Growth makes FM smile    
Who can be happier than Finance Minister P Chidambaram, if the economy grows at more than nine per cent and inflation falls below four per cent? 
Recently, the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) released the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data of the economy during the first quarter of the current fiscal (April to June, 2007). This showed an impressive growth rate of 9.3 per cent.
An upbeat Mr Chidambaram wanted to interact with the media to share his views on robust performance of the economy.
As the scribes trooped into the Conference Hall of the Finance Ministry housed in the North Block, a smiling Chidambaram greeted one and all.
Incidentally, along with the GDP growth rate data, the government had simultaneously released the latest figure on the price scenario, showing a decline in inflation rate at 3.9 per cent.
A robust spurt in GDP growth rate at 9.3 per cent, accompanied with a sharp fall in inflation at 3.9 per cent, no doubt, proved a double whammy for Chidambaram.
Chidambaram, who right from the beginning of the current year had been constantly struggling to rein in inflation, has at last succeeded on the front.
He was in such an upbeat mood that he could not resist cracking jokes with scribes.
“You people would have been much happier if the reverse would have happened--GDP growing at 3.9 per cent and inflation running berserk at 9.3 per cent,” Chidambaram joked as scribes burst into laughter.
Aditya Raj Das

Ramadoss’ fortress
Nobody knew what exactly Dr Anbumani Ramadoss had in mind thought when he decided to turn the Nirman Bhavan complex into a fortress last Wednesday during the governing body meeting of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, to take stock of contentious issues.
 Security of the complex, located inside the high-security central Delhi, is managed by the Central Industrial Security Force. But officials close to the minister ordered additional police deployment, presumably to keep the media outside.
Besides the media, general public too was kept waiting literally on the roads, ignoring the fact that somebody may have to visit the offices of the urban development ministry or the banks housed inside the Nirman Bhavan.
Menacingly wielding their lathis, police and CISF constables refused to let the media enter the premises without an order from a specific officer.
The officials later argued that the security was meant for preventing the agitating AIIMS students and not to thwart the media.
But the argument doesn’t seem to hold water, as the students left within 15 minutes after AIIMS Director Dr P Venugopal left the building without attending office.
Kalyan Ray