Periscope

Abhimanyu

Monumental makeover. Delhi a Muslim city
Some select monuments in Delhi are getting a makeover yet again. All the 16 selected are Islamic. Most of them are tombs of unknown, unidentified persons and the rest are mosques and doors. Anything getting old cannot be of value archaeologically. Almost every few feet, we have a tomb in Delhi and they hardly have any architectural significance. While on the one hand the Archaeological Survey of India is struggling to safeguard the protected monuments, the list of Islamic monuments is going on increasing. The ASI has failed miserably in stopping Muslims from offering prayers at the various tombs in the city. Only recently Ghulam Nabi Azad, a central minister, broke the law by participating in prayers at Safdarjung Tomb, though he was informed that he was breaking law. The Muslim community leaders have for long been claiming that any property with Islamic connection should be handed over to them. The Sheila Dikshit government seems to be only helping their cause by raising to the stature of ‘monuments’ the so-called tombs strewn in the city.

In-laws above law
Forget Arvind Kejriwal’s accusations against Vadra managing sweetheart deals  because of his in-law connections. The report, which has  rapidly gained popularity  in the social media reads: “The Robert Vadra mystery: Forget property, how did  he acquire Priyanka.” A report on Firstpost reads: “Each time Robert Vadra steps  into the spotlight, the average mango folks can’t help but wonder, Really? She  married him?  Of all the men at all the Delhi A-list parties, Priyanka Gandhi  picked this guy?” “Vadra’s sweet-heart deal with DLF raises many questions but  what makes no sense whatsoever is how a brass trader from Moradabad could patao a Nehru- Gandhi scion and marry into India’s most powerful political family. We demand  that Vadra come clean on this,” thunders a fake Arvind Kejriwal in an Unreal  Times spoof of the unfolding drama.

A crude sense of humour
Vadra and his alleged lack of intelligence (not in the business deals) is becoming a  huge embarassment for the Congress party. Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra recently deleted his Facebook account after a fracas over  his status message on the social networking site. Vadra’s status message “Mango  people in a banana republic” was a dig at IAC members Arvind Kejriwal and  senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who leveled allegations  of corruption against him. Vadra, who apparently danced his way to Priyanka  Gandhi’s heart incidentally belongs to the club of “mango people” (well before this  brass man made it big through marriage). Congress members, who are now forced  to defend Vadra were aghast at this “crude sense of humour” from the man from  Moradabad. “Aam aadmi is our party’s slogan and this man, who lacks any sense  tired to make fun of the entire thing !!” The Congressmen can be heard ranting in  frustration. “Look at us, we are now being forced to defend this man.”

Maya non-committal
While the Congress continues to struggle to come out of the Vadra mess, its key ally,  BSP  continues to keep the party on tenterhooks. In its national executive meet at  Lucknow, BSP chief Mayawati refused to divulge her decision on the issue of  supporting the UPA.  It seems that allies are not certain about the party, which has  emerged as the “most tainted” in the history of Indian politics. At the time of going  to press, Mayawati still remained non committal about her support to UPA and this is giving sleepless nights to Congress, which is now threatened with a vote of no confidence; Trinamul and BJP has signalled its support to the motion.

Law and Law Minister
Another Congress union minister, Salman Khurshid is now stung by a media sting.  Also Kejriwal has run an expose on a trust run by the union law  minister, Salman Khurshid.  The channel reported that a prestigious Trust chaired  by Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid has forged signatures and stamps of  senior officials of several districts of UP to cheat physically handicapped persons of  their due. An indepth investigation which includes sting operations on some senior officials of Uttar Pradesh and the union government, reporters of the news channel have gathered documentary evidence of forgery and false reporting  from at least 10 districts of UP.  The Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust is registered at  Salman Khurshid’s residence at 4, Gulmohar Avenue, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi and  its Chief Functionary Officer is Ms Louise Khurshid, former MLA and wife of Salman Khurshid.