<p>Making a case for himself<br /><br /></p>.<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to travel extensively in the first two years of his tenure has often been the butt of jokes of his critics. For many a BJP leader, too, this was an issue that evaded full defence. For the first time, in his Times Now interview, Modi decided to explain his reasons. <br /><br />“The world wants to know who the head of the state is. If someone would want to know Modi through the eyes of the media, then he would be disillusioned on which Modi is the real Modi. If this happens, the country will be at a loss. Modi’s personality shouldn’t be a hindrance for the world to have faith in India. But, for that, unless I meet all those leaders and engage them one to one, unless I speak to them frankly, they wouldn’t know about India’s head of state. So, it was very important for me as I am not from a political family.” A case of the medium not being the message? <br />Shekhar Iyer, New Delhi<br /><br />Shifting base<br /><br />The indifference of opposition leader and YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy towards Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, is well known. Even after two years of bifurcation, he still runs his party headquarters from his sprawling Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad and has no permanent residence in either Vijayawada or Guntur. Whereas, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu lives on the banks of river Krishna in a rented accommodation.<br /><br />However, the recent provisional attachment of nearly Rs 750 crore worth assets belonging to Jagan by the Enforcement Directorate might force the young leader to shift his base to Amaravati. Offering him a house in Amaravati is Deputy Chief Minister of AP, K E Krishna Murthy. Speaking to partymen, he said that the government is willing to construct a house for Jagan in Amaravati now that he lost his houses in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.<br />JBS Umanadh, Hyderabad<br /><br />Swing break <br /><br />West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s outlook towards life and politics can often be unique. Where other leaders give away laptops and scooters, she gives bicycles and shoes. And her scheme to donate bicycles to school students, particularly girls, to ease their lives has reaped her rich dividends. Now, she has decided to donate swings to state-run and aided schools so that children can take a break between studies. <br /><br />While she will do an on-spot survey herself during her trip to North Bengal from today, after taking over office for the second term, Banerjee has also deployed a team of ‘swing inspectors’ who will go around the state and submit a report on the best possible way to install swings at schools. Now, here’s one CM who understands that all work and no play can make Jack (in this case, even Jill), a dull boy/girl! <br />Drimi Chaudhuri, Kolkata<br /><br />Amma Bazaars <br /><br />Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is toying with the idea of launching “Amma Bazaars” – weekly markets that will sell products manufactured by government-aided groups and self-help organisations. Her aides say these markets could be a big project after the successful Amma canteens, which offer cheap food to poorer sections of the society, and Amma medicine that offer drugs at affordable rates. <br /><br />The Chennai Corporation announced that it has chosen three areas in the state capital to be transformed into marketplaces – the Mint flyover, Arumbakkam and Kotturpuram. The proposed idea is that there will be no middlemen to siphon off profits from manufacturers. The corporation plans to sell 650 products that are “in use on a daily basis” as well as set up 200 or so Amma Bazaars.<br />SI, New Delhi<br /><br />Udta Kashmir <br /><br />J&K Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu’s recent statement to the state Assembly that liquor will not be banned in the state, as “it is a matter of freedom and choice,” has snowballed into a major controversy in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir. Different meanings are being derived out of Drabu’s statement: “We must accept that we live in a world where one has choices to make and we can’t force (any rule) on them. Let’s live in a free world. Let’s live with liberal thought.”<br /><br />While Kashmir’s head priest and senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar questioned, “If boozing is a matter of choice, why ban on beef consumption?” others foresee the opening of lesbian and gay clubs as a matter of choice. Some others look ahead for a dedicated space to enjoy the choice to get drugged. Drabu’s statement on choice to booze has left Kashmir on a new high! <br />Zulfikar Majid, Srinagar</p>
<p>Making a case for himself<br /><br /></p>.<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to travel extensively in the first two years of his tenure has often been the butt of jokes of his critics. For many a BJP leader, too, this was an issue that evaded full defence. For the first time, in his Times Now interview, Modi decided to explain his reasons. <br /><br />“The world wants to know who the head of the state is. If someone would want to know Modi through the eyes of the media, then he would be disillusioned on which Modi is the real Modi. If this happens, the country will be at a loss. Modi’s personality shouldn’t be a hindrance for the world to have faith in India. But, for that, unless I meet all those leaders and engage them one to one, unless I speak to them frankly, they wouldn’t know about India’s head of state. So, it was very important for me as I am not from a political family.” A case of the medium not being the message? <br />Shekhar Iyer, New Delhi<br /><br />Shifting base<br /><br />The indifference of opposition leader and YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy towards Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, is well known. Even after two years of bifurcation, he still runs his party headquarters from his sprawling Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad and has no permanent residence in either Vijayawada or Guntur. Whereas, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu lives on the banks of river Krishna in a rented accommodation.<br /><br />However, the recent provisional attachment of nearly Rs 750 crore worth assets belonging to Jagan by the Enforcement Directorate might force the young leader to shift his base to Amaravati. Offering him a house in Amaravati is Deputy Chief Minister of AP, K E Krishna Murthy. Speaking to partymen, he said that the government is willing to construct a house for Jagan in Amaravati now that he lost his houses in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.<br />JBS Umanadh, Hyderabad<br /><br />Swing break <br /><br />West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s outlook towards life and politics can often be unique. Where other leaders give away laptops and scooters, she gives bicycles and shoes. And her scheme to donate bicycles to school students, particularly girls, to ease their lives has reaped her rich dividends. Now, she has decided to donate swings to state-run and aided schools so that children can take a break between studies. <br /><br />While she will do an on-spot survey herself during her trip to North Bengal from today, after taking over office for the second term, Banerjee has also deployed a team of ‘swing inspectors’ who will go around the state and submit a report on the best possible way to install swings at schools. Now, here’s one CM who understands that all work and no play can make Jack (in this case, even Jill), a dull boy/girl! <br />Drimi Chaudhuri, Kolkata<br /><br />Amma Bazaars <br /><br />Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is toying with the idea of launching “Amma Bazaars” – weekly markets that will sell products manufactured by government-aided groups and self-help organisations. Her aides say these markets could be a big project after the successful Amma canteens, which offer cheap food to poorer sections of the society, and Amma medicine that offer drugs at affordable rates. <br /><br />The Chennai Corporation announced that it has chosen three areas in the state capital to be transformed into marketplaces – the Mint flyover, Arumbakkam and Kotturpuram. The proposed idea is that there will be no middlemen to siphon off profits from manufacturers. The corporation plans to sell 650 products that are “in use on a daily basis” as well as set up 200 or so Amma Bazaars.<br />SI, New Delhi<br /><br />Udta Kashmir <br /><br />J&K Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu’s recent statement to the state Assembly that liquor will not be banned in the state, as “it is a matter of freedom and choice,” has snowballed into a major controversy in the Muslim-dominated Kashmir. Different meanings are being derived out of Drabu’s statement: “We must accept that we live in a world where one has choices to make and we can’t force (any rule) on them. Let’s live in a free world. Let’s live with liberal thought.”<br /><br />While Kashmir’s head priest and senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar questioned, “If boozing is a matter of choice, why ban on beef consumption?” others foresee the opening of lesbian and gay clubs as a matter of choice. Some others look ahead for a dedicated space to enjoy the choice to get drugged. Drabu’s statement on choice to booze has left Kashmir on a new high! <br />Zulfikar Majid, Srinagar</p>
