Backbenchers are in limelight for once

New Delhi, July 2 : Backbenches in the Lok Sabha, obscured by pillars in a circular chamber, are no longer the haunt of MPs who want to remain unheard of and even perhaps unseen. They are occupied by gen-next, no less.

Even veteran parliamentarians from the ruling benches stop for a while when they cross the backbenches to go out of the house. And it's not due to the presence of young or beautiful women MPs. It is all because of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and his team - the gen-next 'netas' who love to sit on the backbenches.

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Home matters for MPs

Newly elected MPs were more than a little eager to know about the new residences earmarked for them by the government for their five-year stay in the capital. 'They have allotted me a 'kothi'...given that that I was a former minister in my state,' said an MP.

His party colleague from the same state, who won an election for the first time in his three-decade long political career, said: 'My house is located at South Avenue. It has a beautiful lawn. To get that space, I used some tricks...' But he did not reveal what those tricks were!

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No idea, says Moily

Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily says he is not aware of the minister from Tamil Nadu who allegedly tried to influence a high court judge. 'I don't know about the minister. It is a matter related to the judiciary. It is up to the judge to say who is the minister,' Moily told IANS.

He was seen sitting with two DMK ministers from Tamil Nadu, Dayanidhi Maran and M.K. Azhagiri, just before the Lok Sabha session commenced Thursday. Two other cabinet ministers from Tamil Nadu, A. Raja and P. Chidambaram, were not present in the house at that time.

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Fuming over fuel price hike

Some Congress MPs are angry over their government's decision to increase the prices of petrol and diesel. 'It was a bad decision. It has spoilt the image of the government,' said a Congress MP, not wanting to be identified.

Another MP quipped: 'Most of the 100-day plans are also not agreeable. At least they should have consulted within the party forum before announcing important decisions. There is no consultation. There is no order.'

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No obscenity, they're bureaucrats please

Officials inside a plush office in Parliament House were busy watching a TV channel when this correspondent sneaked in. It was a Hollywood movie on Afghan guerillas and officials were watching the movie while doing their work simultaneously.

But when it came to one scene that may have offended Indian sensibilities, the channel was promptly changed by a junior employee!


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Beauty and the bill

Here is a remark that may not go down well with women's rights activists. 'New buildings should be raised in the parliament premises if the Women's Reservation Bill is passed,' said an MP who is not in favour of the bill.

When a reporter asked 'why?' the MP replied: 'To start beauty parlours.'

--IANS