Rajiv Gandhi’s Horoscope
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has decided to strengthen the Parliament research wing for supplementing the information base for members. For starters, his researchers have dug out a letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru to his sister Krishna Hutheesing asking her to tell Indira Gandhi to get a “proper horoscope made by a competent person’’ for Rajiv Gandhi. Mr. Naidu highlighted this to defend HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s much publicised visit to an astrologer and said “these are personal preferences’’ and should not be held against a person or a party.
“Without non-veg food we will die’’
Trying to dispel the notion that the BJP is a “vegetarian’’ party, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu recalled how he thought twice before joining the Jan Sangh-RSS because he had heard that the right-
wing organisation was “vegetarian’’. Turning to Cabinet colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad during a press conference he said, “ Humne socha yaar, sirf vegetarian khana ho to hum toh mar jayenge ’’ (If we can have only vegetarian stuff we will die). It was only when the organisers told him that he can eat as much non-vegetarian food as he liked that he decided to join what he recently described as his “mother organisation’’.
BJP’s constitutional authority
Ravi Shankar Prasad may have lost the Law Ministry portfolio but his senior colleague Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu was all praise for the former and his knowledge on varied subjects. “He even has complete knowledge of the BJP’s constitution. You ask him anything and he can cite the exact para and sentence,” Mr. Naidu said.
No tears from Smriti Irani
A tweet that suggested Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani wept in the Lok Sabha set the social media and Parliament abuzz on Wednesday. As per the tweet, “Smriti Irani broke down in LS, screamed that she didn't mislead house or country. Said that she deliberately targeted”. But, in fact, the pugnacious Ms. Irani struck her head in a dismissive gesture at the Opposition and shouted amidst the din that the Government had not misled the House. It was left to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu to assure the House that there was no move to keep schools open on Christmas.
Minister to attend to his first calling
The Balayogi Auditorium in Parliament House is fast becoming a place for MPs – including former members – to showcase their talent. If it was former BJP MP Nitish Bhardwaj who occupied centrestage last week, Thursday will have Bengali pop singer-turned-Union Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo sing for Parliamentarians.
