Cool Breeze: Officers and a gentleman

OFFICERS AND A GENTLEMAN

Union Minister of State for I&B, Col (Retd) Rajyavardhan Rathore was at his charming best at a special show organised by NewsX to celebrate the 25th anniversary of women being allowed in the armed forces. Speaking to a panel of women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, he agreed that it was not gender but the mindset that should be the criterion for combat, pointing out that women have shown more physical prowess than most men in the Olympics Games. Having won a silver medal in shooting at the Olympics he also joked with the cameramen saying, “You all are actual shooters here.” Clearly, the charm offensive worked, both off-and on-camera.

RAHUL AS WORKING PRESIDENT?

Once again Congress circles are abuzz with speculation of Rahul Gandhi having been elevated to the post of working president on 19 of July, with an AICC session likely to be called in September to ratify this decision. Of course, with Rahul one has heard too many of these rumours to take this one seriously. But this is what Congressmen are speculating about these days.