Delhi confidential: Trivedi’s giveaway

INVOKING RAM

The discussion on the AP Reorganistaion (Amendment) Bill in RS Monday veered from the plight of tribals who will be affected by the Polavaram dam to the fate of the deity at the famous Bhadrachalam temple that now falls in Telangana. MPs from Telangana sought to get the BJP on their side by reminding the party of its devotion to Lord Ram to whom the temple is dedicated. Congress’s Renuka Choudhary complained that while the temple had been transferred to Telangana, the Lord’s treasures and land would be submerged. V Hanumantha Rao reminded the BJP of the demolition of Babri Masjid on the grounds that it was Lord Ram’s birthplace. “How can they now ignore this other dwelling of the Lord in Telangana?” an emotional Rao asked.

A FAREWELL TOO MANY

As he delivered the farewell speech for Justice C K Prasad, CJI R M Lodha expressed his intrigue about attending such functions. Justice Lodha pointed out that Justice Prasad was the fifth judge who was retiring after his taking over as the CJI and that he was making farewell speech too frequently. The CJI, however, also expressed relief that this was going to be his last one. “I have bid farewell to five judges after becoming the CJI. Thankfully, this is going to be the last one and I will not be delivering anymore farewell speeches. For, I am the next in line to demit office,” he said. Justice Lodha retires in September.