The medal winning wrestlers agitating for action against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh were elated after Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave them time to meet on June 3 late in the evening at his residence. But they got the shock of their lives when they reached his Krishna Menon Marg residence. Details surfacing days after the meeting reveal that Shah made them wait in a tiny non-VIP room for nearly an hour and a half before giving them an audience. Shah made it known to them that he was extremely upset with them as they had announced their decision to immerse their medals into the Ganges at Haridwar. In fact, Shah had been upset with them from the day one they allowed leaders of Opposition parties to join their protest at Jantar Mantar and had directed the Delhi Police to evict them on May 28 itself when they marched towards the newly constructed Parliament House on its inaugural day. He said no leniency should be shown towards them and the place must be vacated. Shah reported to have also asked them whether they had taken leave from the Railway Ministry where they are currently employed due to winning these medals and if they didn't join duty, they may even be sacked and these medals are the property of the nation. The wrestlers group included Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat didn't know what to do. Shah, however, assured them that the inquiry into the sexual misconduct would be thorough, impartial and would spare none. He told them to meet Sports Minister Anurag Thakur which they did and joined duty in the Railway ministry.
RG's Hush Hush White House visit !
Did Rahul Gandhi visit White House during his recent trip to the USA? No one is denying or confirming in the Congress Party as he is traveling in Europe now. Reports emanating from Washington say that a senior Congress leader who doesn't hold a diplomatic passport, met senior officials in the State Department apart from various think tanks, academics & tech experts besides addressing Indian diaspora. This was Rahul Gandhi's first effort to meet people of Indian origin in the USA in a structured manner after 2014. There are reports that he did go to the White House but who he met during this visit is being kept under the wraps. It is highly unlikely that Joe Biden granted him an audience or Rahul Gandhi sought a meeting. The White House may not like to send such a signal particularly at a time when PM Modi is flying to the USA on his State Visit, a historic feat for any Indian PM. However, Rahul Gandhi's growing acceptability during the past sometime has gone up particularly after Sonia Gandhi abdicated her post, Bharat Jodo Yatra and Karnataka Assembly poll win. Though Rahul still needs to learn the ropes of public speaking and connecting with the people, he still has a long way to go.
Ministers learning Hindi Fast
For the past few months, the BJP leadership has been focusing on maximum use of Hindi. Be it communicating with the people or corresponding for government business. The Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and other ministers use Hindi as their language for communication with the people. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam has been trying her hand in reading Hindi text and trying her best to speak in Hindi whenever addressing the audience inside or outside the Parliament. In fact, she had started doing this ever since she joined the BJP in 2008 and was promoted as official spokesperson of the party. To the surprise of political watchers, the latest to join the group of ministers is External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is speaking in Hindi during public discourse. To the surprise of the diplomatic fraternity, Jaishankar has learnt the Hindi lessons rather fast. Is he preparing to contest for the Lok Sabha seat in 2024? No one is sure in the party. But he has been frequently traveling to Tamil Nadu and other states. Perhaps, he may be BJP's star campaigner in 2024 as he speaks rather brutally frank and candid and acquired Hindi rather fast. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also interacts only in Hindi
Tushar Mehta to get extension
The five year term of Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, considered to be the most powerful law officer in the Modi dispensation, is ending on June 30, 2023. He came to the Capital with the advent of the Modi-Shah team in Lutyens' Delhi and after four years' stint as Additional Solicitor General, promoted as SG in 2018 when Ranjit Kumar's term was not renewed. Legal fraternity is confident that Mehta will get a new term and after 2024, may be promoted as Attorney-General of India in place of R Venkataramani. All eyes are set on half a dozen Additional Solicitor-Generals too whose tenure is also ending. A couple of them expressed their desire not to continue.
