AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh is frequently visiting Vijayawada to revive the battered party in Andhra Pradesh. He is crying hoarse on the punishment meted out to Congress by the electorate and he is busy finding out ways and means for bolstering the party’s sagging image. “We are punished and spurned for no reason. It was the TDP which supported bifurcation and gave letter and the BJP, long ago, vociferously proclaimed its stand on one vote-two States theory. Congress was the last party to react to the issue. Why punish Congress!” the seasoned politician asked the voters. He said people were treating Congress as devil while it was an angel. Asked how long the people will treat as Congress as devil, he said soon the true colours of the ‘so-called-angels (read ruling parties) will come to fore paving for Congress’ resurrection.

You only live once

The untimely death of the television anchor Badri in a road accident brought to fore the perils of driving on express highways. In fact, long before Badri’s death, several lives were snuffed away, owing to improper driving technique and lack of self control. This “ chaltahai ” attitude has caused immense amount of pain to hapless family members. The control over the wheel, wearing seat belt are important and the purpose of fixing an air bag to the four-wheelers is becoming paramount for safe driving. Proper rest is very important as it is natural for the driver to doze off for a second which could be fatal. Despite the efforts taken by the Road Transport Authority and city traffic police, the driving community is to yet to come to senses on the necessity of cautious and careful driving. It is time the NGOs and other social service organisations came forward educating the public, for the city is in the cusp of becoming a bustling State capital with abundant traffic snarls.

Penny wise pound foolish

The hype that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu created around the capital city has acquired ‘astronomical proportions’. He is talking of building a capital that matches global standards, for which he is running from pillar to post to mobilise funds. On the other hand, huge sums are being spent on the shuttling of Ministers, a host of bureaucrats and the Chief Minister himself between Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Besides, frequent meetings at star hotels are costing the exchequer a fortune. Substantial amounts were wasted when some high-profile meetings were cancelled at the eleventh hour. “Such wastage is certainly avoidable. I hope wise counsel will prevail on the powers that be,” said UTI Forum for RTI Campaign founder-convener B. Ramakrishna Raju on the sidelines of a seminar on RTI Act.

With inputs from J. R. Shridharan, V. Raghavendra