Politics & activism polls apart

The Right to Information (RTI) has become a tool for politicians to take on their rivals. JD(U) leaders pointed out that a dissident Dal MP, who once called the shots in the party, has filed several RTI petitions through his followers. Even the revelations coming in the Biada land allotment controversy were through an RTI application. From a political activist, the MP has become an RTI activist,” remarked a JD(U) minister. Dal leaders recall that the RJD had initiated the trend of filing RTI petitions when it went out of power. Politician-turned-RTI-activists have, however, never been good in electoral contests. “Take the case of Shyam Rajak. When he was in the RJD, he made a number of charges on the basis of information gathered through RTI petitions. But, then, he switched to the JD(U),” said a senior NDA leader.

 

Missing warmth

NDA leaders and ministers who go to 1 Aney Marg, the official residence of chief minister Nitish Kumar, miss Ram Chandar Prasad, the former principal secretary and present Rajya Sabha member. “We miss RCP, the endearment with which we used to refer to him. When RCP was around, he used to take good care of political leaders, MLAs and ministers. He used to give them a patient hearing and help them out. After he left, there is no one to welcome or talk to political visitors. We get a cold welcome,” said a senior politician. “The current lot of officials at the house are either arrogant or do not have the inclination to talk to politicians. In Lalu’s days, officials posted at the house developed a personal rapport with visiting politicians,” he added.

Litti-chokha star appeal

Traditional delicacy litti-chokha has been missing from the menu of important visitors to the state. When Vice-President Hamid Ansari visited Bihar in July, he was not served the dish. But when Amitabh Bachchan came to promote his upcoming film, he was served the traditional fare at the house of a friend. “He relished the dish,” remarked a person, who was also present at the meal. A government official said: “Perhaps we could get Big B to promote litti-chokha.”

 

Lost in Big B shadow

Manoj Bajpai, Bihar’s export to Bollywood, usually draws attention when he visits Patna. However, when he accompanied Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj was overshadowed. A huge crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of Big B, who gave them the slip by making his exit through a side door. Manoj, however, went through the regular exit almost unnoticed. A visitor recognised him and pointed him out to a companion, who, however, shrugged and remarked: “Who is interested in him when Amitabh Bachchan is here? A lamp always appears to be dim in front of a powerful light.”