Lights, Camera, Inaction
Just before the announcement of election dates, a few UPA ministers blew Rs 300 crore on an ad blitz tom-tomming their achievements— a few honest, most imaginary.BT presents a tongue-in-cheek Claim-Achievement Index with titles borrowed from Hollywood.
Notes on a scandal
A. Raja, Telecom Minister
The Department of Telecom went to town with its catch phrase: Towering Growth. In reality, Raja was trying to stake claim to the private sector’s achievements that are riding on policies laid down by his predecessors. Raja’s claim to fame was to unreasonably delay the introduction of 3G services while handing out the precious 2G spectrum at scandalously high losses to the exchequer.
Thank you for not smoking
Anbumani Ramadoss, Health Minister
Anbumani Ramadoss claimed the Rural Health Mission took health services to wider parts of rural India, even though there are only 7 physicians and 9 hospital beds per 10,000 Indians. The ratio is lower for rural India. The Health Minister, however, preferred to focus on spats with Bollywood over onscreen tobacco consumption.
Edward Scissorhands
Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister
Patel hopped from one airport to another, cutting ribbons throughout February. He also got private and state-owned airlines and airport operators to fund a Rs 18-crore ad blitzkrieg, celebrating the aviation sector’s success. Sadly, none of his sponsors is looking financially comfortable at the moment.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Prem Chand Gupta, Company Affairs Minister
The Competition Commission remained defunct during all five years of Gupta’s tenure, that also saw cartels gain strength in the steel, airline and cement sectors. The Serious Frauds Investigation Office emerged a toothless tiger in the Satyam investigation. And yet, the Ministry of Company Affairs proclaimed: “Enabling corporate India to reach new horizons, building institutions”.
Slumdog Millionaire
Kumari Selja, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation advertised: “Revised. Renewed. Redefined. Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojna.” BT recommends that Kumari Selja watch Slumdog Millionaire while it’s still in the theatres for a reality check. QED. Oops …Jai Ho!
Notable absentees from the Puff Brigade: P. Chidambaram, Murli Deora, Pranab Mukherjee and quite understandably—and thankfully—Shivraj Patil.
A. Raja, Telecom Minister
The Department of Telecom went to town with its catch phrase: Towering Growth. In reality, Raja was trying to stake claim to the private sector’s achievements that are riding on policies laid down by his predecessors. Raja’s claim to fame was to unreasonably delay the introduction of 3G services while handing out the precious 2G spectrum at scandalously high losses to the exchequer.
Thank you for not smoking
Anbumani Ramadoss, Health Minister
Anbumani Ramadoss claimed the Rural Health Mission took health services to wider parts of rural India, even though there are only 7 physicians and 9 hospital beds per 10,000 Indians. The ratio is lower for rural India. The Health Minister, however, preferred to focus on spats with Bollywood over onscreen tobacco consumption.
Edward Scissorhands
Praful Patel, Civil Aviation Minister
Patel hopped from one airport to another, cutting ribbons throughout February. He also got private and state-owned airlines and airport operators to fund a Rs 18-crore ad blitzkrieg, celebrating the aviation sector’s success. Sadly, none of his sponsors is looking financially comfortable at the moment.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Prem Chand Gupta, Company Affairs Minister
The Competition Commission remained defunct during all five years of Gupta’s tenure, that also saw cartels gain strength in the steel, airline and cement sectors. The Serious Frauds Investigation Office emerged a toothless tiger in the Satyam investigation. And yet, the Ministry of Company Affairs proclaimed: “Enabling corporate India to reach new horizons, building institutions”.
Slumdog Millionaire
Kumari Selja, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation advertised: “Revised. Renewed. Redefined. Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojna.” BT recommends that Kumari Selja watch Slumdog Millionaire while it’s still in the theatres for a reality check. QED. Oops …Jai Ho!
Notable absentees from the Puff Brigade: P. Chidambaram, Murli Deora, Pranab Mukherjee and quite understandably—and thankfully—Shivraj Patil.
