Delhi Confidential: The sweet side

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad usually keeps a low profile, as its diplomats are under constant scrutiny in Pakistan. But after the brutal attack on Peshawar school, the Indian diplomats, led by High Commissioner T C A Raghavan, were one of those at the forefront of the candle-light march outside the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan. Several other members of the international diplomatic community in Pakistan, including those from the US and the UK, were present at the march.

Eextra-cautious

Health Minister J P Nadda and Power Minister Piyush Goyal are said to be reluctant to have junior officials in their meetings. The two are apparently wary of information getting leaked. Only officers of joint secretary rank or above are being trusted, and those junior to them are being kept away from the meetings in which the minister is present. Incidentally, before he became a minister, Goyal happened to be one of the most media-savvy leaders in the BJP. Nadda’s predecessor in the Health Ministry, Dr Harsh Vardhan, used to have a more open style of functioning.

Sweating it out

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been keeping herself warm in Delhi chill by playing badminton. According to a party MP, Banerjee “plays a decent game of badminton” and the lawns of 181 South Avenue, which is where the Trinamool office operates from, are  turned into a court in the evening and close aides join her.