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Filmmaker Aparna Sen, one of the 49 signatories of an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi protesting incidents of lynchings in the name of religion on Wednesday alleged that the "secular fabric of our country is being ruined. No one has the right to brand any of the signatories as anti-nationals.The actor-filmmaker said it was depressing it is to read cases pertaining to lynching on a daily basis in newspapers. I think people have the right to say Jai Shri Ram, Allah Hu Akhbar, and whatever they wish to say," Aparna Sen said.The filmmaker also urged the Prime Minister to make lynching a non-bailable offence where the suspects should be given life imprisonment rather than any other punishment.Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene Aparna Sen said it has nothing to do with party or politics. Aparna Sen. All over India people are being lynched, why people of different faiths are being forced to say Jai Shri Ram.

We are raising our voices as secular fabric of our country is being ruined," Sen said. She said that her concern is not lynching of people from any particular community but the lynching of human beings irrespective of religion. As many as 49 celebrities from different fields including singer Shubha Mudgal, actor Konkona Sen Sharma and filmmakers Shyam Benegal, Anurag Kashyap, and Mani Ratnam, among others, have written an open letter to Modi."Sen at a press conference here said, "We&plastic injection machine Suppliers39;re anxious about the state our country is in today.."Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene Aparna Sen said it has nothing to do with party or politics.

"Why are people of different faiths being forced to say 'Jai Shri Ram?' How would I as a Hindu feel if forced to say, Allah Hu Akbar? I would resent it."Hate crimes against minorities and Dalits are on the rise in the country.In the letter dated July 23, the celebrities drew the attention of the Prime Minister to a "number of tragic events" including incidents of lynching and said "exemplary punishment" # should be meted out "swiftly and surely" in such cases

It’s packed with inspiration for admirers of white. It’s part of the Vinterfest collection, which also includes runners and loads of gifty white items for the table.” This handsome book is plastic injection machine written by Chrissie Rucker, founder of a company that specializes in white, aptly named The White Company. 75. Rihanna’s Fenty just added a parka in cream in an oversize cocoon silhouette. The possibilities are endless, from home decor to apparel, bespoke to a quick online purchase.99. For luxury label-loving handbag enthusiasts, the Balmain Paris white leather B-Buzz 23 Bag is available at Balmain.99.HolidayThe handmade showcase Etsy. Target sells a cable knit stocking in cream for 13 and a snowy, flocked winter wreath for 29. 1,590. If none of those work, try the Rocco, Phillip or Datner sunglasses from Carolina Lemke. Threshold makes one in cream in faux fur, also available at Target.Give the gift of winter white this holiday season.

At Ikea or elsewhere, think winter forest touches or elegant white paired with silver or gold. 34.99. 398. 180.99.com for 1,895. At Kate Spade, there’s the Suzy large saddle bag done in fluffy faux shearling with brown leather accents. 40. Ikea sells a white, leaf-shaped side plate for 2.com is full of winter white, especially when it comes to special holiday touches. Another Etsy seller, fashionmeme, sells a white holographic Christmas stocking for 35.TablescapesHearth & Hand with Magnolia has white embroidered table runners with red, black or green detailing. And gift ideas, too, such as white scented candles in elegant glass, white ceramic kitchen canisters or just the right vase in, yes, white. 17.99 to 34.99 at Target. Some ideas in winter white:Home“For the Love of White: The White & Neutral Home. One seller, fernandthefawn, has a hanging wreath of white feathers with a leather strap for 62. 990.

White is snow and Santa’s beard, so why not share the joy by embracing the colour in holiday gifts?The possibilities are endless, from home decor to apparel, bespoke to a quick online purchase.In winter coats for women, Coach sells a cream shearling for 2,200 and Fashion Nova has a long, light gray puffer called the Reflecting On You Jacket for 99.. From Givenchy, there’s the Downtown Crossbody Bag in nylon. If bags aren’t on your list, pick up a scarf or fleece in a soothing white.WearablesThe Nike Sportswear Windrunner Down Jacket comes in color blocked black, white and gray for men

We are trying to develop strains suitable for each state. Yash Kotak, Co-Founder and Director, Business Development and Media, of Bombay Hemp Company Pvt. Yash, who discloses that BOHECO uses wild hemp sourced from Indian states for Research and Development (R & D) purposes and for making handloom fabrics, laments the fact that the company has to import hemp too to make a lot of its other products.

