-Manmohan if they are prepared to be "politically incorrect."
-----------------------------------------------
Running away from Maya
Uttar Pradesh police is puzzled how several dreaded and wanted criminals of the state have begun showing up in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and else where. First it was suspended Samajwadi Party MP Atiq Ahmad who was "caught" in Delhi. Next Delhi Police team nabbed the dreaded gangster Brajesh Singh who had got himself "arrested" in Bhubaneshwar. If top level cops in Lucknow are to be believed it has something to do with Maya memsaheb's "zero-tolerance" policy towards outlaws. The criminals keen to escape "encounters" are showing themselves up outside UP.
The story of Brajesh Singh's arrest was extremely filmy. It happened when Delhi police team sneaked inside Orissa and successfully nabbed the mafia don without letting Bhubaneshwar police know about their mission. Just as the team was about to board a flight with prized possession in tow, Bhubaneshwar police came and "arrested" plain-clothed Delhi cops. After several telephone calls between Delhi and Bhubaneshwar in which union home ministry acted as arbitrator, the matter was resolved. Orissa police shared honours for participating in a "joint operation." |
|
|
|
|
| Social Web |  |
| |
|
|
| |
Processing please wait ...
Top Stories
