Deep Throat

Whose Jacket Is It?

The smart, sleeveless jacket, the preferred attire of most men these days, has given rise to a raging debate. For long it was known as the Nehru jacket, as a tribute to India’s first Prime Minister. But since Narendra Modi’s emergence in the political scene, this has been contested. The current PM’s favourite  ‘bundi’ is now being called the Modi jacket, much to the chagrin of Nehru’s admirers. Recently, a third angle was added to it. A Bangladeshi diplomat seen wearing the jacket was asked what he preferred to call it. “The Mujib jacket,” came the reply. Can there be a debate over the Bangabandhu’s favourite attire?

Vacuous Threats

For the past few months, the AGP has been threatening to snap ties with the BJP in Assam over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill. But it is still there, clinging on to the ruling alliance, citing different reasons. The AGP did it again on November 16. After a long meeting, its leaders said they will write to BJP president Amit Shah to withdraw the bill, drawing snide remarks from a section on social media. The latest threat came after powerful BJP minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said the AGP had no moral right to oppose the bill as the party had allegedly “let in one crore Bangladeshi migrants” by delaying the Assam Accord. Former Congress chief minister Tarun Gogoi rubbed it in, saying if the AGP had any self-respect, it must break the alliance.

Communication Gap

November 21 will be remembered for many things in Jammu and Kashmir. Among them will be a faulty fax machine at the governor’s house and a WhatsApp message sent to a wrong number. First, Sajad Gani Lone of People’s Conference tweeted that he had sent a WhatsApp message to the personal assistant of governor Satya Pal Malik. Lone had apparently written on his desire to form the government with the BJP’s support. Malik responded that he found Lone sent the message to the PA of  former governor N.N. Vohra. But, as many have wondered, why not give a call directly to the governor?