 Visitors'
Galleries
Delhi:
K.S. Sudarshan, the new RSS chief, finds
himself pursuing a dual policy these days. First, he has to grant audience
to a variety of old fogies who've served the Parivar for decades. One
veteran pracharak presented him his multicultural, spiritual version of
snakes and ladders, in which Krishna, Allah, Christ and other divinities
protect the player from unmentionable evil. At a more serious level,
Sudarshan sees the need for a formal secretariat at the RSS headquarters
in Delhi's Jhandewalan area. An appropriate room, where ambassadors and
other dignitaries can meet the RSS chief without a close view of venerable
full-timers hanging their self-washed clothes, is on the anvil.
Untimely
Excesses
Delhi: The
army commanders conference was in progress in the Operations Room in South
Block when the phone rang. The voice at the other end said the prime
minister wanted to drop by. Officers went into a tizzy: were we heading
for something serious? The mood was sombre when Vajpayee walked in.
Concerned about the killing of seven civilians in the Anantnag firing,
Vajpayee had come over to tell the brass that such incidents do no good to
the moral high ground that India had come to occupy after the Clinton
visit.
Irony
of Ironies
Delhi: In
his long years as a crusader, H.D. Shourie has brought many a VIP to his
knees through the several public-interest petitions that he has filed in
various courts. Last year, Shourie filed a petition on the alleged misuse
of funds by MPs under the Local Area Development Scheme. Last week, the
Supreme Court admitted the petition in which the Ministry of Planning and
Programme Implementation has been named as the principal respondent. The
minister in charge? Shourie's even more famous son, Arun Shourie.
Sweeping
Security
Hyderabad: Following a renewed threat
from the PWG which saw the killing of a TDP minister, security for Chief
Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been tightened. Two pilot vehicles move
ahead of his convoy while a sweeper team with sniffer dogs in tow screen
places he visits. The increased threat perception is also shared by
Naidu's astrologer who says there's a bad patch until July 28.
CONFESSIONAL
Back in the Indian cricket team, former captain MOHAMMED AZHARUDDIN talks
about everything but the game.
You are supposed to be unpopular. How
did the others welcome you on your return to the team?
They were friendly. There was no
awkwardness. I was back where I belonged.
What about the rumours about
match-fixing and other shady deals?
It's a load of rubbish. I am a
God-fearing man. Allah knows I have never done anything wrong. My
conscience is clear.
Is it true that you declared Rs 16 crore
under the VDIS scheme?
This again is rubbish. Where do I have
that kind of money?
But you do have a flashy lifestyle.
Designer clothes, expensive watches, jewellery ...
Am I an exception? Everybody loves good
clothes. I like to dress well. Others may spend their money on booze and
things like that. I don't. Let me make it clear that I have earned every
penny by slogging on the field.
How long will you continue playing
cricket?
Two more years at least.
-Javed Ansari
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