Good news spreads, bad ones ignored

For director-general of police Abhayanand, only positive developments are news. Like his predecessor Neel Mani, he keeps reporters updated on events through text messages. But only “good news” flows from Abhayanand’s cellphone. n Wednesday, the police headquarters sent three text messages. One was on the arrest of criminals in Purnea. Another informed reporters about a Naxalite’s arrest in Munger. The third was about illegal drug seizure in Araria. On the same day, a lawyer was shot dead in Gopalganj and criminals killed a child in the city. Both were ignored. During Neel Mani’s tenure, even negative developments were sent through texts. Another message on the steps taken by the police followed. “Abhayanandji believes in sending only good news,” said a police officer. Unfortunately criminals in Bihar do not appear to believe in the DGP’s belief and have been very active of late.

Curd phobia

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, was “pestered” at the state RJD office when the party celebrated Makar Sankranti. Siddiqui was avoiding dahi (curd) — the most sought after item on the occasion. When he sat with a plate having chura (parched rice) and vegetables only, the RJD workers repeatedly asked him to take dahi. One of them actually served it on his plate only to be scolded by Siddiqui. The Leader of the Opposition virtually had a nervous breakdown when the RJD MP, Ram Kripal Yadav, came with special curd for the Leader of the Opposition. “Spare me of dahi and ask the rest not to serve it to me,” said Siddiqui. The RJD workers looked amused. “Siddiqui sahib appears to be suffering from dahi phobia,” said an RJD worker.

Dilemma over date

The confusion over the date of Makar Sankranti spilled on to politics in Patna. The state JD(U) celebrated the occasion on the traditional date - January 14. Its political rival, the RJD, stuck to the date given by Mithila and Varanasi Panchan - January 15. The RJD MP, Ram Kripal Yadav, said the JD(U) had celebrated the religious event in kharmas (an inauspicious day) and the RJD had celebrated it on an auspicious day. “The political fortunes of our party will climb up. The countdown for the JD(U) has begun,” Yadav said. The JD(U) leaders appeared amused and declared that Yadav was only following his leader Lalu Prasad in promoting superstition. “Ram Kripal bhai appears to have forgotten about the poll doom prediction made by Lalu Prasad when chief minister Nitish Kumar ate biscuits during a solar eclipse a few years ago. Laluji’s prophecy turned to be true for his party,” said a senior JD(U) leader, wondering why only the BJP is blamed for mixing religion with politics.

Roses do the trick

Former Patna deputy superintendent of police Sridhar Mandal finally joined the JD(U). The state party president, Basishtha Narayan Singh, praised Mandal saying the latter was a dedicated officer during his serving period. Singh expressed hope that Mandal’s experience in service would come in handy for the party. A JD(U) worker was quick to recall Mandal’s experience in politics - giving roses to chief minister Nitish Kumar when he was leaving the town for Seva Yatra. “The roses appeared to have worked politically. He got the green signal to join the party,” a JD(U) leader said.