The cannabis industry in India is like the manufacturing industry in the 1960s. I am also working with the Ministry of AYUSH in Delhi. The latter is ironic because the purpose of the report was to gauge whether hemp was harmful enough to be banned in the country.Since then, the cannabis plant has been viewed with suspicion and was eventually brought under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. So government bodies at large need to understand and educate people about the uses and properties of Industrial Hemp. Hemp requires very little care, grows faster than most cash crops and can be used to produce almost 30,000 products. A local making hemp yarn A mushrooming crop of Indian entrepreneurs are looking at ways to explore industrial hemp for manufacturing purposes while also investing heavily in R&D to boost the market in India. Cannabis has no known side effects, yet we aren’t exploring the goodness of this plant while other nations are. Yash highlights how hemp is still looked at with suspicion, because of its association with marijuana and this makes governments wary of the crop.e. NHCO is currently in the process of developing seeds that are low in THC while also creating an eغير مجاز مي باشدystem model that will help farmers derive maximum monetary benefits from hemp cultivation. as an avenue for creating jobs, and setting up small, micro industries within these villages, then people too will start growing this crop not for its narcotic use, but its industrial use,” avers Yash.Rohitt, on the other hand, highlights how political clashes fuel misconceptions surrounding the crop.

India has a lot of original strains, which are 99% disease and pest-free.Industrial hempBut granting legal status to the entire plant is a tricky decision and one that is sure to face staunch oppositions by most governments and society at large. As a result, there isn’t enough raw material available for industries to mass-produced goods, and thereby, make prices competitive.Those who are not dabbling in research and development are working hard on the lobbying front, China ICE MAKER manufacturers pushing state governments to do away with restrictions. It is universally used to produce industrial and consumer products,” informs Rohitt Sharrma, President, Indian Industrial Hemp Association (IIHA), an association involved in advocating industrial hemp cultivation, and the first to procure licenses to cultivate hemp, post hemp legalisation in Uttarakhand. “If the ruling party encourages industrial hemp, very often the move is met with resistance by opposition parties and this fuels the conception that the crop is malevolent.”The road aheadApart from crop shortage, entrepreneurs in the hemp industry are aware of the other barriers they face, especially on the socio-cultural front. However, problems arise because the feral varieties growing in these states are not standardised and have high levels of THC. But, he feels that a fresh perspective is the need of the hour.”Harshaavardhan argues that not just hemp, but the cannabis plant itself should be made legal. If you look at it like a solution, i. | CHERYLANN MOLLAN Published: Mar 15, 2019, 12:01 am IST Updated: Mar 15, 2019, 4:40 am IST Harshaavardhan talks about the work being done by his organisation.

Shot in the armThough last year, Uttarakhand became the first state to allow the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp, cannabis is known to grow wild in almost all the Himalayan belt states. So, for instance, we take stains from Tamil Nadu and develop it in the region itself,” shares the entrepreneur.3% THC and is a non-narcotic plant. This is the time to capture the industry, or else, we’ll be pushed back and have to depend on other countries,” he argues. Thommen Jose, who founded Hemp India way back in 2008 to talk about the benefits of hemp says, “I have been talking to people at the governmental and ministerial level for the past couple of years and am in touch with a very proactive person from Kerala, who will be passing a bill for a possible legislation soon. So we have chosen only Indian strains and are working on them to reduce THC naturally, without changing the DNA of the plant.”A local works with the hemp cropHarshaavardhan Redi Sirupa, Founder and CEO of Namrata Hemp Company (NHCO), a Bengaluru based start-up working towards the promotion and cultivation of industrial hemp in Southern states talks about using hemp seeds to boost nutrition among Below Poverty Line (BPL) individuals. He also mentions how the easy availability of indigenous seeds will prevent farmers from being exploited by seed companies, while remunerative profit sharing model help alleviate economic hardships. But if you look at the crop like a problem, you will treat it like a problem.

