‘Marathi meinbolunya Hindi mein'
First, I laughed, then requested him to speak in whichever language he prefers, as he knows both Hindi and Marathi.' B.L. Santhosh, BJP general secretary (organisation) termed this the 'perfect antidote'. He placed the PM's question in perspective: 'The PM by this gave a befitting slap to those who are creating a row and trouble in the name of the local language by allegedly targeting non-Marathi speaking people, as well as honoured the language of Maharashtra—Marathi—by speaking first in Marathi. That is called a political antidote against those who are fermenting animosity in the name of language.'
One wife only: DoPT sets LTC rule
Babudom just got its moment of comic relief, straight from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT). Its new circular aimed at clarifying Leave Travel Concession (LTC) rules for central government employees, declared: 'Not more than one wife' is eligible to avail the LTC facility. What! Yes, that line is now part of official government documentation. The circular defines who is 'family' to qualify for LTC benefits. It lists the ineligible categories before dropping the punchline. Guffaws echoed through the power corridors after reading it. Some wondered aloud if David Dhawan — of 'Biwi No. 1' fame — was on a secret sabbatical, moonlighting as a government typist. Humour aside, the DoPT insists the clarification was necessary. 'This department receives so many references, RTI applications, and grievances from employees across different offices regarding LTC rules,' the circular notes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
BJP, NCP (SP) workers clash a day after altercation between Gopichand Padalkar, Jitendra Awhad
A day after an altercation broke out between BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad outside the Legislature campus, workers of both the parties engaged in a physical duel at the staircase of the legislative building. On Thursday evening, a physical altercation broke out as workers from both the parties came face-to-face at the staircase of the legislative building. The incident has its roots in the altercation between Padalkar and Awhad on Wednesday evening at the parking area of the legislative building, where both allegedly abused each other. Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar has sought a detailed report on the incident, after Awhad informed the Assembly about the threats he had received and claimed that the workers had come to target him. 'They were here to target me. But since I had gone out after my speech in the assembly, they found my workers and beat them,' he said. Narverkar directed that he will ensure safety of every MLA and a detailed report should be submitted to him. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the incident. 'The Speaker and the Chairman should take a serious note of it. I have requested them to take a strict action. This does not reflect the culture of the legislature,' he said. Former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded strict action against the goons. 'Those are not political workers, but goons. Is this what we have reduced to?' asked Thackeray. Speaking to reporters after meeting Fadnavis, Awhad said, 'What's the use of becoming an MLA if they are not safe within the campus of the Legislature? If an accused under MCOCA can come to the legislative building, then it is important that authorities take serious note of it.' Padalkar was called by state revenue minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule after the NCP-SP delegation of Awhad and senior MLA Jayant Patil held a meeting with CM Fadnavis. 'The incident is unfortunate. I apologise to the Speaker and Chairman. I will speak to the media only after I have discussed the matter with the party leadership,' said Padalkar.
