The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has the unenviable job of trying to please the ever sarcastic creed of journalists. It has been trying really hard to reach out to the community.
With a dynamic minister like Ambika Soni at the helm the ministry, it has devised a new way to score some brownie points with the scribes. Recently, a special screening of Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was organised by the I&B ministry, where scribes were invited. As scribes always complain about lack of time, the ministry ensured that the screening took place on a weekend and during afternoon hours, which is considered rather lean for the community.
New appointees at Rail Bhawan left in lurch
Trinamul Congress leader and now West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee left many in lurch after she demitted office as the union railway minister in May. People who had come to occupy important posts at the Rail Bhawan during her tenure are now on tenterhooks, wondering if they will be retained by the new railway minister Dinesh Trivedi.
While he too belongs to the Trinamul, those who stand to lose their present ‘positions’ in Rail Bhawan if he decides not to retain them are a worried lot, praying that their contracts are not terminated. Among them are at least three appointees in the railway minister’s secretariat, who had come to occupy important posts thanks to their proximity to Banerjee. Another one though not in the secretariat occupies another important post in Rail Bhawan. Even the two senior railway officials who were enjoying the benefits of their proximity to Ms Banerjee will probably be hoping that Dineshda retains them in their present posts. However, what Dineshda has on his mind as far as his personal staff is concerned is a mystery.
Politicians vie for their 15mins of fame
In the time of live broadcasting, politicians from the local level to the higher level try every trick to be in front of the camera. The Kisan Mahapanchayat of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi witnessed politicians of all stature attempting to be in front of the camera. When the news channel reporters began giving live reports on heavy rains at the ground in Aligarh, a large number of political workers stood behind the reporters so that they too could feature on TV. This trick was not used by small time political workers alone. When Mr Gandhi began addressing the gathering, UP state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, union minister of state for rural development Pradeep Jain “Aditya” too stood along with the SPG commando around the Congress general secretary during his speech. As Mr Gandhi’s speech was broadcast live, these politicians also ensured that they too were seen by the viewers as well as their political bosses on TV.
BJP demands action against Mayawati govt
After charging the Congress-led UPA government of “cash-for-vote” scam, the main opposition BJP is now charging the Centre of “cash-for-support” to the Mayawati government. The BJP alleged despite glaring corruption cases in Uttar Pradesh regarding central fund, the Centre has taken no serious action against the Uttar Pradesh government.
“The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has been converted to Mayawati’s ‘wealth mission’ but the Centre has taken no action against her government till now,” said BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.