"Hemp seeds are rich in protein, amino and omega acids and are a good source of iron and can be used to reduce malnutrition,” he reveals, and adds, “hemp can also be used to make sustainable products for the construction and automobile industries, like Hempcrete, hemp biofuel and even hemp bioplastics.Harshaavardhan talks about the work being done by his organisation, which straddles innovation and inclusion."., (BOHECO), a Mumbai-based start-up renowned for producing hemp-based products and researching the crop, underscores the sustainable nature of hemp when he says, “If compared with cotton, hemp requires 400 times less water to grow but grows eight times faster than cotton.While Thommen is all for legalising hemp across the country, he feels that the time is not right for legalising marijuana and says, “Many states abroad have legalised hemp. So we can’t turn a blind eye to the benefits of hemp for long, however, we are not mature at the moment to legalise recreational marijuana, as it might be misused. It requires no pesticides or herbicides, has a higher per acre output and more crop cycles per year. Hence, we have launched R & D projects in partnership with government bodies, where we are developing a natural scientific selection and breeding process which will help standardise the hemp plant and reduce THC levels,” Yash informs us. We lost the manufacturing sector to China, because our leaders didn’t take the right step back in the 1960s. However, despite the plant’s illegal status, and the stigma surrounding it, a mushrooming crop of Indian entrepreneurs are exploring ways to utilise this plant because of its many benefits, while some are even pushing for its legalisation. “One of the Sanskrit names for cannabis is ‘Vijaya’, because of its ability to conquer diseases.“There are no low THC strains in India.”

Rohitt underlines how the crop could act as a solution to the current agrarian crises when he says, “Since the crop doesn’t require much water, it can grow even in barren lands and hilly areas. Alternatively, there are no indigenous, low THC-producing hemp seeds available to encourage cultivation on a commercial scale.The Highs of HempWe’re not talking about the ephemeral high Elon Musk seemed to be enjoying during a podcast last year, but the tangible, endurable benefits that can be derived from industrial hemp. Some countries have genetically modified the cannabis plant to produce low THC, but these GM strains interfere with nature and affect the plant's immune system. Also, the fibre of the hemp plant is the strongest natural fibre known to man. “Though industrial hemp is often confused with marijuana because they both belong to the cannabis family, the point of clear distinction is that industrial hemp contains 0. “The aspect of misuse of the crop is a probability. But, any kind of result will be forthcoming only after the elections. “Sourcing is a very big concern and is a reason why the industry giants are not stepping into the hemp industry.The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report of 1894 contains a chapter in which administrator and linguistthe earliest mentions of the hemp plant in Sanskrit and Hindi literatur

“We retail both Rajesh Pratap Singh and Rahul Reddy. I feel the fault also lies in our law. Sometimes this can be tough on designers. It’s not one or two pieces but an entire collection that has been ‘inspired’.”There must be some unhappy designers out there who would like to have a word with this anonymous team for labelling them copycats?Gauri Khan in a Falguni and Shane Peacock outfit inspired by Abu Sandeep’s designs“No one has directly reached out to us yet. We don’t want to make mistakes, so we make sure to cross-check. We need to support the person who has come up with the original design, not an upcoming designer with four tailors and no overheads or investment.

“Speed is very important in the fashion industry. “We can safely tell you that a lot of research goes into finding the correct source.Tina too believes in this. One must ask their assistants where a certain idea is coming from, what is the thought process. If you can’t keep evolving, then you eventually run out of business. We all have design teams and assistants who also design but it is the responsibility of the main designer to check every piece.”HighStreet HeadachesIt’s not fellow design houses copying each other that give designers heartburn, but the highstreet labels that ripoff high end styles, mass produce them by the thousands and make a lot of profit on them.” But their work remains very similar. “Mine is such a strong signature look that it’s a no-brainer that the retail chain has clearly ripped off my designs. I feel our outrage is suppressed by practicalities, so we don’t pursue these cases.Ravina in a Ranna Gill outfit inspired by Jenny Packham. Photograph courtesy: Diet SabyaRe-invention is the biggest strength of fashion. It’s the pyramid effect; you create something and it trickles down to the masses. And a freedom of expression for people who feel like they can express freely without being judged for their lack of a token fashion degree,” say the team behind Diet Sabya.”Designer Rahul Mishra too had an issue with highstreet chain Vero Moda and accused them of ripping off his designs.Nupur Kanoi worked with Anamika Khanna and their aesthetics are similar says Lata, but Nupur has her own sense of design and a very strong customer base.Speeding Towards SuccessThe main culprit behind the lack of creativity or the temptation to copy is the superfast pace that you need to maintain while churning out new clothes, in order to keep customers interested. What’s the best part of outing these copycats?