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Row over Delhi CM's phone allowance cap: Kejriwal, Sisodia bought high-end devices during AAP's rule, says minister
The political row over the revised phone reimbursement cap for the Delhi Chief Minister and Cabinet escalated, with the BJP accusing former AAP ministers of purchasing expensive phones, exceeding the allotted amount, during their tenure. This came after AAP Delhi convenor and former minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had attacked the BJP government, saying that it is ignoring the promises made to women during the Assembly elections and giving importance to purchasing expensive gadgets. On July 9, the General Administration Department in Delhi revised the ceiling for purchase of mobile handsets — for the chief minister, the upper limit is Rs 1.50 lakh, while it is Rs 1.25 lakh for the ministers — after 12 years. On Thursday, senior BJP leader and Power Minister Ashish Sood shared phone bills and receipts of mobile phones purchased by former CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and other ministers — amounting to lakhs and exceeding the allocated reimbursement limits. Waving some documents, Sood said that as per the 2013 order, the cap for purchasing a phone set for the CM was Rs 50,000 while it was Rs 45,000 for the ministers. He alleged that the then chief ministers Kejriwal, Atishi and ministers Sisodia, Bharadwaj and others violated the rules and purchased high-end mobile phones beyond the permitted limit. He also accused the previous AAP regime of pushing government officials to cover the cost of the mobile phones. Addressing a press conference, Sood said, 'A few days ago, the AAP made a comment questioning the current government over the revision of phone reimbursement cap and asked vikas kiska ho raha?… We are replying to this because it is a question about an institution… These days, mobile phones are not a luxury… All of us work (on our) phones… The CM and ministers receive a lot of complaints through WhatsApp and e-mail…' Taking a dig at the AAP, he claimed, 'I feel that even Atishi and Bharadwaj are tired of their leaders Kejriwal and Sisodia, that is why they are highlighting these issues — so that we can expose their reality before the public.' According to an official document, between 2015 and 2022, Kejriwal bought the iPhone 6s Plus and 7 Plus, and iPhone 12 and 13 Pro Max worth a total of Rs 4,53,800. Sisodia purchased phones worth Rs 5.23 lakh between 2017 and 2022. 'All these exceeded the Rs 50,000 and Rs 45,000 limits… Kejriwal's office even sought post-facto approval for the excessive expenditure, stating in internal notes that the amount spent is on the higher side…,' alleged Sood. He also accused Atishi of buying phones worth lakhs. The minister alleged that Atishi split the bill into two payments — one for Rs 45,000 and the second for Rs 89,000 — to 'avoid scrutiny'. 'Bharadwaj bought an iPhone for Rs 61,000 in 2023 but was reimbursed only Rs 45,000. He assumed his bill would also be passed like those of senior leaders — but that didn't happen,' Sood alleged. On Tuesday, Bharadwaj had alleged, 'The BJP had promised Rs 2,500 per month to lakhs of women starting March 8. Yet not a single rupee has been disbursed. When it comes to buying Rs 1.5 lakh-worth phones and sanctioning unlimited bills for themselves, the BJP acts without delay. But when it comes to women, they hide behind committees.' The phone reimbursement cap has been revised after 12 years, officials had said, adding that the last revision took place in 2013. Earlier, the ceiling was set at around Rs 50,000. 'Though the previous cap was set at Rs 50,000, the CM and ministers in the previous AAP regime have bought expensive iPhones which went above the allocated allowance, touching more than Rs 1 lakh. Viewing the current market price and value of phone sets, the department decided to revise the amount,' a senior officer had said on Tuesday.
Hans India
16 minutes ago
- Hans India
Calcutta HC grants BJP permission to conduct rally in Bengal's Siliguri city on July 21
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court, on Thursday, permitted the state unit of the BJP in West Bengal to conduct a rally at Siliguri city in Darjeeling district of West Bengal on July 21, to protest against the rising incidents of crime against women in different pockets of the state. Incidentally, Trinamool Congress will be organising its annual Martyrs' Day rally in central Kolkata on the same day. The Siliguri Police Commiserate, however, denied permission to the BJP rally to be led by the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. The state unit of the BJP, thereafter, approached the single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, challenging the order from the Siliguri Police Commiserate denying permission for the rally. On Thursday, finally, the single-judge bench gave permission for the rally, but imposed some conditions for conducting the same. The first condition was that there should not be an assembly of more than 10,000 people at the rally. The single-judge bench also said that the processions that should participate in the rally should be conducted from one side, after leaving adequate space for free traffic movement. The timing for the entire programme would be between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Justice Ghosh also directed the organisers of the rally to ensure that their political programmes do not create inconvenience for the people or result in any law and order problem. The state BJP leaders said that it had become a normal practice for the police to deny permission for any political programme of the opposition parties. 'Subsequently, we get permission for the same from the court every time. However, such actions on the part of the police prove how spineless their top officials have become,' he said. Trinamool Congress leader, however, claimed that as a political party, they do not have any association with any administrative or police decision.
