PAC meeting postponed as SEBI chief Buch fails to appear, BJP miffed at panel chair Venugopal
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday postponed its sitting after SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and other officials expressed inability to attend the meeting, panel chairperson K C Venugopal said.
Buch, under a cloud over allegations of conflict of interest levelled by US-based short-seller Hindenburg, was asked to appear before the PAC, which is reviewing the performance of the market regulator.
"Today morning at 9:30, we got a communication from the SEBI chairperson and other members that because of a personal emergency, she is unable to travel to Delhi," Venugopal told reporters here.
Considering that the request was made by a woman, the committee decided to postpone the sitting to another day, he said.
After the PAC meeting was postponed, its member and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Venugopal of taking suo motu decisions. He also said that several PAC members, including those from the BJP and its alliance partners, are approaching LS Speaker Om Birla against Venugopal's conduct.
The PAC is also examining matters related to the Department of Telecommunications and that meeting will go ahead as scheduled during the post-lunch session.
The committee's decision to include the performance review of regulatory bodies established by legislation in its agenda invited no protest, but Venugopal's move to call Buch raised hackles of the BJP members as she has been at the centre of a political row ignited by the Hindenburg's allegations.
The short-seller's accusation against Buch was seized upon by the Congress to seek her ouster and to attack the government, rendering political dimensions to the panel's missive to her to appear before it.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, a member of the panel, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Venugopal, accusing the senior Congress leader of raking up "non-existent" issues to defame the central government and "destabilise" the country's financial structure and economy.
Accusing Venugopal of "unconstitutional and disdainful" conduct, Dubey claimed the Congress leader's conduct is guided by political motivations as voters compelled his party to sit in the opposition benches following the Lok Sabha polls.
Claiming that unverified allegations by a foreign company like Hindenburg against Buch were part of such a campaign, he alleged that the 'India Chapter' of this toolkit has become active.
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Pizza Hut China debuts unusual bullfrog pizza, sparking mixed reactions online
Beijing : Pizza Hut China has taken a bold step into culinary experimentation by introducing a limited-edition pizza topped with deep-fried bullfrog, a move that has garnered both curiosity and criticism online. The unconventional dish was first highlighted by global food trend expert David Henke, who shared a photo of the new menu item on X (formerly Twitter), noting the diverse protein preferences in different cultures.
The pizza, known as "Goblin Pizza," features a thick crust, red sauce, a layer of parsley, and a whole deep-fried bullfrog as the centerpiece. The frog's "eyes" are created with halved hard-boiled eggs, each topped with a black olive, making for a visually striking presentation. According to Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the unusual offering is a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by a character from the game.
Details about the availability of this new creation are limited, with no specific information provided on Pizza Hut’s official website. However, the quirky menu item has already become a talking point on social media, drawing a mix of reactions ranging from shock to curiosity.
On Reddit, a photo of the pizza was shared, fueling further debate. Some users labeled the dish as “pure blasphemy,” while one user went so far as to say, “This pizza is a felony.” Another asked, “Why ruin a pizza like that?”
Not all feedback was negative; one commenter admitted that while the frog might be off-putting, they'd be more accepting if the pizza underneath was satisfactory. Another joked, "You can ribbet this right into the garbage."
Amidst the critique, there were voices of intrigue. One foodie defended the dish, saying, “Fried frog legs are so good! Maybe next time, shred the frog leg meat and add it to the pizza—that would be pretty good.”
