Regional journal: India averts IMF embarrassment

India’s Executive Director to the World Bank, Parameswaran Iyer, has been nominated as Executive Director at the IMF within hours of his predecessor KV Subramanian’s services being terminated. New Delhi decided to move quickly to staunch the embarrassment that had been building for some time, as Subramanian had questioned the IMF’s figures not just for India’s growth, but also those that talked of an impending recession in the US, largely because of Donald Trump deciding to shake up the international financial order. Subramanian was also believed to be constantly plugging his book. The move comes on the eve of a May 9 review meeting on aid to Pakistan, which India is seeking to oppose and link to the Pahalgam massacre.

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Marriage, VP’s biggest challenge

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar left the audience in splits at the launch of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel’s book “Chunautiyaan Mujhe Pasand Hain” in Lucknow. With his wife Sudesh Dhankhar seated beside him, the VP quipped, “Mujhe bhi chunautiyaan pasand hain. Main toh khud chunauti ke saath rehta hoon!” His light-hearted jab at marriage as a “lifelong challenge” had even Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and others roaring with laughter.

CJI’s sweet, silent farewell

Outgoing Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna hosted a warm high tea for legal journalists at the Supreme Court’s Judges’ Lounge. Flanked by his successor Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant, CJI Khanna happily posed for selfies and urged guests to enjoy the lavish spread of samosas, idli-vada and halwa, besides tea and coffee. However, he deftly sidestepped all questions on judicial controversies.

Leaders ignore toxic water

While Punjab’s Malwa region chokes on contaminated canal water, top leaders hailing from this area, including BJP’s Sunil Jakhar, SAD’s Sukhbir Badal and Congress’ Raja Warring, remain conspicuously silent. Perhaps they have other more important things on their minds. Only a few like Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar have spoken up. Meanwhile, the people of Malwa are wondering if the state’s top leaders are fully busy fighting other water wars with Haryana.

Punjab DGP everywhere

Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav’s presence at an all-party meeting on BBMB’s water release to Haryana earlier this week caused many heads to turn. Last time around Yadav was present at a meeting with Opposition MLAs, the meeting was followed up by a crackdown on farmer leaders. None other than state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar jokingly asked if Opposition leaders would now meet the same fate. Yadav clarified he was only filling in for the absent Chief Secretary.

AAP’s struggle with Hindi

When Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini sent a letter in English on Bhakra water sharing, the Punjab Government for some unknown reasons decided to send the reply in chaste Hindi. It later realised they lacked officers fluent in the language. After a scramble, an official, who originally hails from Haryana, was tasked with drafting the belated response.

Contributed by Jyoti Malhotra, Aditi Tandon, Satya Prakash, Archit Watts and Ruchika M Khanna