“Inclusivity. Every month you need to create new collections to keep getting customers to your stores.“You will never have this problem of imitations affecting your business if you constantly keep innovating. Now, both continue to do a lot of appliqué work and pin-tucks and neither has a problem with the other. While someone is copying your old designs, you will be churning out something new,” advises Narresh. We’ve been getting immense love (and some hate) from the industry, but love triumphs hate, right? Or, was it the other way around,” he adds.The Assistant FactorOne of the main reasons two rival collections look similar is because one designer either learnt or interned with the other, and now has the same ideology.

Lata Madhu, owner of the boutique Collage in Chennai explains this theory.. While they refuse to reveal their identity, the team behind @dietsabya says they don’t just label anyone a copycat.Guardians of CreativityThe good news is independent voices like Diet Sabya and Diet Prada are proving to be guardians of creativity and originality.Karan in a Shantanu-Nikhil outfit inspired by Anju Modi designs: Photograph Courtesy: Diet SabyaDesigner Anupama Dayal, who is known for her bright, happy prints that are a hit with actors likes Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor, was understandably upset when she discovered an Indian retailer mass producing her work. If it’s a copy, the assistant must be pulled up,” says Narresh. Narresh explains this demand. International design houses have more of a conscience.There will always be a market for imitations. I sent the brand a legal notice but am still waiting to hear back. She says, “Often assistants leave the designer they worked with and come up with a similar look at half the price. You can’t piggyback on your mentor’s success to achieve recognition. When the People Tree sued Dior over copyright infringement over a handmade block print design, Dior settled out of court amicably. Rahul was Rajesh’s assistant for many years and parted on good terms with him. I haven’t even got an apology. There are no strong laws Single door refrigerator regarding intellectual copyright and I feel there is a complete disregard to creative work

Gowda plastic injection machine Manufacturers daughter Amulya said that seeing the success of her father's trick, other villagers have also started doing so. In our village everyone is appreciating and replicating my father's idea," said Amulya. (Photo: Twitter/ ANI) Shivamogga: A farmer in Karnataka says he has found a unique solution to protect his coffee and areca crop from the menace of monkeys. Srikanth Gowda, a farmer from Naluru village in Shivamogga district's Thirthahalli Taluk has dyed the fur of his dog to make him look like a tiger.

It was my father's idea to paint our dog like a tiger to scare away the monkeys. They used to destroy our crops.Gowda's daughter Amulya said that seeing the success of her father's trick, other villagers have also started # doing so. But in the long run, the colour of the toy would fade and the monkeys would return and damage the crop," he said, adding "Then I painted my dog Bulbul using hair dye to make him look like a tiger," Gowda told news agency ANI.

Srikanth Gowda, a farmer from Naluru village in Shivamogga district's Thirthahalli Taluk has dyed the fur of his dog to make him look like a tiger. The monkeys now refrain from entering my plantations," he said."I now take Bulbul to the fields twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening. I have seen the monkeys run away at the sight of the dog resembling a tiger."Earlier we used to face a lot of problems due to the monkey menace.He said that he decided to paint his dog after his earlier measures - using soft toys of tigers - failed to do get him the desired result."Earlier I used to bring soft toys (of tigers) from Goa and place them in my fields to scare away the monkeys

”Designer Madhu Jain, who showcased Andhra double ikat work at the curtain-raiser, shares, “I am very proud to be associated with the textile ministry and initiatives taken by them, I believe it is all about being aware and then making the change in our choices. This initiative aims to introduce the rich heritage of textiles to top-of-the-line fashion fraternities of the world.

Minister of textile Smriti Zubin Irani with the fashion designers and craftsmen There are different strands to the story of the loom — from innovative fabric development and handloom preservation to sustainable fashion and craft revival. Making handloom popular and collaborations with designers will create trust in eco-labels and reduce the consumption of products that harm the environment like harmful dyes. Textile India 2017 will showcase more than 1,000 stalls from across the country. A group of 26 fashion designers and craftsmen have come together to celebrate the heritage and glory of Indian looms, in an initiative spearheaded by the minister of textile Smriti Zubin Irani.

