Saints and cops
The Madhya Pradesh cops are a harried lot. Petty crimes are shooting up in the state and recently hundreds of tonnes of explosives that entered the state have gone missing.
Critics have cited the missing cargo of explosives as a stark example of the inefficiency of the police force and its lack of preparedness in a state that is grappling with Maoism.
The cops have neither the wherewithal nor the verve to swoop down on highly-motivated terror groups or Maoists who have the know-how to wreak havoc using small quantities of explosives and detonators.
But to be fair to them, cops are not supermen. They are ordinary mortals like the rest of us. And when in trouble they seek divine help, also like most of us.
Against this backdrop, it is understandable that the police chief S.K. Raut went to the abode of the Jain saint Tarun Muni Sagar last week to seek his blessings.
In fact, the DGP asked the saint, who has renounced all material comfort, including clothing, to motivate the police officers in uniform.
Forgotten Arjun
No one cares for a “powerless” politician. Former Union Minister Arjun Singh must have realised this to his dismay when he reached the AICC headquarters last week to witness Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s coronation. After the brief function was over, everyone was in a hurry to leave. Most of the Congress leaders ignored Singh and walked past him except AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, who followed his one-time mentor till the porch. When he realised that Arjun’s car had not yet arrived, with due respect he made the latter sit in Minister of State for Planning V Narayanasamy’s chamber. It was only after seeing Arjun off that Digvijay took his seat in his chamber
Uma to say good bye to politics!
Known for giving surprises and her fiery speeches, the firebrand leader, Uma Bharti is all set to give another big surprise soon. If sources are to be believed, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is likely to take ‘political sanyas’. Indecisiveness of the central leadership of BJP to back her in the party folds appears to the reason for the unprecedented decision. Sources close to Bharti claimed that she was disappointed over her humiliation because despite the pressure of the RSS, the BJP yet to take any decision on her political future. Though her relatives are still persuading her to recondider her decision but, like previous occasions, Uma is adamant. If this happens, many leaders of BJP would be happy for keeping her away from the party. But the fact remains that the party, which is grappling with the shortage of mass leaders, would certainly lose a good orator and leader.
Only Lip Service in MP
If the recent action taken against the mighty IAS officers lobby is taken into consideration, it appears that Madhya Pradesh Government did nothing unusual against erring babus and is merely patting its back by taking routine decisions.
Three IAS officers have been compulsorily retired for an unsatisfactory service record in Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. According to babu-watchers, these decisions were taken after the two state governments sought permission from the Department of Personnel and Training for compulsorily retiring these babus.
The final decision, apparently, was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), which found merit in the reports submitted by the HP and Tamil Nadu governments. The move has undoubtedly warned incompetent IAS babus they can no longer take their sarkari kursi for granted. Is Madhya Pradesh Government is really serious in taking action?
The bribe mystery!
While the Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department apparently set a good example when she supposedly blew whistle on a woman officer of the department who was allegedly offering her wife, the action of Luvleen Kakkad is surprisingly been looked upon with a bit of apprehension.
There are questions in the bureaucratic circles about the mysterious disappearance of the envelope in which the bribe was reportedly offered and there are talks about the fact that no officer of the department dares to offer bribe to head of the department without doing a proper homework as to whether the action would be a hit or miss. Strange that the lady officer acted so naďve, it is being said.
Perils of a loose tongue
If there is a “foot-in-the-mouth” award, it should be given to the Madhya Pradesh BJP president Prabhat Jha.
He recently stirred up a controversy with his comment that security personnel belonging to paramilitary forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force are no less than dacoits and smugglers.
Speaking at Indore the other day, the state BJP chief said Naxalites were using weapons and firearms purchased from the security personnel. After his comments created uproar, Mr Jha quickly retracted his statement and said he held the security forces in high esteem. He added that his remarks were only aimed at some wayward cops acting against the national interest.
Despite this, a petition requesting that Jha be tried for sedition has been filed in a local court by a state Congress spokesman
Termination heat on Joshi couple
Soon after the Income Tax department recently submitted its second interim report to the Madhya Pradesh Government on the disgraced IAS couple--Arvind and Tinu Joshi-- who were suspended after IT sleuths recovered Rs Three crore in cash from their residence during a raid this year, rumors of their termination are doing the rounds in Mantralaya.
