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CAPLOOKS
Birthday Conspiracy
 Delhi:
Both Arjun Singh and Vincent George appear to be on a comeback trail.
The duo celebrated their shared birthday on November 5 with typical Congress
gusto. Singh is walking a new walk, literally, after a foot surgery in
Germany. Partymen upset with the ruling clique are urging him to talk
a new talk too. November 5, of course, is also Gunpowder Plot Day, of
import to conspiracy theorists everywhere. Hmm.
Property Vs Propriety
Chandigarh: As assembly elections draw
near, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has less and less reason
to feel happy with the media. His remind-and-reprimand barbs are not working.
Newspapers are giving more space to the Opposition. In a defect-and-deride
show orchestrated by the Congress, the Akali Dal's New York branch chief
added to the propaganda grist by claiming that Badal owned parking lots,
a night club and a huge farm in the US. Badal's aides are now offering
an all-paid US jaunt to mediamen to "call the Opposition's bluff".
What is not clear is who will sponsor the trip-Badal, the party or the
precarious exchequer?
Legal Puzzle
 Chennai:
It is the judge's prerogative to ask questions, but not so in J. Jayalalithaa's
case it would seem. In the appeal against the Special Court's ruling in
the tansi case, Justice N. Dinakar asked, "When one sees a person
lying on the road with stab injuries, is he not legally bound to inform
the police?" The special public prosecutor K.V. Venkatapathy nodded
at once. But when the judge asked about a lawyer's obligation should his
client admit to a murder, Venkatapathy snapped, "You are asking too
many questions. I have been putting up with this for the last 15 days.
Please ask me relevant questions." Patience, patience.
Phoney Rites
 Hyderabad:
The debate over whether N. Chandrababu Naidu's brave new ideas are based
in cold reality or hot air received a fillip when the Andhra Pradesh "CEO"
was accused of virtually fixing the "Dial Your CM" programme.
The phone-in came under a cloud when Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy of Congress
alleged that the phone lines to the cm's office were jammed during the
programme and proved that one call had been made by a pro close to Naidu.
Stung into reaction, Naidu installed caller-id machines. The Congress
now says the machines will indeed identify the sycophants- but to ensure
only their calls get through.
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