Third Eye: Ramchandra Guha attacks Smriti Irani

Historian Ramchandra Guha and HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s mutual dislike for each other is not a secret. On Thursday, the historian launched a full-fledged attack on Irani calling her reactions to his speech in New Delhi as malicious. Guha tagged the minister in seven tweets debunking her claim that he had delivered a speech against the PM and that Teesta Setalvad was a special guest at the event.

Aiyar sparks off ha! Ha!!

Congress’ Mani Shankar Aiyar regaled the audience with anecdotes at the launch of his book Achhe Din? Ha! Ha!! He joked how he had broken his own record and a pledge that he would never speak to a BJP minister and approached at least 20 ministers. He said he drew a blank but a future minister agreed — BJP’s Seshadri Chari. As the audience had a hearty laugh, Chari said, “Whatever little chance I had is gone.”

PMO asks HRD Ministry to do the job

After months of confusion over who would implement Arun Jaitley’s budget announcement of setting up a Student Financial Aid Authority, it seems PMO has convinced the HRD ministry to do the job. HRD ministry felt department of financial services was better equipped to run a separate financial aid authority. DFS had argued that students’ scholarships and loans were within the purview of the HRD ministry.

No payment, no Swachh Bharat

BJP leaders are worried about the Swachh Bharat initiatives going for a toss in the Capital, thanks to the fight between three municipal corporations and the AAP government. While MCD corporators allege the funds haven’t been sanctioned, the Delhi government is looking the other way. With no money paid to the class four staff, garbage heaps are becoming a common sight in most places.