The report contains details of investments by the Joshi’s in properties and share market.
Following the submission of the report the possibility of further action against the suspended IAS couple has increased and it is possible that they might even be terminated from service. Meanwhile, a section of officers are trying to pacify the issue.
`Madam Controversy’
Some IAS officials of State have a way of remaining ever in controversy. One such officer is the glamorous Smita Gate Chandra, who often gets into news, though most often for wrong reasons. People might not have forgotten the kind of controversy her marriage to Nitish `Krishna’ Bharadwaj generated.
Madam controversy is in news again. The Union Government has decided to terminate her deputation to central government before time after receiving numerous complaints about her functioning with the union textile ministry where she was posted. Smita Gate Chandra Bharadwaj is now on her way back to State. It remains to be seen whether she brings back with her the knack of being controversial.
Scrap master plan!
Even as the decision of the State Government to revisit the Draft Master Plan 2020 for Bhopal came into questions owing to violation of legal provisions, the newly appointed commissioner of Town and Country Planning Ashish Upadhyaya has recommended to the State government to scrap the plan itself.
Given fact that the officials earlier occupying the same post were facing controversy for their role in formulating the `askew’ master plan, the incumbent seems to be quite sure about the inadequacy of the plan and has recommended not just revisiting but total scrapping. It remains to be seen whether the government heeds to the recommendation.
`Boozing Hut’ flourishes
The incumbent or probably the vastu experts might have decided to remove the famous `Thinking Hut’ set up on the premises of the Rashtrapati Bhavan by the former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, but its infamous prototype in Bhopal flourishes.
The Manipuri style `Thinking Hut’ on the Rashtrapati Bhavan campus gained popularity after it was known that Dr Kalam often spent his thinking time there are also penned quite considerable parts of his two books in this structure.
The infamous prototype at BHEL Executive Director’s official residence - a `boozing hut’ as it is known -was constructed during the time of a former ED and it is common knowledge that this hut continues to flourish even now. Good things do not last long and vice-versa.
Jugran’s stint over
State Information Commissioner Dinesh Jugran is set to lay down his office today after a two year stint wit the important public office. As his post becomes vacant, speculations are already afoot as to whether the honorable post would go to another retired officer or this time an IAS would be able to make inroads for it.
It might be mentioned that though Jugran, former Director General of Police of State, was given posting as one of the information commissioners, his name was initially in race for the post of Chief Information Commissioner of State, where the former Principal Secretary of Law Department, PP Tiwari got the final posting.
All worked up over Paul
With a 100 per cent strike rate, Paul the Octopus is the new hero that the world is looking up to. India is no exception. Paul is supposed to be in high demand with Indian politicians, who want to bring him to this country and treasure him as the resident soothsayer.
Too many questions need to be answered: Will Rahul Gandhi be the next prime minister? Or perhaps Shivraj Singh will continue? Or will Congress at all retain power at the Centre after the next general elections? Political leaders have already started taking Paul’s name to attack Opposition parties.
Recently during a discussion on Anup Mishra, when a minister claimed that he will not return in the cabinet, his colleague responded quickly saying you are not Paul the Octopus, so you cannot read the future correctly. Bureaucrats are also discussing about the fate of the Chief Secretary and thinking of consulting Paul Baba about his successor.
Warning to Gaur and Kailash !
A day after two senior minister of Madhya Pradesh came openly in support of Uma Bharti, the BJP high command has issued a warning to -- Babulal Gaur and Kailash Vijayvargiya -- asking them to refrain from sharing with the media their views on Uma's return to BJP.
State unit of BJP is divided on the issue of Uma Bharti's return to the party. Chief Minister Chouhan and Gaur are opposed to her while Sumitra Mahajan and Vijayvargiya want her back.
Gaur had offered to resign from his post recently when the issue of Uma's return came up for discussion. Vijayvargiya is openly saying that Uma should rejoin the BJP. The spat between the two became public, putting the party in an embarrassing position and prompting it to issue the statement.
It appears that Uma's case is different as her return would threaten the clout of several senior party leaders. Being a maverick leader with a mass following, her return to BJP would also diminish the stature of leaders from Madhya Pradesh, like Chouhan and Gaur, they say.
