Proposed stupa spurs tall statue contest

The 40-foot tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi, proposed to be installed at Gandhi Maidan, may be dwarfed. Gandhi Sangrahalaya authorities told chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday that they were planning to install a 70-foot tall stupa on its premises that will symbolise peace and can be viewed from across the Ganga. Nitish was amazed. Then what will happen to the 40-foot tall Mahatma Gandhi statute I propose to install?” he asked. He was told that the government was always free to install a taller statue anywhere it wants. “It will not be a bad idea if this triggers a competition. We might end up having one of the tallest Gandhi statues in the world,” said a person who heard the entire conversation.

Net practice

Abdul Bari Siddiqui is not only the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly but also the president of Bihar Cricket Association. On Sunday, Siddiqui and state energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav graced a function at Moinul Haq stadium where budding cricketer from Jharkhand Saurabh Tiwary was the star attraction. The two politicians looked on as Tiwary gave away prizes and the children ran to him for autographs. Siddiqui later gave a speech full with sporting spirit. “One cannot win every time. Sometime one has to lose too,” he said. Yadav said both he and Siddiqui saheb had a long Assembly session to face in February. “This function is proving to be a good practice session for Siddiqui saheb,” he said.

Heritage envy

Leaders of other districts envy Rajgir, located in chief minister Nitish Kumar's home district Nalanda. Recently, Nitish inaugurated adventure sports for the tourists there. He spoke about Rajgir again becoming a seat of learning, as the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University is just 10km away from where the international university is proposed to be built. “Everything is happening here in Rajgir - from a seat of learning to manufacturing guns and training the armed forces,” said a politician of an adjoining district. He said one of the largest training centres for a paramilitary force and an ammunition factory were also coming up.

Mourning days

After the Assembly polls debacle, Sadaquat Ashram is known as the place to observe birth and death anniversaries of late leaders. “It has become a dry affair as the party president or office-bearers narrate known facts about the deceased and a few others repeat them,” said a Congress leader. Over the years, the number of Congress leaders turning up at these functions has plunged like the fortunes of the party. A function was held at Sadaquat Ashram to observe the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday but the number of senior Congress leaders present was almost negligible. “Apart from the state party president, Mehboob Ali Quaiser, there were no other familiar face,” said a Congress worker. He said the number of Congress leaders visiting the party office had swelled before the Assembly polls' ticket distribution. “However, after the disastrous show at the elections, they have stopped coming,” the worker added. The state party chief, however, does spice up matters by making statements on taking action against indisciplined leaders.