Entry, or no entry? That is the question that has been making the rounds in media circles in Hyderabad in the run-up to the April 30 inauguration of the spanking new Secretariat complex. Journalists on news gathering missions had started feeling left out after the official seat of the Telangana state government was moved temporarily to the BRKR Bhavan. “Sorry, not allowed inside”, has been the standard response of cops posted at the gates of this Bhavan. And what about the new B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat complex? Can scribes get their foot into the impressive gates, and doors of the new building? The answer came from the BRS working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao during a chat with reporters the other day. The problem, according to him, was that few media persons used to leak GOs before they were released, accessed “confidential information” from the Secretariat, all resulting in helping BRS’s political rivals approach courts and stall various development programmes. So the writing is clear, and on the wall. And it, for now, has just two words — No Entry — for media folk in Hyderabad who might want to get into the new Secretariat to do their jobs. By the look of things ‘Press’ ID cards, no longer mean much in the state.
IAS OFFICER’S TWEETS RUFFLE SELECTIVE FEATHERS
Smita Sabharwal, senior IAS officer and secretary in the Telangana state Chief Minister’s Office, continues to create a furore in political and bureaucratic circles with her tweets. Her latest tweet asking if it was worth being a civil servant, in a dig at the Bihar government for releasing the convict of a brutal killing 15 years ago of Dalit IAS officer G. Krishnaiah in their state, received praise and criticism from various quarters, with the division being reflected in reactions from netizens too. While some praised her for being vocal, others criticised her for being selective in her outrage. Another of Smitha’s tweets last August on the Gujarat government releasing convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case also triggered a debate in political and bureaucratic circles.
IAS BABU GETS PULLED UP BY TEACHERS
A senior IAS babu in Andhra Pradesh is getting some schooling. And this from teachers who are upset with him enough to have staged a statewide protest against the officer, alleging that he has been pulling up teachers on trivial issues even since he was handed his posting in the education department a few months ago. Education principal secretary Praveen Prakash has pulled up teachers after his inspection visits stating that some students are not wearing their uniforms, and shoes, and some were not carrying textbooks and work books. The problem, according to teachers is there are good reasons why the students are in the shape they are. Wrong textbooks are sent for distribution, one-size-must-fit-all shoes are shipped to schools, they have pointed out. Nothing like teachers to teach someone that homework is best done first before entering a school.
BOTSA’S COPTER TROUBLE CREATES ANGRY STUDENTS
It is not easy being a student, especially when it comes to waiting for results of their final exams. Holding their breath in anticipation for a minister to saunter in and do the honours of releasing the results, is something kids in Andhra Pradesh are getting quite tired of, thanks to the minister for education Botsa Satyanarayana who the other day turned up late to release the AP Intermediate exam results. The event was scheduled for 5 pm, the minister turned up at 6.30 pm. The reason was that he first had to attend an event with Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for the release of Jagananna Vidya Deevena, and then the helicopter he was to take developed some technical snags. Students are saying enough is enough, a minister is not required to release exam results; this can be perfectly done by any officials. Over to Botsa.