`Swarnim’ or `Swarnamala’?
The question that is making rounds these days in the bureaucratic circles of Bhopal as well as Delhi is simple. Are efforts being made for `Swarnim’ Madhya Pradesh or `Swarnamala’s’ Madhya Pradesh?
The question is natural. The top babu of State seems to be more engrossed with the word Swarnamala rather than Swarnim – the chief minister’s adjective for making MP a golden state. The golden lady in question is a regular visitor to the State capital since the top man took charge and many officials remain involved in intricacies of the visit most of the time rather than spending time on important issues.
Also these officials, if they need any favour from the top boss, make a beeline for Delhi at the doorstep of this another `Madam’. Point is, they even succeed in getting their jobs done. So they would rather vouch for `Swarnamala’ than `Swarnim’.
Strange conduct
Digvijay Singh has ended up foxing his own partymen. AICC bosses have been left searching for answers after Diggy Raja’s recent utterances. Nobody is quite sure what he is up to, or his motives behind the ‘sacrileges’.
First, Singh ended up criticizing P Chidambaram for the measures taken to tackle the Maoist problem. Next in Singh’s line of fire was none other than the government led by Rajiv Gandhi. Singh has blamed it for ferrying Union Carbide’s Warren Anderson to safety.
Worse followed when the Congressman ended up defending AB Vajpayee’s nephew and former minister Anoop Mishra, who has been charged with a serious offence. While Congressmen remain puzzled, Singh himself has been trying to meet `Madam’ to present his side of the story. Last heard, he has not been granted an audience yet.
Too eager to come clean
The resignation under pressure of the former health minister Anoop Mishra following involvement of his relatives in a violence where a person was killed in Gwalior, the `tainted' ministers in Shivraj Chouhan cabinet have grown cold feet and are resorting to various tacticts to ensure that they are not others in the line.
The biggest stunt in this direction came from the housing and environment minister Jayant Malaiya, against whom some cases were pending with the Lokayukta, but were cleared about six months ago. Recently, following Mishra's resignation, Malaiya reportedly decided to hold a press conference to publicise the fact that the Lokayukta had given him clean chit. Mentioning that it was already too late, some advisors dissuaded him from doing so.
However, the minister opted for second best. He got the State Department of Public Relations to issue an official press release saying that the cases against the minister had been dropped. Media persons were first stumped to get such `non-breaking' news, but soon understood the eagerness behind it.
The IT terror!
The terror of the IT sleuths has struck so deep into the minds of politicians and bureaucrats of State that it becomes evident these days in several unusual forms.
It is not a surprise since during the past few months, the IT department has brought to fore evidences of large scale corrupt activities by several important persons.
The latest proof of the terror of the IT department is the decision of government to provide a grant of Rs one crore to the Rewa Sainik School. Now what is so strange about that one would ask?
Nothing, we would say, except for the fact that Rewa Sainik School is not run by the State Government and coincidently one of the very senior officers of the IT department is an alumnus of the school. Strikes a chord?
Gender bias?
This is either an example of reverted gender bias or probably something that lends credence to the adage that women are women’s actual enemies.
Swayed a bit by the recent bubbling of demands that the post of president of State BJP unit should go to a woman, the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is said to have discussed with probability with the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
However, Swaraj is said to have categorically rejected the idea, though what reason she attributed to her opposition could not be known. Now, we would have hoped that being a proponent of equality for women and a supporter of women’s reservation bill, Swaraj would support the idea. Well, there is always a difference between preaching and practice anyway!
Jaya or Hema ?
With the war between the Bachchans and the Gandhis coming out in the open, the BJP is going out of the way to embrace the “Big B” and is now seriously contemplating to offer Jaya Bachchan a Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh. Acting on the principle of ‘enemy’s enemy is our friend’, BJP leaders are planning to offer Rajayasabha berth to Jaya, who hails from Bhopal.
Jaya's term is cominbg to an end in July and her relations with Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav are getting strained, she may give her nod for a seat from the BJP. It was only last week that Jaya was in her home town of Bhopal, where she batted for her husband, proposing his name for lending voice to the Narmada tale.
