When popular and young BJP leader Haren Pandya’s bullet-ridden body was found on March 6, 2003, in a car parked outside Law Garden in Ahmedabad, many suspected foul play. To his dying day, Haren’s father, Vitthalbhai Pandya, suspected it was a political assassination. The late leader’s widow, Jagrutiben, had sought a CBI inquiry and contested, unsuccessfully, in the Assembly election from her husband’s constituency, Ellis Bridge, on a ticket provided by former CM Keshubhai Patel’s Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), which later merged with the BJP. But last week, Jagrutiben surprised everyone by accepting the chairmanship of the State Commission for Protection of Children’s Rights, offered by the Anandiben Patel government. “I only sought justice in the murder case and had no complaints with the BJP as such,” she said. She is also returning to the parent party.

Quite an achievement

Three weeks was all it took. The APIIC ground, overlooking the Bay of Bengal in Visakhapatnam, where the CII’s Partnership Summit was held over two days, was a barren piece of land, was transformed in about 20 days, with the support of the Andhra Pradesh government, into a convention centre. Everything was spick and span. The toilets were air-conditioned and cleaned at regular intervals; even the roads were laid during this time. This prompted Naushad Forbes, president-designate of CII, to remark that perhaps the CII and Andhra Pradesh could be jointly involved in the Centre’s smart cities programme.

Transparent sentiments

Saint Gobain’s foray into making advanced laminated glass — used for bullet-proofing and security applications — evoked an interesting remark from B Santhanam, president of Saint-Gobain Glass for float glass in India, Egypt and Malaysia. He said that as a businessman he hoped demand would grow, as a human being that there wouldn’t be need for demand.

Pressing matters

Governor Raghuram Rajan wants the RBI to get ahead of the press, rather than be reactive. “Press releases are best done at or before 5.30 pm if we want them to show up in the paper the next day. Beyond that, reporters do not have the time to write copy for the next day, and the news is too old for the day after,” said the governor in a communication to employees. Clearly, he wants the RBI to communicate better with the press.

Will Mani talk?

Will the former Kerala finance minister, KM Mani, who is credited with presenting the most number of State budgets in India, return to present his 14th? Quite likely. On Wednesday, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau reported that the probe could not find evidence to nail Mani, accused of having received bribes from liquor bar owners. This is a clean chit to the Kerala Congress (Mani), which is the third largest party in the Chandy-led United Democratic Front government. No celebration by bar owners, clearly.

Passing the ball

Last week, at an MEA briefing on the India-Pakistan foreign secretary talks, it was said “the ball is now in Pakistan's court”. A week later, after Pakistan said it had taken action against the terrorists who had attacked the Pathankot Air Force base, the MEA spokesperson was asked where the ball lies now. The response? “This is not a football game but a complex diplomatic relationship.” Now, that’s not playing ball.

Air turbulence? There could soon be top-level reshuffles in two airlines, including a regional one. In the next few weeks, two CEOs are expected to exit their respective airlines — both are apparently being allowed to leave. One of them is expected to work at the airport which also happens to be the hub of that particular airline. So, the airline industry might finally witness some turbulence after a long period of inactivity.

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