The end result and finishing look for every garment starts right from the yarn stage. Talking about her collection she says, “My inspiration has been drawn from the tie-dye fabrics from the desert region and the use of mica mirror-work with head embellishment, which is the signature of the region. And it also provides Resistance band wholesale a platform to rural artisans to showcase their talent. Like in this show, Chaman Premji shared the ramp with top-notch fashion designers of our country.”Eminent designers like Abraham and Thakore, Anita Dongre, Amit Aggarwal, Masaba Gupta, Madhu Jain, Manish Arora, Manish Malhotra, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rahul Mishra, Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal, Sanjay Garg, Sabyasachi, Samant Chauhan, Wendell Rodricks and Tarun Tahiliani are part of the initiative. It is a wonderful initiative by the Ministry of Textiles that not only educates people but also encourages them to make handloom a part of their lives. Appreciating the initiative for aiming to reinvent indigenous crafts executed by handloom weavers through skill development, he says, “Nothing is more empowering about fashion than its ability to create new eغير مجاز مي باشدystems, in which weavers can benefit from the global stage, and dignity of labour can be honoured. “By bringing together a collection from all over the country under one roof, the art is receiving the spotlight that it deserves and hence is empowering the Indian handloom sector that is usually ignored.

At the curtain-raiser to ‘Textiles India 2017’ on Tuesday in the capital, the ramp showcased the strength of the Indian textiles sector in cotton, silk, wool, woven and hand-printed, embroidered as well as modern and futuristic textiles.”Designer Ritu Kumar showcased a collection based on vibrant aesthetics of the Kutch region.Creation by Madhu JainHighlighting Prime Minister Modi’s vision — ‘From Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Factory, Factory to Fashion, Fashion to Foreign, Irani said, “The textile sector in India has got huge potentiality in terms of employment opportunities.”Designer Rahul Mishra, who is known for working with the Indian craft community through sustainable design interventions, showcased a wool collection.”Creation by Manish AroraLauding the Textiles India 2017 initiative, she said the need of the hour is to showcase art that is on the verge of extinction.26 fashion designers and craftsmen have joined hands with the Ministry of Textile to celebrate the heritage and glory of Indian handlooms. The collection has been defined in black and red, with silver, giving it a contemporary twist

While these stars slayed the look and invoked twinges of envy among the womenfolk, upping your style quotient with the colour is within your reach.”Not too confident about sporting the colour? Start out with subtle shades from the golden family, suggests designer Devika Kaalia. While the colour has always been a sure-fire hit for glitzy shindigs, designer Neha Kukreja غير مجاز مي باشدes doable ways to work the colour for the boardroom.

Plus it works well for every body type.“One trick that always works is sporting high-shine gold in subdued tones to avoid looking tacky. A model slays in head-to-toe gold at the Bangalore Fashion Week.”. Want to make the colour tick for work and the time beyond? Here’s the to-do’s laid out by the city’s fashion frat. Sporting a jangly golden neck-piece over a black formal shirt also helps achieve a China MINI BAR refrigerators factory subtle yet striking look. Sport them while wearing reds or coral to draw attention towards the sparkly shade in your attire. It’s official — the golden hue is trending on the runways (Think Emma Stone’s star-embellished tulle Valentino dress, Priyanka Chopra’s enviable Ralph Lauren and not to forget Deepika Padukone’s gold sequinned column gown at the India premier of her Hollywood debut). “Shades of gold like frosty champagne and bronze are easier options to start off with.

“ If you want to make a statement and yet play around with the colour, opt for a colour combination of cream (beige) and gold.” Stressing upon how accessories play a huge role, she adds, “At work, one can wear a golden watch or maybe gold laces bracelets to jazz up the look without going overboard. Take a cue on how to sparkle like a glam girl this season.Metallics are in but this high-shine colour reigns supreme. Gold coloured oxford shoes are trending as well. No matter how you wish to style it around, remember gold is a colour that screams flamboyance. So, don’t forget to ooze out the charisma as you step out in a golden ensemble. Gold toned slip dresses and bomber jackets in luxe fabrics like silk are having a major fashion moment. That said, it is also suggested you go low-key with the rest of the look. Remember to go neutral while sporting gold,” recommends Jaitra Raju, a city-based fashion stylist

