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Pulling a Fast One
Delhi: Uma Bharati, the BJP MP from
Bhopal, is not the kind who gives up easily. Why did she then abruptly end
her fast-unto-death despite the Madhya Pradesh Government not conceding
her demand to reinstate sacked daily-wage employees? Even Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was surprised at Bharati's sudden U-turn. At the
Inter-State Council meeting in the capital last week, in his inimitable
style he asked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, "How did
you manage to win her over?" Digvijay, of course, was in no mood to
reveal anything. "Guruji, that is my trade secret." The secret
of his success!
Leading from the Back
Delhi: Former finance minister Manmohan
Singh is sulking and the reason is the attack on him from within the
Congress for his support to the NDA Government's economic policy. Such is
his sense of hurt that at a prayer meeting to mark Rajiv Gandhi's death
anniversary on May 21, the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha
breached protocol to take a back-row seat, giving Arjun Singh the
privilege of sitting next to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Insiders say
Manmohan will not seek another term in the Upper House next year.
No Kidding!
Patna: Everyone says Bihar has to be freed
from the grip of Laloo-Rabri, but nobody knows exactly how to. The NDA's
slogan on "jungle raj" during the recent election backfired, the
fodder scam did not move voters enough to throw out the couple, nor did
the filing of charges against Rabri Devi in the disproportionate assets
case. Now short-lived chief minister Nitish Kumar has a solution:
politicians with more than three children, he suggests, should be debarred
from contesting polls. But will that alone ensure Kumar's return?
Slight Compromise
Delhi: You cannot be a great leader
unless you swallow a few insults. Who says so? Union Civil Aviation
Minister Sharad Yadav, of course. This after a free- for-all during a
Janata Dal(U) meeting when leaders pushed and pummelled each other. It was
Yadav's way of comforting one badly bruised partyman.
CONFESSIONAL
E.K. NAYANAR quotes US Vice-President Al Gore and Nobel laureate
Amartya Sen to claim he is doing a fine job as chief minister of Kerala.
»Comrade Jyoti Basu says he is
retiring. You are 82 now. Any plans to call it a day?
A. Basu is retiring on health grounds. I'll be here as long my health
permits.
»Do you want another term as chief
minister?
A. It's for the party to decide about such matters.
»Recently, a well-known columnist
called you the worst chief minister in the whole country.
A. That was written by the BJP's hired hack. There's a book called The
World in Balance by American Vice-President Al Gore. Even this Yankee
capitalist has praised Kerala's social achievements.
»Your party is split on the issue of
allying with the Muslim League.
A. The issue is not closed. Talks with them are still on.
»Your cabinet has too many old and
sick leaders who do not perform.
A. My ministers don't have to ride horses and jog on the streets to prove
that they can perform.
- M.G.Radhakrishnan
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