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Security TantrumsDelhi: On the
night of August 14 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee decided that he could do without
the bullet-proof rostrum to deliver the Independence day speech from Red Fort. It was a
historic moment -- unfurling the flag and addressing the nation on its 51st anniversary.
Perhaps that's why Vajpayee wanted nothing to come between him and the people. But soon
SPG Director M.R. Reddy stepped in. Armed with veto powers, Reddy made it clear that it
was an essential security requirement. Unhappy with this little piece of advice, the prime
minister stomped off, threatening to cancel his speech. Unfazed, Reddy told him that any
change in security would require cabinet clearance, which obviously was not possible at
that time of the night. Vajpayee even refused breakfast the next morning but what he
couldn't do was refuse to deliver the speech through the glass screen.
Desperate Facelift
Delhi: With the
capital suffering the worst summer in years -- thanks to incessant power cuts -- the BJP
is in desperate need of a facelift in Delhi where assembly elections are due later this
year. One view gaining ground among the leadership is that I&B Minister Sushma Swaraj
would be a better bet than Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma who is identified with the
city's mounting civic disasters. Besides, Swaraj would be a good match for Delhi Congress
chief Sheila Dixit. But Verma, who has powerful backers in the reconstituted Delhi BJP and
the RSS, is pulling out all stops to retain the leadership during the elections. The
issue, however, remains unresolved as Swaraj is yet to indicate whether she is inclined to
plunge into the city-state's faction-ridden politics.
Astute Politician
Ahmedabad: Contrary
to his image, Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel seems to be quite a skilful
politician. This was on display during the visit of the National Minority Commission team
to the state to probe alleged attacks on minorities by the Hindutva brigade. While the
state BJP opposed the team's visit and the VHP boycotted it, Patel, in contrast, virtually
rolled out the red carpet. So much so that in the end the team expressed its satisfaction
over the Patel regime's cooperation and the steps taken by his Government on the minority
issue. Patel's stance took many by surprise but not those who understand the political
implication of the team's visit. Patel knows well that in the event of the Vajpayee
Government's departure and Sonia Gandhi's arrival in Delhi, the Congress could use the
commission's report to dismiss his Government in the future -- just as it got the BJP
government headed by Suresh Mehta dismissed in 1996 on flimsy grounds.
The Sonia Card
Chandigarh:
Newly appointed Punjab PCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh has come up with a novel idea to
express his gratitude to 10 Janpath. As part of his "revival strategy", Singh
plans to issue identity cards carrying party chief Sonia Gandhi's picture to about two
lakh state Congress workers. Singh's rationale: such I-cards would instil a sense of
belonging among partymen. The first phase would cover the state-and district-level
leaders, followed by party workers who will have to shell out from their own pockets to
acquire the "Sonia cards". Whatever their apprehensions in private, senior party
leaders have lauded the "Maharaja's" innovative scheme to popularise Sonia at
the grassroots level. |
