RAISINA TATTLE: No Prime Ministerial approval for Kumar

Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha's choice of private secretary has been turned down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha's choice of private secretary has been turned down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha's choice for his private secretary has been turned down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kushwaha, the Minister of State for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and a leader of the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, had recommended Ravinder Kumar for the post of private secretary to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

However, Modi has not approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for appointing Kumar, an IAS officer of the 2011 batch from the Sikkim cadre.

Jaitley pat for clerk

It was a moment of joy for a clerk of the Defence Ministry when she got a pat on the back from her boss Arun Jaitley for cracking the civil services examination.

Jaitley facilitated Priyanka Mashelkar, an assistant in the establishment division of the department of defence in Sena Bhawan, on her success.

She called on the minister after clearing the exam along with Joint Secretary (establishment) Navin Kumar Choudhary.

A direct approach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ensuring that the three service chiefs are consulted directly on crucial issues such as planning the possible evacuation of Indian citizens from Iraq.

Unlike the previous government, which got its inputs from the Defence Ministry, the service chiefs are now firmly part of decision-making, a change welcomed by the service headquarters.

One such crisis management meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth on Thursday was attended by the service chiefs.

'Shivraj to stay as Chief Minister'

There may be allegations
against Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan in connection
with the Madhya
Pradesh Professional
Examination Board
scam but the BJP is
standing behind him

There may be allegations against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in connection with the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam but the BJP is standing behind him

There may be allegations against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in connection with the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam but the BJP is standing behind him.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh has ruled out a change of leadership in Madhya Pradesh, saying a high court directed probe was underway.

"There is no question of it," Singh said when he was asked about the possibility of replacing the CM.

Demanding his resignation, the Congress has accused Chouhan and his family of being involved in the scam which relates to recruitment in government jobs and the Pre-Medical Test.

No new newspaper

The Congress party, whose leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are embroiled in a controversy over the alleged misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the defunct daily National Herald, has contended that a company at the centre of the row has no intention of starting any newspaper.

The firm, Young Indian, has been registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act and is a not-for-profit company that does not have commercial operations, the party says.