Delhi Confidential: Lonely on dais

HOUSE SHOOT

BJP MP Jagadambika Pal’s love for camera is well known. On Wednesday, Pal played Holi, applying colours on fellow MPs and media persons near Gate No. 1 of Parliament House. Realising that there were not many cameras there, he swiftly moved on to Gate No. 4 where television cameras were set up to record Holi celebrations.

WELCOME DELAY

Nepal’s former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai met a whole range of government representatives and political leaders in Delhi during his three-day visit, before his scheduled return to Kathmandu early on Thursday. But with the Kathmandu airport blocked, his departure has been delayed for later in the day. Bhattarai, however, may not be too unhappy since it will give him time to do what he was unable to — a quick trip to his favourite book shop in Khan Market, and a tour of JNU, his alma mater where he spent the formative years of his life.

FLIGHT OF MPs

At a time when he is constantly on his toes trying to cope with frequent voting in both Houses, forced by the Opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu is having a real problem ensuring an adequate presence of his flock on crucial occasions. And, to compound his problem, members book themselves on afternoon flights a day before the weekend break. A party diktat may be soon on the way telling BJP MPs to plan flying back home only by post-8 o’clock on the last working day of a week.

SLIPPING ON OATH?

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed may not have taken his oath of office correctly. In J&K, the ministers have to take oath saying “I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the State as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India”. Instead, Mufti said: “I will bear true faith and allegiance to Constitution of India, minister of state as by law established.” Mufti also didn’t take oath as Chief Minister. Mufti’s alliance partner BJP has been traditionally seeking repeal of J&K Constitution and their slogan has been ‘One country, one flag, one constitution’. Interestingly, every BJP minister in J&K took oath bearing true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the State.