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NEWSNOTES
CAPLOOKS
Royal
Meltdown
 Delhi:
Thakur
Rajnath Singh obviously did not want to take any chances this time. Three
months ago, when the BJP leadership mooted his name for the chief ministership
of Uttar Pradesh it was Uma Bharati, among others, who stalled his elevation.
So why did the fiery MP from Bhopal play along this time? A day before
he was to be sworn in, Singh called on Bharati in Delhi and said that
he wouldn't agree to be sworn in unless she attended. When she tried to
back off, citing prior engagements in Badrinath, Singh even offered to
send a chopper to pick her up. The debate ended there.
Twin-pronged
Strategy
Chandigarh:
After its threat to withdraw from the NDA over the decision to include
Udham Singh Nagar of Uttar Pradesh in the new Uttaranchal state, why did
the Akali Dal retreat? The mystery of the secret deal that capped the
Akali protest has now unfolded with senior party leader and former chief
minister S.S. Barnala's appointment as the first governor of the new state.
Punjab Chief Minister P.S. Badal has truly managed on two fronts with
a swift move-kept the BJP in good humour and kept at bay a potential challenger.
Verse
Battles
Chennai:
They are sworn enemies but this time they have chosen a different mode
to pronounce their scorn for each other. Ever since the court judgement
on the tansi land scam, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the AIADMK's
Jayalalitha have been trading abuses through their respective party organs.
Karunanidhi, at his sarcastic best, wrote a poem about Jaya's corruption
in Murasoli, the DMK's mouthpiece, on October 24. Jaya retaliated days
later with her maiden poetry venture in her party paper.
Self-service
Media
 Bangalore:
Did you know Union Culture Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar, apart from having
his own website (www.ananth.org), also brings out a six-page Kannada tabloid-bulletin
called Nimma Ananthkumar (Your Ananthkumar)? It's priced at Rs 2, but
is mostly available free in the city.
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 Punjab
Chief Minister P.S. BADAL had to cancel a Canada trip following
the arrest of the Kanishka bombers.
Q.
Why did you cancel your visit to Canada?
A.
I was going there on the invitation of British Columbia's Punjabi
premier Ujjal Dosanjh. But after the Kanishka case developments,
I was advised by the External Affairs Ministry not to go.
Q.
How will the arrests of three Canadian Sikhs affect the image of
the community?
A.
It is a terrible setback to the image of Sikhs. But the entire community
cannot be blamed because of the religion of the accused.
Q.
There are reports that some Akali ministers enjoyed the hospitality
of Khalistani hardliners during their trips to Canada?
A.
I
cannot comment on individuals, but the Akali Dal is committed to
peace.
Q.
Will the reopening of the case resuscitate militancy in Punjab again?
A. No.
There are no takers for militancy in Punjab any more. People have
paid a heavy price and have learnt their lessons. People have now
rejected all those who represent the politics of extremism.
-Ramesh
Vinayaka
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