Image of the Week
BIRDMAN A plunge from a bridge , then a free fall towards the murky depths ... at a diving contest near Gjakova , Kosovo
AP deep throat
NO CONFIDENCE No one really expected Naveen Patnaik ’ s Biju Janata Dal to vote for the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi-led NDA government , but the party ’ s decision to skip the parliamentary debate surprised many . Was the Odisha chief minister sending out a message that he would follow a policy of equidistance from both the BJP and Congress ? Or , was there a hidden reason ? Sources say Patnaik ordered his MPs to abstain since he wasn ’ t sure of their loyalty . At least some party MPs , it was suspected , could embarrass him by making speeches contrary to the party line .
RAM RULES FOR NOW The railways ’ recent announcement to run a special tourist train , Shri Ramayana Express , to retrace the journey of god Ram , triggred mumbles in the tourism ministry over its similar part-pilgrimage , part-touristy plan dedicated to another god — Krishna . Like the Ramayana tour , the ministry had been working on 12 more thematic circuits to promote tourism under the Swadesh Darshan scheme . As part of the Krishna tour , a dozen destinations — including Dwarka and Mathura — were identified for development . Officials say the foundation for the Rs 100-crore first phase of the project was laid in Kurukshetra two years ago . There has been no progress since . The focus seems to be on Ram as of now . Krishna may wait awhile .
PHEW ! THAT ’ S REASSURING With several leaders of the PDP leaving its fold , party president Mehbooba Mufti is holding regular meetings with party members to keep the flock together . At one such meeting recently , convened for party leaders from north Kashmir , Mehbooba got the jitters when the MP from the region , Muzaffar Hussain Baig , didn ’ t show up . More so , since Baig ’ s nephew , Javid Baig , the MLA for Baramulla , had joined the rebel group . As speculation swirled , frenetic calls were made . Finally , Muzaffer Baig ’ s wife Safina came to the meeting to assure that all is well . Mehbooba was visibly relieved to see Safina .
10 OUTLOOK 6 August 2018