Delhi confidential: Timely Intervention

RAJASTHAN CHIEF Minister Ashok Gehlot’s outburst against the letter-writing leaders in the Congress at the CWC meeting on Friday did not come as a surprise to many in the party. Some leaders felt it was classic Congress politics and a clever ploy by the veteran to try to kill several birds with one stone. Gehlot’s name is often taken whenever there is talk of a non-Gandhi for the post of Congress president. He was also personally close to many of the 23 leaders – who wrote to Sonia Gandhi seeking sweeping changes in the party – including Anand Sharma and Bhupinder Singh Hooda. There was a perception he was acceptable to the 23 leaders. His aggression on Friday, some feel, was to clearly distance himself from the letter-writers and showcase his loyalty to the Gandhis. Besides, Gehlot still faces a threat from Sachin Pilot in his home state. So it was perhaps also a message to the Gandhis that his loyalty towards them is unflinching.

Back to Questions

DURING THE monsoon session, which was held amid the pandemic with too many restrictions, the question hour was scrapped, drawing strong criticism from the opposition. So in the Budget session, it has been reinstated, extending the duration of the daily session to five hours. The MPs appear to be keen, as several of them have started sending in their questions for the government to answer. So far, the Lok Sabha MPs have sent 8,340 questions – both starred (to be answered in the floor of the House) as well as unstarred (for written answers) – to the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The Secretariat picks a ballot everyday for starred questions. So far, the ballots have been picked for dates up to February 11.

Vaccine Gesture

As India sent Covid-19 vaccines to Brazil on Friday after a bit of delay, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro thanked India with an image of Hanuman with the Sanjivani, flying from India to Brazil. He had made the same reference in April last year when he had asked for Hydroxychloroquine.