‘Amma bicycles’ — ever heard of the brand! According to N. Jyothy, AIADMK member in the Rajya Sabha ‘Amma cycle’ happens to be the most popular vehicle in Tamil Nadu being used exclusively by a women force of about four lakh.This was Jyothy’s subtle praise for AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha, ‘‘Amma’’, the mother to people. These bicycles, it seems, have been given by Amma’s government to girls from tribal and scheduled caste families for going to school.Empty benches in RSRajya Sabha wore a near-deserted look today with most members getting back to old habit of taking it easy on Fridays. This, in spite of the House proceedings being aired for the entire nation. In fact, the attendance in the House had dramatically gone up since the cameras were put on. However BJP front benchers — Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, and S.S. Ahluwalia — in their party’s new role of a ‘‘responsible Opposition’’ remained seated all through the proceedings.
