Sound Of Silence
Wonder why organisers of the April 8 protest by Tamil stars on the Cauvery issue decided to keep it a silent one? For one, attacking the Centre for not forming the Cauvery Management Board could invite retaliatory IT raids. Morever, blaming Karnataka for its intransigent attitude could lead to Kannada outfits preventing the release of Tamil movies in Bangalore and other parts of the state. When fans forced veteran actor Sathyaraj to speak a few words, he dared the Centre to send in the army to quell the protests in Tamil Nadu. State BJP chief Tamilisai retorted that the army had more onerous tasks on its hands.
Call Of The Taj
Former JNU students’ union leader Shehla Rashid Shora’s visit to her home state Kashmir to test the political waters there has drawn a lot of flak on social media as she shared a platform with youth leaders of the NC, the PDP and the Congress in Srinagar’s Taj Vivanta hotel. But she laughs away the criticism of her “mainstream and pro-India” views, saying, “I’m called anti-national outside Kashmir, but they call me pro-India here.” Also trolled for her statement that separatists should come up with a roadmap and always lead protests from the front as “people die when they give a call”, she has sought a meeting with CM Mehbooba Mufti to discuss issues such as allowing students’ unions in the universities in the Valley. Leading from the front, is she?
Right Diplomacy
Serving Indian diplomats rarely wear their politics on the sleeves, but some do drop broad hints of their closeness with big-time politicians. Though the bulk of the IFS looks down upon such practices, it hasn’t deterred an MEA secretary from flaunting his relations with the present dispensation. At his recent book release function, this secretary had RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as chief guest—predictably shocking most MEA officials. But the secretary, who has faced quite a few controversies in his career, can now hope to silence his critics in South Block. With some luck, he may even end up as a minister soon.
Overheard With the recent CBI raid on Rabri’s residence, it’s bad times indeed for Laloo in jail. But that’s unlikely to dampen the festivities when son Tej Pratap gets engaged later this month.
