Setting his own agenda
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
The Congress-led UPA faced an embarrassing situation in the Rajya Sabha when the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar did not pay heed to the call by Ghulam Nabi Azad to stage a walkout in protest against the “unsatisfactory” reply by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on price rise.
Even as an agitated Mr. Azad declared emphatically that the entire Opposition was staging a walkout, the veteran NCP leader stayed back to raise a few concerns on behalf of cane-growers, who are anxiously waiting for their dues from mill owners.
Mr. Pawar said the government had made an announcement to help the farmers recover their dues from the mill owners but not come out with formal orders on the details of the scheme. In response, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said the government was committed to delivering its promise once the mill owners gave an assurance that they would clear the dues of the farmers.
Auto bonanza
By Anita Joshua
As swanky cars slowly but steadily edge the staid Ambassador out of the parking lot for members in Parliament, one does find a beat-up military vehicle in the midst of the gleaming cars. This is primarily thanks to the quota that the MPs have in allotment of defence-surplus vehicles.
For auto enthusiasts among MPs, this is the season to pick up a used military vehicle. The Bulletin of General Information circulated on the opening day of Parliament on Monday provided details of the price fixed by the Ministry of Defence for the various defence-surplus vehicles for allotment to not just MPs but also members of Legislative Assemblies and Councils.
As per the price list, an Ambassador can be bought for Rs. 25,943, a jeep for Rs. 70,947, a jonga for Rs. 57,653, a Royal Enfield motorcycle for Rs. 28,634, a Hero Honda motorbike for as little as Rs. 4,381, an M&M Jeep for Rs. 85,315.
Rahul pre-occupied
By Smita Gupta
In the Lok Sabha, even as the Congress, along with the other Opposition parties, was demanding an adjournment motion on the Narendra Modi government’s inability to check price rise, party MP Shashi Tharoor was seen deep in conversation with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The two appeared oblivious to the issue being raised by the principal Opposition party. Eventually, when all the MPs rose to their feet, Mr. Tharoor and Mr. Gandhi joined them.
Tapas skips session
By Anita Joshua
Trinamool Congress member Tapas Pal was conspicuous by his absence in the Lok Sabha on Monday when the House met for the first time after his controversial speech, threatening his political opponents with violence and rape of their women.
As his absence got noticed, television reports from Kolkata said he had been hospitalised on Sunday because of high blood pressure. Mr. Pal, who maintained a low profile in the 15th Lok Sabha during his first term, has now drawn considerable attention to himself with his speech that stirred up a political row last week.
