By Gajendra Singh Negi
Delhi calling
In a remarkable feat, Dehradun, the provisional capital of Uttarakhand, has narrowed the gap with national capital Delhi in the Air Quality Index (AQI), even as union minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has proclaimed that the much-awaited Dehradun – Delhi Expressway -set to reduce travel time between the two polluted cities to only two hours-will soon be made operational. The dwellers of Doon valley, once known for its greenery and serene environment, are now confident that the air quality of Dehradun will finally catch up with that of Delhi after the six lane expressway starts bringing more and more people and vehicles to the city which is already reeling under creaking infrastructure and unplanned urbanisation. In such a scenario, Doon is set to become a doomed city unless the government takes some drastic and urgent measures to save the valley.
Smart politician
The Member of Parliament from Nainital- Udham Singh Nagar parliamentary constituency, Ajay Bhatt made perfect use of the time given to him in Lok Sabha on the discussions on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), now rechristened as Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rojgar and Azeevika Mission Gramin (VB- GRAM G) when he defended Narendra Modi government’s decision to change the name of the scheme which aims to ensure livelihood security to rural households by stating that recitation of Jai Ram Shri Ram Jai Jai Ram mantra is remedy for all the problems such as unemployment, family disputes, marital discords and finding a life partner. The comment was endorsed by peals of laughter from treasury bench members. To recall, Bhatt used the Lok Sabha platform to highlight the miraculous healing powers possessed by the pebbles of river Garud Ganga during his last tenure as MP. A clever politician that he is, Bhatt knows pretty well that such light- hearted references instead of serious discussions involving in-depth study, will keep him relevant in current political dispensation.
Harak’s hustle
Following his recent appointment as the chairperson of election management committee of the State Congress, the mercurial maverick of Uttarakhand politics, Harak Singh Rawat has thrown himself completely into the election mode. Known for his energy and knowledge of the political turf of the State, Harak has started targeting the ruling BJP and its leaders with disdain. After being bestowed upon with the new responsibility by the Congress high command, the powerful leader has lost no opportunity to attack the BJP government and in this enthusiasm, he recently threw himself into a controversy when he made an unsavoury comment on Sikh community for which he had to seek apology and engage in a Kar Sewa in a Gurudwara. Rawat is also said to be in touch with some of the former Congress leaders and BJP rebels as part of his new assignment. With his hustle, Harak has succeeded in instilling some energy into the Congress party which is on a losing streak in the Himalayan State. In such a situation, it will be interesting to observe the saffron party’s reaction with Harak also known as a seasoned party- switching specialist.
