12 MINISTERS SACKED!
IN a major reshuffle of the cabinet, Narendra Modi dropped heavyweights like Dr Harsh Vardhan for poor performance in handling the covid-19 second wave. Among the others dropped are Ravi Shankar Prasad as Modi does not want to get into a fight with social media, as it may affect the BJP’s electoral chances. Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has been replaced by Anurag Thakur who will also the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs.
36 NEW MINISTERS
IN the Cabinet expansion 36 new ministers have been included in the Cabinet including Narayan Rane, the MP from Sindhudurg who owns Neelam Grand Hotel in Candolim. The Health Ministry has gone to Gujarat doctor Mansukh Mandaviya, who will also look after the farming sector and chemicals and fertilizers.
The crucial electronics communications and IT ministry has gone to Ashwini Vaishnav, a former senior bureacrat who is close to Modi. The Law Ministry taken away from Ravi Shankar Prasad has been given to Kiran Rijiju, who has been removed from sports on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics.
Veteran Congressman Jyotiraditya Scindia who joined the BJP just a couple of months ago, he has been given the Aviation portfolio. There are 37 professionals in the new team including 13 lawyers, six doctors, five engineers, seven PhDs and three MBAs.
AYUSH GONE, SHRIPAD SHIFTED
GOA’S AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik has not been elevated but will now be junior minister-in-charge of Shipping, Ports & Waterways. Goans can hold Shripad Naik responsible if the MPT increases coal downloading capacity and the waterways are nationalised. From the sound of it the AYUSH ministry is being abolished.
SCOOP THROW OUT
SCOOP Industries with which Vishwajit Rane had signed a contract for the supply of oxygen has been replaced. In view of the strictures by the High Court and over a 100 covid-100 deaths due to drop in oxygen pressure, the government has entered into an agreement with Taiyo Nippon Sanso, a leading Japanese company dealing with oxygen supplies.
NEW CANDOLIM DYNASTY
MICHAEL Lobo is following the example of Babush Atanasio Monserrate in promoting dynastic ambitions. He has announced that his wife Delilah Lobo will be contesting either from Siolim or Saligao constituency. Delilah is currently the sarpanch of Parra and vice-president of the BJP Mahila Morcha.
RULED BY LAW, NOT SHASTRAS
THE Uttarakhand High Court has told the State government that “Shastras do not control this country. What controls this country and guides us for the future is the Constitution of India.” The High Court was reacting to the claim by the State that temple rituals relating to the Char Dham Yatra cannot be live streamed!
WILL GOANS PICK UP AAP BROOM?
IN politics one may never tell when the tide will turn. Goa’s Aam Aadmi party is doing good work steadily and guess who comes from Delhi to cheer up Goans every now and again? Definitely one of our favorite AAM aadmi people, namely AAP national spokesperson Atishi Marlena, who’s helped do wonders cleaning up the education scene in Delhi. In Goa currently she urged Goans not to despair about the dirty politics on which Goa thrives! Her reading is that Goans are done with parties and their betrayals, the people of this country are seeking clean politics and this time she was quoted saying, “Goans will clean up politics with AAP’s broom.” Accompanying her around was AAP’s vivacious Goa Vice-President Pratima Coutinho (formerly president of Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress). In the pic are Pratima at Dabolim airport to welcome their national spokesperson and pose for papparazzi pictures to post on social media!