Andhra Pradesh

Are vegetarians more intelligent?

Nothing is more harped about in the world than the benefits of vegan diet. The latest in the list was J. Rama Reddy, the mentor at JRR Business Empowerment Pvt.Ltd who recently showered encomiums on vegetarianism. He went to the extent of claiming that Indians were more intelligent than the westerners due to their vegetarian diet habits!

What he ought to know is that non-vegetarians far outnumber vegetarians in India and hence, it is wrong to say that Indians are vegan. Secondly, terming Indians as intellectuals in itself is highly arbitrary. Fact is that Indians are more in number in certain fields that create wealth. And surely, vegetarianism has nothing to do with the urge to mint money.

These days, police officials and VIPs seem to take everything for granted. The other night two policemen on a scooter were spotted riding in the wrong direction near the Begumpet flyover. And on Monday evening, during peak hour traffic, a VIP vehicle with a beacon light was spotted travelling in the wrong direction near the Somajiguda-Panjagutta flyover before vanishing into a narrow lane. The traffic police manning the junction was just a mute witness to the whole affair. So much for ethical preaching and fines collected from the public.

The TTD’s Sri Srinivasa Kalyanotsavam at Parade Grounds was a grand affair with the huge turnout of public. But it once again exposed the utter lack of planning for the smooth dispersal of crowds.

A 10-minute long shower was all it required to create chaos. With barricades erected all around the ground and guarded by policemen, people had tough time getting out of the venue. It was short of a stampede with everyone trying to squeeze themselves through gaps in the barricades as the few exit points provided were grossly inadequate. When one finally emerged out of the venue, they had the ordeal of being caught in traffic jam with no sight of public conveyance.

Lengthy speeches of political leaders and Ministers, most of the times irk and also test the patience of listeners. But the situation was different at a recently held coordination meeting to review arrangements for Bonalu festival where two Ministers were at the ‘receiving end’. BC Welfare Minister M. Mukesh Goud and Energy Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir ‘literally’ pleaded with a temple committee member to stop his lengthy speech.

Even after repeated pleas, he continued to criticise officials for their failure in completing the civic works at the temples. Angered over his behaviour, the Ministers asked one of the participants to snatch the mike from him. Surely, a case of ‘What goes around comes around’.

Public Relations Officers at government departments have this knack of brushing controversy under the carpet. They go to any length and use time tested tactics to divert attention of alert journalists. During the draw of lots for the Haj 2008 pilgrimage Minister for Minority Affairs Md. Shabbir Ali had to face protests from vociferous applicants. Sensing trouble, the PRO immediately herded the media to fourth floor of the Haj House claiming that Mr. Shabbir Ali would addre ss them. The media persons were then treated to sumptuous food and refreshments.

Asked when the Minister was going to address the press, the PRO gave a big smile and said the Minister can’t make it to the press conference!

Perplexed over organising several official functions, government authorities more often end-up committing blunders. On Monday there was a school building inauguration at Maharajgunj. BC Welfare Minister M. Mukesh Goud, School Education Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav were the chief guests. While, Mr. Goud and Mr. Rajanarasimha turned up for the function, Mr. Yadav was absent. Unmindful of the fact, a school teacher in her welcome addres s announced the name of Mr. Yadav to grace the function, much to the amusement of the audience.

Not just this. She went on to describe Mr. Yadav as former MP. Perturbed over this faux pas, a member from the audience corrected her saying that Mr. Yadav was still a sitting MP of Secunderabad!

SWATHI.V, YOGENDRA KALAVALAPALLI,

M.L. MELLY MAITREYI, M. SRINIVAS, M. SAI GOPAL, S.SANDEEP KUMAR

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