Pink is the new black: KTR

July 29, 2014 12:12 am | Updated 12:12 am IST - HYDERABAD:

Over hundred underprivileged and economically disadvantaged students of CHORD School passed from the schools. Graduation ceremony for a class of Hyderabad-based participants in the English Access Micro-Scholarship Programme sponsored by the US Department of State's Bureau of Education Cultural Affairs in Hyderabad on Saturday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Over hundred underprivileged and economically disadvantaged students of CHORD School passed from the schools. Graduation ceremony for a class of Hyderabad-based participants in the English Access Micro-Scholarship Programme sponsored by the US Department of State's Bureau of Education Cultural Affairs in Hyderabad on Saturday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

A young woman finally asked State Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao what many people must have always wanted to ask him and his father: “Why is the colour pink associated with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and now the Telangana State?”

The young politician, who was the chief guest at an event organised by the FAPCCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), was caught off-guard for a second, after which he regained his composure and replied, “Don’t you know pink is the new black?”

KTR, however, was not too impressed when one of the speakers called him “young tiger” and made it clear he didn’t like to be called with such a moniker.

Intruding on privacy

A few Telangana Ministers are worried, not about their work but the continuous flow of visitors, party activists and leaders of employee unions to their residences to wish them, even a month after assuming office. Some visitors are embarrassing Ministers by intruding on their privacy. A Minister considered close to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that after the veranda fills up with people, visitors start trickling into the drawing room and later occupy the dining hall. “Some even enter the bedroom, denying me an opportunity to take a proper bath.” The Minister is now forced to take a bath early and sit in the hall right from morning just to prevent visitors from entering his bedroom.

Monday morning blues

How would a student feel if a neighbouring school declares a holiday and his school doesn’t? More so, if the student is overburdened with class work on the said date?

Well, most of the State government officials of the AP government felt the same way on Monday.

Their counterparts in the Telangana government were making the most of the extended weekend, thanks to a declared Bonalu holiday last week.

However, it did not apply to the AP government departments even though they are functioning from Hyderabad. While one side of the Secretariat wore a deserted look, the other side was abuzz with activity. With AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu convening his Cabinet meeting on Monday, the AP government employees had a rather busy day, only adding to the disheartening mood.

When the media was left out

These are testing times for international diplomats, especially if you are a western superpower. In the backdrop of growing cross-country terrorism, border conflicts and religious extremism leading to innumerable deaths, chances are high that any formal or informal media interaction can snowball into a controversy.

This might be the reason why US Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, avoided media interaction when she was in Hyderabad recently. She was the chief guest at a programme organised by the US Consulate for underprivileged children. The Ambassador was at the event for more than an hour, interacted with the kids and left. The media, however, were invited only after she left though the invite indicated otherwise! Naturally, there were sullen faces in the media contingent.

A rodent’s welcome

On being transferred from the central zone, GHMC’s additional commissioner Ronald Rose recently took charge as the west zone commissioner. At his new office, Mr. Rose was received, greeted and welcomed by the staff but the reception apparently did not end there, for a rodent too lay in wait for its turn!

Just a few days into his new assignment, Mr. Rose was at his office when a rat managed to quietly sneak up the table and bite him on the hand.

The clearly worried IAS officer had to rush to a hospital for an anti-rabies injection. While GHMC is engaged in tackling issues related to street dogs, monkeys, mosquitoes and the likes, rodents too should not be ignored, quipped a junior officer!

hyderabaddesk@thehindu.co.in

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