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Delhi Confidential: Muted Affair

Delhi Confidential: Muted Affair

Indian Express23-04-2025

A day after the Pahalgam terror attack, an event planned for Wednesday to launch a department of biotechnology-funded HPV testing kit was a muted affair. Initially, there were talks that the event, which was attended by the Union Science Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, would be cancelled. However, it was later referred to as a scientific review instead of launch. Floral arrangements on the dias at the venue were also removed. The minister also did not take a photograph with the kit, which is a norm at such events.
Mourning, Miss
Amid a three-day national mourning following the death of Pope Francis, senior ministers could not attend International Earth Day engagements on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah did not participate in the 'Save Earth' conclave on bamboo and sustainability, organised by Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture and Latur-based Phoenix Foundation. The Delhi government, too, postponed an event to launch 330 electric-buses, which Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta were to attend.
Poll Anxiety
BJP members in the Delhi unit hopeful of being elected as district presidents are anxious due to lack of clarity on the election for the 14 posts. The party is currently in the process of electing 256 mandal presidents — posts a notch below that of a district president. The election for the mandal presidents is mandated to be accomplished before the process to elect district presidents can begin.

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