Delhi underground: Why Mukhi needs to smile more

Amid strikes and counter-strikes by the lawyers of the District and High Court bar associations, political rivalry between members of the HC’s executive committee came out in the open. The agenda for the general body meeting was recalled after heated disagreements between committee members and replaced by an agenda “approved’ by some other members. Notice boards in the HC were papered with thinly-veiled allegations and observations by both parties. Finally, the meeting, which was to happen in the first week of December, was fixed for the last week, with members on both sides saying that the “agenda” would be re-modified.

No city for nice cops

A senior police officer was told that three young IPS officers were waiting outside. They had come fresh from training and were waiting to be posted. The police officer called them in and assigned them the districts they would be enlisted with. As an afterthought, however, the officer said, “Let me tell you one important thing. This is not the Kerala cadre where everyone is nice to everyone else. This is Delhi. Here, the head constable is smarter than us. So better learn to be street smart. What matters is how you perform on the ground, not your IPS badge.”

Pepper spray

In a new initiative to boost safety of women, the Delhi Police are distributing pepper sprays to women, including women journalists. A woman reporter, who asked a question on new initiatives taken by the police for women’s safety, was handed over the pepper spray. Confused, she looked at the bottle and asked, “What is this? Why are you giving this to me?” The cop smiled and answered, “This is for your safety. Hope I have answered your query.”

Need for pride

While speaking on United Nations Minorities Rights Day, Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung reminisced about the early 1960s when newspapers like The Indian Express and The Times of India were setting up their offices on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. In those days, he said they used to have “Evening spot news” that people were very keen to know about and journalists took pride in. It is that sort of pride in one’s work that needs to be restored among journalists and bureaucrats, he said.

Birthday return gift

The December 13 birthday party of Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan, saw residents of his old MLA seat Krishna Nagar get new water tankers. Posters from local BJP leaders wishing Harsh Vardhan and the announcement of new water tankers for residents of the area adorned several parts of East Delhi. Both Harsh Vardhan’s clinic, where he ran his practice as an ENT surgeon and still occasionally sees patients, and his residence are in Krishna Nagar, though he is now MP from Chandni Chowk.

Budget, abruptly

In the budget meeting of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the chairman of the standing committee, Mohan Bhardwaj, heard arguments of the members and took suggestions for the final budget. The tradition is that the chairman announces the final budget before the members so that the House and the Opposition are aware of what is included in the final version. However, Bhardwaj adjourned the meeting without finalising the budget. This left everyone surprised and the leader of the Opposition said that this was an MCD first.