Main Page                                                 Archives

Upset Lalu chases away `obnoxious and prying' media
by Shailendra Kumar

     Patna: An upset RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday preferred to remain closeted with his political cohorts, rather than talking to the media. Those mediapersons, who were successful in entering the 1,Anne Marg residence of Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, were literally chased away by Lalu. Visibly upset with the poll outcome, which shows the marginalisation the RJD in the state, a morose Lalu glumly watched as results from various constituencies creeped in. To top it all, the poor trends in Raghopur, Rabri Devi's constituency did not go down well with him. When reports last came in Rabri was found to be trailing by a margin of 57,000 votes after fifth round of counting to her nearest rival LJP candidate Rajiv Ranjan. The Railway Minister, whose party has ruled the state for the last 15 years, is sitting with close confidants, RJD spokesperson, Shivanand Tiwari, Union Minister Akhilesh Singh and party leader Bhola Singh. He is said to be monitoring the electoral outcome through television set and phone. "She is going to win, wait for some time. It is only the early trend," was what Shivanand Tiwari said about Rabri's poll outcome. It is expected that the minister will come out and talk to the media in a short while. On the other hand, talking to media persons, the Lok Jan Shakti party president and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, "I know what I have to do. I am the chief of my own. I am not guided by others". Paswan's LJP has seriously dented the Lalu bastion, as is clear from the early trends and outcome.

Bhajan Lal fires first salvo for leadership (Go To Top)

     Chandigarh: With Congress almost certain to sweep the Haryana Assembly elections, former chief minister Bhajan Lal on Sunday fired the first salvo on the leadership issue, saying he and he only was the right man to occupy the chief minister's chair after Om Prakash Chautala, the INLD chief, demits office. "I am an experienced person and have been chief minister three times. Only I have the right temperament to lead the party," said the third Lal of Haryana's traditionally three powerful Lals.Bhajan Lal is facing a tough fight from the young brigade of Randeep Singh Surjewala, Kumari Shailja and veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda in this race of Chief Ministership. It does not come as a surprise that the Congress has nine aspirants for the job of chief minister. Bhajan Lal seems the appropriate choice, as he has managed to accommodate many of his supporters during the ticket distribution. But the most important thing is how many of his supporters win the elections and how Bhajan Lal manages to secure their support because majority of party members are in favour of a young face. Kumari Shailja, a prominent Dalit leader, has not played her cards yet and categorically said that she would abide by the decision of Sonia Gandhi. Shailja is being tipped as the first Dalit and woman chief minister of Haryana.

US yoga king Bikram in the dock (Go To Top)

     New York: The rich yoga-guru Bikram Choudhary was called to a US district court last week on a complaint lodged by the Open Source Yoga Unity. Open Source Yoga Unity, a group of yoga teachers from all over the country has expressed a legal disapproval of Bikram's attempts to force them to join his Starbucks-style franchise, reports the New York Daily News. Bikram has trademarked 26 yoga postures and two breathing exercises.He is one of the richest Yoga-gurus across the globe; at least the only one to be sporting numerous Rolls Royces and diamond-studded Rolex watches. He has expressed shock and anger at the unlikely court complaint. "I should be the most honored man in your country.I didn't come here without a visa, like everyone from China and Vietnam and Cuba" Bikram complains in the March issue of Mother Jones. "Bikram yoga is so big - this is a bathroom slipper you buy for $2 in Kmart ... but you put 'Bikram' on it, it'll sell for $35 in a second" , Daily News quoted the yoga guru as saying.

---