Pre-Truth — snappy, witty and significant snippets from the world of politics and government.
Former SC judge looked for a house with a basement, but found none
A former Supreme Court judge, who was trying to find a house with a basement (for chambers) in the upscale Defence Colony area of south Delhi, couldn’t find anything to match his wish-list. While he saw several where the ground or upper-ground floor was available for rent, he couldn’t find anything with a basement. Finally, exasperated after showing him several houses, the ‘expert’ helping him in the search told him that because of a Supreme Court order, basements weren’t available as most of them had been sealed.
Congress’ rebel headache in Rajasthan
The Congress was expected to shine in the recent assembly polls in Rajasthan and reduce the BJP to embarrassing figures, but it ended up falling one short of the halfway mark. Senior leaders in the Rajasthan unit are attributing the Congress’ below-expectation performance to the ‘rebel’ factor and the inability of the party leadership to deal with this effectively. They also blame the Congress culture of re-inducting rebels.
In fact, three-time MLA, former minister in the state and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Aimaduddin Ahmad Khan (Durru) has even brought this to the notice of the high command, requesting the issue be taken up by the Congress Working Committee. Khan has cited his own example to bring home the point. He says he has consistently faced the rebel issue in his constituency Tijara, and this time, the Congress leader who was denied ticket fought against him on a Samajwadi Party ticket, thus, becoming a big factor in the Congress losing this seat. Incidentally, the rebel candidate has a history and has been re-inducted into the Congress twice after leaving the party.
Also read: The colour that makes Mamata Banerjee see red
Nageswara Rao first to get Christian Michel’s extradition news
Interim CBI chief Nageswara Rao was the first official to be told about the extradition of Christian James Michel, a British national wanted by Indian authorities in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper scam. The moment the decision was taken, ecstatic joint director CBI, Sai Manohar, who led the team and was in Dubai for the purpose, made the first call to Rao to inform him about the development, calling it a “triumph”. The news was kept under wraps until the information was leaked from UAE media and the story was then picked up in India.
I&B officials go gaga over Rathore-Akshay Kumar Instragram Live
Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore recently went live on Instagram with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. The ministry officials kept on discussing the fitness regime of the Rathore and Kumar, seen as one of the ‘fittest’ Bollywood actors. It was an informal session between the two fitness freaks, who discussed their workout regime, diet, bullying in school and their kids. Later, actor Ranveer Singh also joined the conversation, making it more lively.
Sajjan Kumar may not host his annual Lohri party this time
Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case earlier this week, has a carefully nurtured constituency among journalists in Delhi. The Jat leader hosts journalists over a sumptuous lunch every year on Lohri. His annual Lohri box of goodies is also eagerly awaited in several newsrooms. Since the court has rejected his plea to be allowed to surrender by January-end, the boxes of sweets are unlikely to come this time.
(Contributors: Maneesh Chhibber, Ruhi Tewari, Pragya Kaushika and Ananya Bhardwaj)