Delhi Underground: Stuck in traffic

No communication
The Delhi Congress’s lack of organisation was made apparent when a senior leader claimed that no committees would be created for poll preparations as the party unit had not received a clear signal from the high command on it. “We were told that all secretaries and general secretaries would be changed. Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs will also be changed. But after that there was no communication and every one has been left hanging,” a senior leader said.

Move to impress
During protests held on the 30th anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, protestors were all set to march to the PM’s residence to offer a memorandum in the hope that their demands would be adhered to. However, it was decided later that only a few of them, escorted by policemen, would be allowed to go to the PMO. They were also told that the PM was willing to consider their demands. On their way to the PMO, the protesters asked the police personnel if they could stop at Sardar Patel’s statue for a few minutes as it was his birth anniversary. “They wanted to garland the statue. They thought the act would impress the PM,” a senior police officer said.

Figure mismatch
The figure for “identified unauthorised” properties in Sainik Farms seems to fluctuate with each hearing at the Delhi High Court. Earlier this week, when the court pulled up police and the municipal corporation for allowing about 24 identified unauthorised constructions to come up, the petitioner NGO gave a complaint with pictures of over 150 properties. The court has asked the civic bodies to now look into all complaints.

Helping hand
A traffic constable had a hard time explaining to an offender what rule he had violated as the offender had left his hearing aid at home. So, the constable had to use gestures to enact speeding. However, two passersby came to the constable’s help and explained to the offender his violation. They also helped the constable issue the documents for a challan.

Deep divide
The amendments proposed to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill of 1971 have become the reason behind many a spat among gynaecologists, each of whom has a different take on whether to allow registered ayurveda, homeopathy specialists and paramedics to perform MTPs. While one camp of gynaecologists have called for a study which is supported by another forum which supports the move, the other body has, in turn, accused the forum for allegedly “not bothering to read up the entire amendment document”, and for being “insecure” for not bothering to understand the problem of access in rural areas.

Smart move
The decision of two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs to not contest Assembly elections is believed to be a move to save themselves from embarrassment. According to the AAP, the party had decided that former poll candidates and MLAs would not be given tickets if their performance in the last few months was unsatisfactory. “These MLAs have been smart. They know that they will not be given tickets. So, before the party could announce its list of candidates, they announced that they would not be contesting,” an AAP leader said.

Protest Vs protest
As the kiss of love campaign kicked off near the RSS office in Jhandewalan on Saturday, members of the Hindu Sena, on the other hand, held a protest against the dominance of western culture in India. One of the kiss of love campaigners said, “They vehemently denounce western culture. But they don’t realise that they are wearing shirts and trousers, both western apparel. That is the hypocrisy we are fighting.”