Below The Line

Dog days in Kerala

The growing stray dog population has become a hot issue in Kerala. Irate mobs have been taking elected representatives in gram panchayats and municipalities to task every time a schoolchild is bitten or someone is chased by a possibly rabid dog. Recently, a rally was taken out in Muvattupuzha town demanding mass slaughter of stray dogs after a dozen people were bitten in a single day. The rallyists carried union minister Maneka Gandhi’s cutout, wearing a garland of footwear. However, there is equally strong opposition to their culling . Earlier, a meeting of local self-government leaders to discuss the issue ended in chaos as animal welfare activists protested moves to kill stray dogs.

Half-truths

Recently, a leading company launched a range of air-conditioners based on VRF (variable refrigerant flow) technology which, it said, was a 100 per cent inverter model. What about the inverter models available in the market then? According to this company, they are all basically half-inverter models. But did anyone declare as much when they launched these? Of course not.

This is more or less what happened with flat panel TVs in the early 2000s, which were said to be HD Ready — giving consumers the impression that the sets were waiting for high definition channels to come on air. But a few years later, Full HD TVs were launched, and the earlier versions were deemed to be only semi-HD.

Auction spree

At a recent discussion on commercial mining organised by Ficci, an additional secretary in the coal ministry, AK Dubey, decided to be a little lenient with his colleague, the joint secretary and nominated authority of the coal block auctions, Vivek Bharadwaj. Dubey had the gathering in splits when he said, “Although we have exceeded the time limit, I have to let Vivek make his point. Otherwise he will auction me off also just like he auctioned the coal blocks!”

Sip on this

The Hyderabad metro rail has taken over hundreds of properties and demolished them as it develops the elevated metro rail. The properties include a 100-plus-year-old school, several religious places, part of the compound of a heritage building, a large multi-purpose complex abutting a religious place on the busy Begumpet-Secunderabad road, but not this shop selling liquor. Even though it obstructs the traffic flow, this shop seems to be holding its place. Some feel it will go only if a new liquor policy comes into play or if the licence is not renewed.

Friend? Who? Me?

CEOs of e-commerce startups have come up with a novel strategy to get close to media honchos. Every now and then, editors and bureau chiefs of some top business and general dailies get invited to dine at five-star hotels or at the CEO’s home.

In response to an invitation last week, when the chief of bureau of a prominent newspaper asked if a senior colleague could represent him as he was caught up with a family emergency, pat came the reply: “Sorry, only close friends of the CEO are invited to dinner at his residence.” Odd, considering he hadn’t even met the CEO!

Homecoming of sorts

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval flew down to Thiruvananthapuram last Tuesday on a ‘privately official’ visit. He was deputed to the Kerala cadre, but he left the State in 1972. So this was a homecoming of sorts.

Doval touched down at Thiruvananthapuram airport, sat with the police top brass there for “expansive discussions on regional security” for an hour, then left to attend a wedding in Kanyakumari. What transpired in the talks? Speculate away.

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