She announced her arrival with a politically-correct social media campaign for the promotion of handloom fabrics. In fact, the necessary arrangements were made at both these hospitals. So far, Justice Katju has not disappointed the BCCI as he lost no time in denouncing the Lodha committee recommendations as “unconstitutional and illegal”. Yet, nobody was willing to confront the Supreme Court or Justice Lodha although BCCI office-bearers constantly complain about them in private. Mrs Gandhi’s political secretary, Ahmad Patel, immediately called up the Rashtrapati Bhavan whose team of doctors alerted the Army hospital as it obviously had no prior information about this VIP emergency visitor.When the Supreme Court recently ordered for the Lodha committee recommendations on the functioning of BCCI be implemented, politicians involved in cricket administration were most unhappy as they would lose their positions in the all-powerful and cash-rich sports body.After lying low for nearly a month over what was widely perceived to be a step down from the ministry of human resource development, minister for textiles Smriti Irani has now started taking interest After lying low for nearly a month over what was widely perceived to be a step down from the ministry of human resource development, minister for textiles Smriti Irani has now started taking interest in her new portfolio. Though she does not have the advantage of heading a ministry, she is doing her bit by helping out Kalraj Mishra, minister for medium and small enterprises, as the Khadi and Village Industries Commission is under his charge.

They never fail to point out that Justice Lodha and his team are working out of an expensive suite in a five-star hotel, all at the BCCI’s expense. But in reality, the outspoken Justice Katju was handpicked by the BCCI because he has no qualms about taking on the apex court. When Mr Jaitley mentioned these luncheons to Ms Sule, she was quick to point out that despite their outings, the young MPs attended Parliament regularly and participated enthusiastically in the proceedings. And when they are not eating out, they often meet for lunch at Ms Sule’s residence. But on the drive from the Delhi airport, Mrs Gandhi’s doctors advised that she needed immediate medical attention as her condition had deteriorated and that the journey to the hospitals would take too long. This is just as well as it is difficult to imagine Ms Irani and Ms Lekhi working together given the cold vibes they share. Ms Lekhi has even drafted designer Ritu Beri to design a line of outfits for Khadi emporiums in a bid to popularise the handspun fabric and has been instrumental in the setting up of a Khadi emporium outlet in the Parliament Annexe building. It also helps that Rajeev Shukla, Congress’ MP from Rajya Sabha and IPL chief, knows Justice Katju.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley calls them the “Khan market” group of young MPs and has named NCP’s Supriya Sule, as its chairperson.The writer is a Delhi-based journalist. It was an open secret that it was Mr Shukla who had suggested Justice Katju to head the Press Council when the UPA-2 was in power. Having delegated its problems to Justice Katju, the BCCI is now sitting back and watching as the two ex-judges are busy battling it out in full public view. Unwilling to China wholesale MINI BAR refrigerators antagonise the judiciary, the BCCI decided to outsource its fight to former Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju, who was hired, ostensibly, to oversee the implementation of the Lodha panel’s report. And Khan market is one of their favourite destinations, although they also patronise the canteens in state bhavans, especially Andhra Bhavan.Recently, when Congress president Sonia Gandhi cut short her road show in Varanasi owing to ill-health, it was arranged for her to be driven either to Gangaram Hospital or the AIIMS on arrival in Delhi. Ms Irani got herself photographed in a handwoven sari, posted it on Twitter, tagged five people and tweeted “I support Indian weavers, here’s my #IwearHandloomlook”. But the minister had better watch out.

The reason: Ms Sule and a host of young MPs, cutting across party lines, including Sushmita Dev of the Congress, Nishikant Dubey of the BJP and Samajwadi Party’s Neeraj Shekhar are one happy gang which is constantly out lunching when Parliament is in session. It was hurriedly decided to take her to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital which is not far from the airport.While she has discovered the beauty of Indian handlooms, Ms Irani faces stiff competition from her party colleague and bête noire, Lok Sabha MP Meenakshi Lekhi, who has been passionately involved in the promotion of khadi for some time now. President Pranab Mukherjee, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, also intervened to ensure that Mrs Gandhi was attended to immediately. Sometimes, they are spoilt for choices — recently, they had to scurry from Ms Sule’s place to Shiromani Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujaral’s residence as both hosted a lunch on the same day