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Journalism of Courage
It8217;s easy, these days, to decide whether one is a political has-been, a political wannabe, or a political been-there, done-that. It all depends on how one measures on the Hospital Visit Index. Anyone with serious political ambitions would have by now visited poor, ailing Kanshi Ram, erstwhile president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, at his hospital bed in Delhi. In fact, the really savvy ones would have already clocked their second visit by now.
It all started with Mayawati letting it be generally known that there is only one person with any sensitivity left in New Delhi8217;s cold-hearted political universe, and that is Sonia Gandhi. The Congress president, ever the mistress of etiquette 8212; except when the prime minister makes her lose her temper and mansik santulan every once in a way 8212; made sure to inquire about Kanshi Ram8217;s health, underlining her concern with a tasteful bouquet of flowers. No sooner was this known, than Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani 8212; despite his many preoccupations occasioned by the Rae Bareli verdict 8212; was seen hotfooting it to The Bedside. That signalled open season for hospital visitations, as bouquets piled up outside Kashi Ram8217;s hospital door. Politicians of every size, ideological conviction and party affiliation rushed across, some even carrying back tales of inspired conversations with the ailing man, every bit of which got a good media airing thanks to the battery of journalists parked outside. This, in turn, has only increased the burdens of that already preoccupied bunch of political analysts who are now required to politically decode the comings and goings. Does a Sonia telephone call translate into a Congress-BSP coalitional tie up, would Advani be looking to book Mayawati for the national hook-up and, yes, does Mulayam have any new plans for another tango with Maya? Seriously speculative stuff.
