Pre-Truth — snappy, witty and significant snippets from the world of politics and government.
‘Everybody’s President’ Kovind the reason why SC/ST Act wasn’t restored
Ram Nath Kovind is turning out to be one of the most media-savvy Presidents of India. As he completed one year in office last month, his team of media managers went on an overdrive, as Rashtrapati Bhavan circulated an elaborate release on his achievements — “Everybody’s President” — visiting 22 of 29 states, “taking India to the world” with his four state visits to 10 countries, becoming the first President to conduct three consecutive state visits to Africa, hosting eight state visits by Presidents and monarchs in his “diplomacy’s packed diary”, and becoming the second Indian President after A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to visit the Siachen Glacier, among a host of other feats.
Spin doctors in the Rashtrapati Bhavan now claim that it was because of his reservations that the Narendra Modi government didn’t promulgate the ordinance to restore the original provisions of the SC/ST Act, which was diluted by a Supreme Court judgment. It has left many in the corridors of power amused.
Goyal doesn’t think he’s finance minister
It has been about three months since Piyush Goyal was given charge of the ministries of finance and corporate affairs, but he has refrained from mentioning it in his Twitter profile, which still reads: “Minister of Railways and Coal”.
Goyal was given additional charge of finance and corporate affairs after Arun Jaitley underwent surgery and needed some time to recuperate. Jaitley is presently a minister without portfolio. He is expected to return to work later this month.
Also read: Modi’s social media missive withdrawn & how Rahul turned book launch into a political event
Congress worried why so many have quit its social media team, analysis on
Worried about the high attrition rate in its social media team — particularly less than a year before the Lok Sabha polls — the Congress high command has decided to look into the reasons for people quitting.
Social media head Divya Spandana has been asked to draw up a list of those who have left the team in the last year and their reasons for doing so. The list and reasons will then be reviewed by the party leadership to ascertain what has gone wrong and what can be corrected.
This is being taken very seriously by the party, given social media has become an integral political tool and the Congress does not want to risk disgruntled staff switching sides.
Swami Om’s theatrics in the Sabarimala case in Supreme Court
The week-long Supreme Court hearing in the Sabarimala case ended Wednesday with unexpected theatrics in the court. Dressed in sparkly red robes, self-styled godman Swami Om, who is an intervenor in the case, warned the judges against taking any decision that would interfere with Hindu rituals. He even delivered a curse, warning of a pralay (apocalypse) that would make civilisation extinct if the court allowed women in the ancient hill temple in Kerala.
Swami Om, a former Bigg Boss contestant and an accused in a molestation case, had filed an intervening application, asking the court to hear religious and spiritual groups instead of agnostic lawyers to decide the case. The court had accepted his IA and issued notice on the plea despite the fact that he is yet to pay a Rs 10 lakh fine imposed by the SC earlier for filing frivolous cases.
Also read: How Rahul Gandhi made TDP happy, and why Chandan Mitra took a drastic decision to quit BJP
How an invitation card made Rahul Gandhi hold off his plans for Bihar
Congress president Rahul Gandhi was all set to announce the new PCC president for Bihar last week. But a marriage invitation made him change his plan.
The invitation card came from Kaukab Quadri, the officiating Bihar Congress chief, whose daughter got married on 29 July in Delhi. On the card, Quadri had mentioned his name with the current designation.
Some party leaders advised Gandhi that it would not be fair to announce a new state president at this time, so instead, the announcement is expected next week.
Tushar Mehta set to be named Solicitor General this month
The post of Solicitor General of India, a top government law office, has been vacant for over ten months. When former SG Ranjit Kumar resigned in October 2017 citing personal reasons, rumours were rife that Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta would be promoted to fill his shoes.
Mehta, a senior advocate from Gujarat, is known to be close to BJP president Amit Shah. He has been the BJP’s go-to man for legal troubleshooting and was also roped in to defend the latter’s son Jay Shah, despite being a government law officer.
The buzz in legal circles now is that the government may appoint Mehta the new SG this month.
Contributors: D.K. Singh, Ruhi Tewari, Apurva Vishwanath, and Kumar Anshuman