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Nov 15, 1999
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Wrong Tag
Ahmedabad: As ironies go, there is nothing to
beat this. In 1996, Shankersinh Vaghela's much trumpeted exit from the BJP was in a large
measure due to his differences with the RSS hardliners within the party. But the RSS tag
continues to stick. After his thumping win in the Lok Sabha election, some of his
followers issued statements demanding that the "efficient and dynamic" Vaghela
be made the president of the Congress unit in Gujarat, only to be met with a chorus from
supporters of PCC chief C.D. Patel that a man with former RSS connections can never lead
the Congress. Patel is no heavyweight himself. But he is a favourite of AICC General
Secretary Ahmad Patel, who in turn is a favourite of Sonia Gandhi. Security Concerns
Delhi: For the Special Protection Group (SPG), these are anxious weeks. The
10-year period following Rajiv Gandhi demitting office as pm ends this month, and so ends
the statutory SPG cover to Sonia Gandhi and her two children. But the threat perception to
her life being quite high, the Government does not want the SPG security for her to end
abruptly. At the same time, it doesn't want to extend 10 years of protection for every
former pm. One proposal, to be put up before the Cabinet, envisages amending the law to
provide SPG cover depending on threat perception. Sonia will in all likelihood continue to
get the facility, but not Priyanka and Rahul as they are no longer dependent on the
family.
Reluctant Speaker
Delhi: Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's plan
to accommodate more women in key positions has brought with it attendant problems. He
wanted a woman as assembly Speaker but there weren't any takers. It took a lot of
persuasion to get former minister K. Pratibha Bharathi to agree. What finally clinched it
was his offer of a palatial government bungalow which Bharathi had earlier eyed during her
stint as a minister. But the transition was far from smooth. For the occupant was K.R.
Nandan, an IGP and son-in-law of former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. When he refused
to budge, the Government coolly forced him out.
Rainbow Minister
Delhi: Union Communications Minister Ram
Vilas Paswan is a flamboyant man. Visit his 9 Janpath bungalow and you will see a riot of
colour. Red carpets, bright orange upholstery, numerous multi-hued peacocks, dogs and
other stuffed animals in the drawing room. Could such a man then settle for a drab office?
He has been allotted a ministerial office at Parliament House but insisted on moving in
only after the alterations he ordered -- fresh wall paint, new carpets and curtains all in
matching bright shades -- were in place. Right now, the only thing red are the faces of
the officials.
CONFESSIONAL
LALOO PRASAD YADAV, RJD chief, had
some good news last week when the BJP failed to win a single seat in the delayed round of
polling to four Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.
How do you see the latest results?
It indicates the people's regret over being swayed by the BJP's false slogans. The
BJP has no chance in the assembly elections due in March.
But the people also rejected the RJD candidate in
Khagaria.
Recurring floods and inadequate relief had annoyed the people. The fault lies with
the Centre.
If it was not your mistake then why didn't the
people vote for the RJD?
That is why I am asking the people, tell me, what is my mistake?
Congress claims that its victory in Rajmahal
reflects the people's faith in Sonia Gandhi's leadership. Do you agree?
I have nothing to say on this. Thomas Hansda, the Congress candidate in Rajmahal,
would be able to comment on it.
What is your strategy for the assembly polls?
I am convincing the people that only we can deliver. The poor should have patience,
have faith in us. We will do everything possible for their welfare. Besides, we will
activate the workers at all levels.
But the RJD was rejected in the Lok Sabha polls
because you fed them only promises during the past 10 years. Now again you are asking them
to have patience.
Let people say what they want but everyone knows we have honoured the poor,
backwards, Dalits and minorities. No one else can ever do that for them.
-Farzand
Ahmed and Sanjay K. Jha |
