Meaty affair
With mercury soaring to unbearable levels in Bhubaneswar, journalists are skipping news conferences and other programmes unless they happen to be very important and unavoidable. One such “unavoidable” programme was the annual event of the Bhubaneswar Meat Traders’ Association to which not only journalists but also politicians of different hues and officials of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation had been invited. Held at the Press Club, it saw an impressive turnout and with good reason. The menu, according to sources, boasted of non-vegetarian delicacies of various kinds and the hosts took good care of the guests who left the venue burping contentedly. “Such programmes are always welcome!” commented one of the guests who only a few hours ago was loudly complaining about the heat and humidity in Bhubaneswar.
Wagging tongue
Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra aka Lulu seems to be gloating over CBI’s notice to food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma in the SUV case. But his detractors within his own party think it is too early to celebrate. They are being sceptical because of Lulu’s track record in such matters. Some of them pointed out that when Congress leader and former MLA Ramesh Jena was arrested, the former state youth Congress president had publicly declared that Jena had been framed. Lulu also indicated that the police would be forced to release the former MLA once pressure on it mounted. But despite several protest programmes held by Congress on the issue, Jena continues to be in jail with the police cases against him only becoming stronger. “Lulu should be cautious about what he says as party’s image is at stake,” said a Congress leader.
Mowgli missed
Last Friday, governor S.C. Jamir and chief minister Naveen Patnaik attended a special screening of a documentary on Nabakalebar made by film-maker Nila Madhab Panda at the city’s only multiplex. The screening, however, resulted in all the bookings at the multiplex being cancelled in the first half of the day. Thus, many film enthusiasts, who were eager to catch the first show of The Jungle Book, were left high and dry. They expressed their unhappiness on various social networking sites. They would obviously have liked the VVIPs to watch the documentary somewhere else without disturbing the regular movie schedule.
CM’s tweets
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik seems to have a special liking for children. This is evident from his tweets that make a mention of almost all the important programmes where he interacts with children. Some of these occasions related to the launch of important projects, such as Adarsh Vidyalay Yojana and Ujjwal scheme. He also posted pictures along with his comments.
“Delightful morning! Visited a government run school to directly interact with children,” he tweeted on April 7 when he launched the Adarsh Vidyalay project from Hinjli, his Assembly constituency in Ganjam. The same day he also tweeted about the Ujjwal scheme, an initiative aimed at enhancing quality of education in schools.
“Launched #Ujjwal scheme at Prabesa Divas in school to impart value-based education for an #Empowered O,” the chief minister tweeted.
FOOTNOTE
Pakhala frenzy
Pakhala (watered rice), the typical Odia delicacy, is the big gainer as mercury soars across the state. Pakhala has not only become the staple food in most households, it also figures prominently on the menu of hotels and restaurants, including the high-end ones. Once known to be poor man’s food, this speciality now comes wrapped in new flavours with accessories including saga and badi chuda.
Even jet-setting people from the state appear to be making a style statement by having pakhala in its jazzed up avatar while hoteliers and restaurant owners are simply laughing their way to the bank.
