Dinner diplomacy

Pragmatic Pranab

Why has Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee responded with stony silence to the Left clamour for banning Israeli air defence companies in the wake of the Barak scam? The answer is that Mukherjee knows that most of the modern, new fangled fighting machines is provided by Israel. The Israeli Aircraft Industries IAI, manufacturer of Barak missile system, has provided all the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs used by India for surveillance of the Line of Control LoC and Naxalite-prone areas. For instance, Tel Aviv quietly sent its experts along with the Heron UAVs, which were diverted from the Paris Air Show that year, to Kargil after New Delhi8217;s plea during the two-month-long conflict in 1999. The Head-Up Display for MiG-23, Jaguar and MiG-29, the digital map generators for Jaguar, the bunker busting bombs and the pop-eye we call it crystal maze missile are all products of IAI and other Israeli companies. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh knows this, which is why he was pragmatic when he acknowledged the existence of arms dealers not middlemen. The Defence Minister too is all set with his strategy in Parliament, he will present his new Defence Procurement Procedure as a corrective in all purchases.

Once bitten, never shy

Will some men never learn their lesson? A former UP leader, a party chieftain once, who led his party in the state, has been rehabilitated from disgrace and ouster, to lead it all over again. But guess who has bounced back with him? His lady companion, who was responsible for his ouster and fall from grace. While the poor man tries to retrieve his commanding position, the lady has got back to her old ways, of distributing largesse and bounty, all for a good price. But this time, to her consternation, her detractors are equally forceful about foiling her designs. One hapless victim of the games being played in Lucknow was a ticket applicant for the mayoral poll, who lost out in the internecine war within. He has since switched to a rival party to successfully secure a nomination, but he has made public his demand for a refund of the advance he had given to his first choice.

Mai versus Musharraf

Guess who can spoil the success of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf8217;s memoir, In the Line of Fire? Well, a book called, In the Name of Honour, A Memoir, written by Mukhtar Mai, the flag bearer of Pakistan8217;s hoary history of its injustice to women. Mai will release her book later this month. A victim of gang rape, she is now a leading activist based in the US, and Mukhtar Mai8217;s story is etched in American public memory. Remember, a year ago, in an interview to The Washington Post, Musharraf had responded to a question on Mukhtar Mai8217;s struggle from the US with this retort, 8220;A lot of people say if you want to go abroad8230;get yourself raped?.8217;8217; The diplomatic row that raged, with international human rights activists hitting the streets, forced Washington to declare that Mukhtar Mai will always be welcome in Pakistan, a message that was conveyed sternly to Islamabad too. Guess who8217;s the publisher? Simon 038; Schuster.

Running for Raj Bhawan

Here8217;s yet another aspirant to become the next Lt-Governor of Delhi. DC Pathak, who? Well, his name cropped up after the present L-G, BL Joshi, wondered why a former Director, Intelligence Bureau DIB, could not bid for the post. Out of the blue, Pathak, a former DIB, who held the job under Home Minister SB Chavan, became all visible and in view. But poor Pathak has a past 8212; though public memory may be short, institutional memory is somewhat more enduring. Old timers recall when Pathak was DIB in the mid-90s, the Nadwat-ul-Darul-Uloom had been raided, and the Congress had to pay the price in Uttar Pradesh. If Pathak wants to be Delhi8217;s next L-G, some airbrushing will be required.

Nepal calling

Want to know why Nepal8217;s senior minister KP Sitaula cancelled his high-profile trip to India at the last minute? Apparently, word got out in Kathmandu that Sitaula was ready to negotiate an extradition treaty with the Indian Government. This greatly angered the Nepalese Maoists who told the Girija Prasad Koirala government in no uncertain terms that it would jeopardise all the talks they were having with the Seven-Party Alliance and imperil all the decisions the two sides had taken so far. A nervous Koirala called up the Indians to say Sitaula8217;s trip was off. The Indians are now keenly watching the Nepal situation, intent on the extradition treaty.

Date-wise Dasmunsi

For Information 038; Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, the International Film Festival obviously takes precedence over Parliament. On Friday, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs Chairman, Pranab Mukherjee, suggested that the winter session be scheduled from November 23, to give the Opposition two days to vent its spleen. But Dasmunsi, who also holds the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, stuck to his ministry8217;s proposed date of November 27 8212; he has to inaugurate the festival on November 23. He certainly did not want to lose the glam spot for mere dreary policy-making.

Doner diversions

It could not be a more apt acronym for the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region 8212; DONER. While it is supposed to be a single-window service for project investments in the eight sister states, politicians from the region will tell you that the opposite is true. Fund diversions, delayed disbursals and ad hoc sanctions also give it a bad reputation, and it has caused so much consternation among the CMs that they are thinking of 8220;ganging up8221; to present their case to the Centre. The Northeast Forum, a loose body of MPs from the region, is also not taking it lightly. 8220;The DONER is run by a family, not the government,8221; one MP huffed. The Prime Minister, who has been briefed on the situation, is expected to review the North-East development policies this week.

Bengali babble

The latest round of speculation for a pre-Diwali Cabinet reshuffle has been traced to the Bengali Press, which claims that Pranab Mukherjee, the No. 2 in the Cabinet, has agreed to be the next Foreign Minister. Though the Defence Minister, presently in Siliguri, denied the Bengali babble, according to their reports, Mukherjee met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and apparently gave in to pressure. Congress circles too have not rejected outright talks of the reshuffle. Fuel for this prattle was provided at an internal party meeting on October 4, shortly before the UPA-Left coordination meeting. Sonia Gandhi was extremely rough on Home Minister Shivraj Patil, as a silent Mukherjee looked on. Earlier too, at the Congress conclave in Nainital, Gandhi barely mentioned Patil. Raisina Hill is now abuzz that Mukherjee will get MEA, and Patil will get Defence. But, it still does not answer who will get the Home portfolio.

Tailpiece

Patil, meanwhile, is doing the next best thing to save his job 8212; endear himself to The Family. The Home Ministry is compiling a lavish, coffee table book on the contribution the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has made to the growth of paramilitary organisations. It has directed to dig up all old photographs from albums and records showing family members attending functions and giving away awards, so that their efforts do not now go unnoticed.