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Jan 24, 2000
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Sonia's
Last Laugh
Delhi:
Their differences notwithstanding, most politicians make it a point to
be civil to each other. Sonia Gandhi and Mulayam Singh Yadav remain the
exception. Their animosity came to the fore last April after Mulayam
refused to back Sonia's bid for prime ministership. At the glitzy wedding
of Mulayam's son in Delhi recently, Sonia was conspicuous by her absence.
And last week, Mulayam did not include her in the guest list for his Iftar
party. Sonia resorted to a simple step to hit back. A CWC meeting
scheduled for the morning of the same day was postponed to the evening,
resulting in total absence of Congress leaders at Mulayam's party, even
prompting speculation that the Congress had taken an official boycott
decision.
Millennium
Gratings
Calcutta: That Jyoti Basu and Mamata
Banerjee are at daggers drawn is no secret. But there is a touch of spring
in their frosty relationship. Since Mamata became the railway minister,
there have been two meetings between them. The first was scripted to look
like a coincidence. In the New Year, their greeting mails crossed on the
way. While Basu sent a one-liner, Mamata's loaded missive wished him
"a safe and sound journey into the new millennium".
Tea
Diplomacy
Delhi: In Delhi, the nation's political
and rumour capital, there was speculation about a one-metre tall
gift-wrapped box which Foreign
Minister Jaswant Singh took to Kandahar. There were stories about stacks
of US dollar bills being ferried to Afghanistan as undeclared price for
the release of the hostages. Nothing of the sort, it was a gift from the
Foreign Ministry to the Taliban rulers: 50 kg of Darjeeling tea, packed by
the Cottage Industries Emporium.
The
Tau Trick
Chandigarh: His failing health may
have forced former deputy prime minister Devi Lal to quit active politics.
But his son, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, knows that to
retain his chair, he may have to cash in on the goodwill that the "Tau"
enjoys among Jat voters. The campaign for the
assembly elections will again see the ailing patriarch hit the road
in a specially designed vehicle with an ambulance in tow. His punchline,
as in the past: "It's my last battle." That should work.
CONFESSIONAL
RSS
General Secretary H.V. Sheshadri is said to be unhappy with the way the
BJP Government is handling the threat of terrorism.
What
do you think of the Government's approach to the hijack episode?
It has projected India as a soft state. The media is also responsible
for it. Its coverage of the outbursts of the relatives of hostages built
up pressure.
The
BJP' s actions with regard to national security are contrary to the stand
it had taken while in the opposition?
Well, I am not in the BJP. But I agree India needs to take a strong
line against Pakistan.
What
about its appeal to the US to declare Pakistan a terrorist state?
We need the will to strike back on our own strength. Getting
international support can be one of the lines of action.
What
is the RSS stand on the Ram temple issue?
The temple will be built by the Hindu samaj. The Muslims should take
the initiative to solve not only Ayodhya but also Kashi and Mathura. They
should know what Hindu pilgrims think about them on seeing mosques in
Kashi and Mathura. When they are Indians why should they support the
actions of Babar and Aurangzeb?
-Uday
Mahurkar
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