The Hindu Business Line : Flexing the security arm?

Till now it was the exclusive domain of Air India and the now defunct Air Sahara to tom-tom about how well the sportspersons employed by them have done in tournaments. But now this space, too, is being invaded by international airlines. Gulf-based low-cost airline Air Arabia sent out a statement saying that one of its security staffers had been selected as a member of the Indian Arm Wrestling team and will represent the country at the World Championship. Perhaps it believe s there is no better way of getting passengers back to the airline than by showing them that their security is in “safe” hands. Drunken pilots had better watch out.

What’s the hurry, boy?

Heard from a former bureaucrat at a recent conference: “Whenever I took a quick decision because I was seized of the matter and moved the file, my superiors would start asking me if I had any personal interest in the proposal!”

Keeping the flag flying

Indians are making it to another global list of who’s who — those being accused of indulging in insider trading. Two Indians, Rajiv Goel and Anil Kumar, are under investigation in the US on charges of insider trading.

No Diwali

For some highly-paid top executives of Reliance Industries Ltd, there were some things that money couldn’t buy. While ordinary folk were enjoying the long Diwali vacation, the RIL executives were burning the midnight oil in preparation for the legal battle over the KG basin gas row. They are now waiting for the arguments to get over to take a few days off and make up for lost time with family and friends. The last thing they would want now is a winter of discontent f ollowing the desolate autumn.

Crude credo

An informal survey by some diplomats at a poolside party recently revealed that when it comes to pushiness, and sometimes plain crudeness, the South Koreans easily top the list. Government officials present when this survey was carried out confirm this. “Trouble with them is that they are the world’s worst wannabes,” says a retired Indian diplomat who has had to deal with them quite extensively. “The credo is ‘be a crudo but get what you want ’.”

OUR DELHI BUREAU