At the 2nd International River Festival 2010 held at the confluence of the Narmada River, Jaya, who described herself as “daughter of Madhya Pradesh,” underscored the need to preserve the environment of the State.
However, another BJP MP and cine star, Hema Malini is also eying second term for Rajya Sabha and party leadership is supposedly contemplating sending her to the upper house through Madhya Pradesh. One star of yesteryears is definitely going to enter RS from MP. Let’s see who will be the lucky one.
Only preaching no practice
Most people fail to practice what they preach. Retired IAS officer JL Ajmani is a good example. It was reportedly on his complaint that the Bhopal Municipal Corporation removed encroachment at the posh Ansal Plaza in the capital.
However, the retired official himself is making full use of his clout to illegally run a provision store from a Sanchi outlet at the apartments. The license of the outlet has expired, but the official reportedly started a provision store there are gave it on rent. He is happily collecting rent of this illegal shop while lodging complaint of illegal constructions with élan! Clear double standard this!
Fissure’s in BJP over huge expenses
The BJP’s extravagant and eco-friendly arrangement to house leaders on 90 acres of land is drawng flak from virtually all corners. Ignoring austerity measures, party has spent over Rs 25 crores putting up air-conditioned tents with proper facilities in an eco-friendly ambience.
Even the top BJP leadership is also facing criticism over expenses from within. Sources in the party said the issue was raised by a section of Madhya Pradesh leaders. This particular section virtually demanded an explanation to why the party had to spend such an "exorbitant amount" to set up over 1,000 tents and provide other facilities on 90 acres of land. They felt accommodation in hotels or guest houses would have been "cheaper" and that such "wasteful expenditure" could "dent" the image of the BJP.
However, the other section defended the move and said this was an attempt to "bring the leaders and cadres together".
Road-bound CM, airborne CS
While the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is trying to hit it off with common people on issue of price rise by traveling across State by road under his Madhya Pradesh Banao Yatra, the new CS seems to think differently.
The incumbent top official has decided to take division wise review meeting and for his first of such meetings in Gwalior-Chambal region on February 16, he took the air route. He is likely to do the same for his other official tours.
The CS also did not consider the fact that Tuesdays was the day for CM’s pet Jan Sunwai (Public hearing) and that because of the review meeting none of the senior officials could conduct the hearing on the day and common people had to be satisfied narrating their woes to junior officials who probably would not be able resolve their problems.
Income Tax Officer Pati!
Parshad Pati, sarpanch or panch pati – husbands of the respective lady local body representatives have become quite commonly used terms in political as well as administrative circles and these `patis’ enjoy a lot of clout for obvious reasons.
But if similar thing happens in case of senior officers, then the issue becomes surely interesting. Husband of a lady Income Tax officer is reportedly enjoying a lot of clout and good will these days. Chartered Accountants and Income Tax advisors who are not so comfortable `dealing’ with the lady IT official, come through the husband and with some good will actions manage to get their work done.
So the patis seem to be spreading wings within all spheres. Good or bad is always a personal perspective.
The first face off!
The first direct interaction between the newly appointed Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister did not go off too well. Just half hour after Avni Vaish took charge as 27th CS of State, he was to attend the mass Vande Mataram recital at Mantralaya in presence of the CM.
As per protocol, the CS receives the CM on the arrival of the latter at the venue and both the heads stand together for the recital programme. But call it first time ignorance of Vaish, he decided to remain standing with other officials of Mantralaya even as the CM arrived. The CM too, did not approach the CS and stood for the recital near some of the ministers present.
The fact that the CM did not enjoy the departure of protocol became obvious at end of the function. The CM passed before Vaish on his way to leave, but did not acknowledge the new CS at all. The first face off this ?
The first face off!
The first direct interaction between the newly appointed Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister did not go off too well. Just half hour after Avni Vaish took charge as 27th CS of State, he was to attend the mass Vande Mataram recital at Mantralaya in presence of the CM.
As per protocol, the CS receives the CM on the arrival of the latter at the venue and both the heads stand together for the recital programme. But call it first time ignorance of Vaish, he decided to remain standing with other officials of Mantralaya even as the CM arrived. The CM too, did not approach the CS and stood for the recital near some of the ministers present.
