Take a hike

Usually at the receiving end of overzealous electronic mediapersons,Congress spokesman Manish Tewari returned the compliments.

Usually at the receiving end of overzealous electronic mediapersons,Congress spokesman Manish Tewari returned the compliments on Tuesday when they sought to corner him on the issue of a 20 per cent hike in the salaries of AICC staff. What about common people suffering due to inflation? they asked. I hope proprietors of channels take the hint from (Congress party treasurer Motilal) Voraji and do something for you as well, came the reply from Tewari,never short of a repartee. One TV journalist even asked Tewari to repeat his remark in English for the benefit of his own proprietor.

New Pastures

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh,who had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections with the BJP,was not invited to the second year anniversary celebrations of the UPA-II government in May but with the Uttar Pradesh elections approaching,the Congress party seems to have suddenly developed some warmth for the farmer leader. A section of the Congress party is learnt to be actively pushing for the induction of Ajit Singh in the Union Council of Ministers whenever the widely anticipated Cabinet reshuffle takes place so that a pre-poll alliance with the RLD for the upcoming UP elections can be sealed.

Surprise Twist

In the Cabinet reshuffle buzz,a surprise name doing the rounds is that of Ashok Ganguly,a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. The grapevine has it that Ganguly,a former chairman of Hindustan Lever,is being backed by the leadership of the Congress party for a weighty economic portfolio. His record in a range of top corporate leadership roles would bring to the Cabinet outside talent the Prime Minister has often talked about. But then a nominated member has never been inducted in the Cabinet. Whether Ganguly,a Padma Vibhushan,is the first,remains to be seen.

Dry Run

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This years monsoon is going to be dry at the Foreign Correspondents Club,the favourite evening haunt of foreign journalists covering India. The club is in the process of renewing its licences from government and police and also carrying out repairs and renovation. While it promises to continue serving food and soft drinks,liquor can be served only after the entire process is over. The club hopes this will be done by mid-July but considering the red tape in licensing procedures,the journalists are not so sure.

Bugged Out

The chewing gum episode in the Finance Ministry had its impact on South Block officials in Islamabad during last weeks Foreign Secretary-level talks. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao,who was supposed to stay at the luxurious Serena hotel along with the rest of the Indian delegation,made a last-minute change of plan. In Islamabad,where hotel lobbies and rooms are notorious for being infested with spies and bugs,Rao decided to stay at the residence of Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal. The other officials were also asked to be careful and not leave any documents in their rooms.