Good son, bad son of the university

• JDU spokesperson Sanjay Singh, who dubbed RJD chief Lalu Prasad as a kapoot (bad son) of Patna University which is celebrating its centenary, and Nitish Kumar as a sapoot (good son) of the varsity who was engaged in developing the state seems to have triggered a row about just who is a good and who is a bad son of the university. The RJD hit back by declaring that Lalu is the true sapoot of the varsity as he brought social justice and empowerment of the poor, and dubbing Nitish the kapoot known for treachery. Many of the existing lot of Bihar politicians are alumni of the university, including Sushil Kumar Modi, Ram Vilas Paswan, former state Congress chiefs Anil Sharma and Ashok Choudhary. "But a University is not known for producing politicians, it is known for the number of scholars, doctors, engineers and administrators coming out of the institution," remarked a former Patna University teacher. "They are really the true sapoots of the university. Currently the varsity appears to be producing only politicians and all of them are kapoots."

Powers that be

• Chief minister Nitish Kumar, while declaring prohibition as a grand success, alleged at a recent function that liquor was being illegally brought to Bihar under the patronage of "some powerful and influential persons". He did not take names but many insist that he was referring to a few RJD legislators and leaders. "Everybody knows that Laluji had opposed prohibition even when we were together in the Grand Alliance government because those who were hit - including liquor traders - were his supporters," remarked a JDU leader. An RJD leader pointed out that there have been cases of JDU leaders being caught selling liquor. "However, the point is that Nitish is the chief minister and blames powerful persons for bringing in liquor. He has admitted that he is powerless," quipped another RJD leader.

Secretariat fires

• There were reports of fire breaking out in the office of deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi while he was away. RJD leaders immediately alleged that "important" files related to the Srijan scam were burnt. The secretariat is yet to confirm if any files have been burnt. During the fodder scam, too, fire broke out in the animal resources department. Till a few years back the health department office had fires breaking out at regular intervals with blame put on bad electric wiring. "I do not think that in the age of Internet, burning files will work as everything is on the Net. But if there is a conspiracy, let the conspirators live in that illusion," remarked an official.

New look

• Every politician has began to talk about the new look of Tej Pratap Yadav, who has shed his kurta pyjama and is being seen in T-shirt, trousers, goggles and a new hairstyle. "On the other hand his brother Tejashwi, who was considered more savvy with his dressing style, has begun to look weary and always sports kurta pyjama. Perhaps the two brothers have decided to change their roles since Tejashwi is more busy with his CBI and ED case," remarked an RJD worker pointing out that all the public statements were also now coming from the elder and not the younger son.