The fact that the CM did not enjoy the departure of protocol became obvious at end of the function. The CM passed before Vaish on his way to leave, but did not acknowledge the new CS at all. The first face off this ?
MP connection in Ruchika’s case
The high profile Ruchika case, which is grabbing the headlines these day’s is having an unusual Madhya Pradesh connection. The lawyer wife of the SPS Rathore, the former DGP accused in the case is the sister of former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, AV Singh.
Singh is presently working as the State Election Commissioner and since the issue has become quite controversial he is also worried. Sources close to AV are aware of this connection. AV sister and his brotherin-law also visited Bhopal on few occasions. As the case is discussed widely, the poor brother is keeping his fingures crossed, with the hope that 'every thing' will go all right.
Prabhat denies Uma's entry
BJP National Secretary, Prabhat Jha who ids aslso a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh has clarified that there was no proposal before the Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP or the party's central leadership to consider former State chief minister, Uma Bharti's return to the party.
By doing that Prabhat Jha set to rest all speculation about Bharti's return to the BJP. The speculation was further fuelled after the BJP's new president, Nitin Gadkari was quoted in media reports as saying that there was a need for leaders like Bharti to come back to the party.
Bharti had become Madhya Pradesh chief minister after the assembly elections in December 2003 but she had quit on her own after 10 months to take part in an agitation on the national flag issue in Karnataka. And after Shivraj Singh Chouhan became Madhya Pradesh chief minister, she quit the BJP and floated the Bharatiya Janashakti Party. RSS is keen to bring the firebrand leader back in BJP folds. Let see!
Shape up or ship out
Union Home Minister P Chidambram’s statement about regular check up of senior cops and IAS officers may create difficulties for many senior IPS officers along with IAS officers as they might not measure up to the mark.
P. Chidambaram has recently asked that for senior bureaucrats and police officers should be checked up at 50 years of age to see whether they are in right shape. Or else, they can ship out. Wanting to root out the `gray’ elements in the administration, Chidambaram said that regular performance appraisal of the officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) would pave the way for the infusion of youth.
The home minister’s suggestion may be a shocker for civil servants, many of whom join the profession because of the security of employment and the perks.
“Give them pension and let better performers move forward,” Chidambaram told an audience comprising mostly of senior police officers recently. There was, off course, little applause after his radical suggestion.
Threat to senior IAS officer
Member of Revenue Board and the senior IAS officer SC Vardhan got a letter from an unknown person threatening him of dire consequences if decision of a pending case is not taken immediately. On receipt of the letter, Vardhan contacted Director General of Police, S K Rout.
As the case is related with the senior IAS officer, the police promptly swung into action and launched investigation. The letter, which bears a seal of Bina post office, alleged that a case of Anil Jain is pending with the Revenue Board. If the decision is not taken soon, Vardhan would face the risk of his life.
The police tracked down Anil Jain in Bina. But, no case is pending against him with the board. Jain also refused that he had sent any letter. A case under Section 507 was registered against the unknown person in Padav police station Gwalior
Ailing ego
The bad blood between the former MD of the MP Tourism Development Corporation Ashwani Lohani and chairman of the corporation Dhruvnarayan Singh is an open secret. But one would have thought that the MLA would stick to some formalities at least when the MD was leaving.
But ego had better of Singh. The chairman who was official host for the farewell party for Lohani failed to attend the party himself. The excuse given was that he was ailing. But the very next day, Singh reached a departmental meeting all hale and hearty and it was easy to see that he had no medical problems.
So it was clear that nothing but Singh’s ego was ailing, else he would have maintained the formalities.
Extra benevolence!
The union secretary of Food and Civil Supplies Department Alka Sirohi – an officer of MP Cadre has suddenly become extra benevolent towards the State, as far as allocations of the department are concerned.
While everyone here is happy about the magnificence shown by the officer, the question that has immediately arisen is to what is the reason behind this sudden change. Little analysis later, people have even come up with a very plausible cause.
The chair of the Chief Secretary of MP is about to fall vacant soon and race for the post has heated up. All eligible officials are doing their best to make their candidature felt. So what stops the senior lady officer from making a little extra positive use of her important office at centre?
