Just For A Wrong Note
The unofficial contest for the Padma awards has begun in Delhi. Nominations closed in September and since then there has been a flurry of visits by the nominees to the powers that be, including top constitutional authorities and ministers who might be able to influence the decision. A particularly interesting story is that of a popular Bollywood singer most of whose contemporaries have been given the Padma. So why not him? Seems he is ineligible because of alleged one-time proximity to Dawood Ibrahim. Hints of association with the don have cost many a Bollywood personality a shot at the country’s highest honour, we learn.
Droning In From Above
After Dalits, Mayawati has another ‘D’ word in her armoury: drones. Even as others focus on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook, Mayawati, who has her eyes set on the UP chief minister’s seat once again, is planning a never-seen-before campaign using drones. If she manages to pull it off, she will be among the first political leaders to use a drone in an election campaign. If the buzz is to be believed, she intends to have still images and videos of her rallies recorded from overhead and use the footage for circulation on social media forums, including sharing apps such as WhatsApp and Hike messengers. Will Mayawati drone her way into the UP CM’s office or not? Well, it will largely depend on PM Modi’s success in demonetisation.
Advice A Posteriori
A senior minister involved in the demonetisation process seems to be facing the brunt for its poor implementation.He is getting flak and belated advice in equal measure. An NCP leader is believed to have told him recently that the government could have overcome the current crisis had it first come out with new Rs 500 currency notes instead of Rs 2,000 ones. The minister, somewhat irritated with the constant, unsolicited advice that he is being proffered, apparently ticked off the irritating NCP leader, telling him that, “maybe we will do a better job next time”. The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.
Overheard A corporate lobbyist is reported to have met two senior ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet last week. She is probably trying to settle a corporate war of succession.
