Ground these protests

A second contention is why have private bidders, when AAI could manage modernisation by partnering with foreign consultants. A quick look at our telecom industry is enough to prove that prompt service and efficiency are not always the hallmarks of government-run service providers. Still, AAI has ensured a substantial earning stream for itself by bundling in a revenue-sharing agreement and I believe this is the best possible model that keeps every stakeholder’s interests in mind. Voices of dissent are best ignored as the awarding of contracts has been fair and transparent.

Designer maul

With the judiciary cracking down over illegally-constructed buildings, Delhi is beginning to resemble a war zone where buildings are constantly being razed to the ground by demolition squads. While the judgment of High Court has to be honoured and implemented, one must never shut one’s eyes to the other side of the story. Demolition of the famous MG Road malls in Delhi housing India’s most famous designers is a case in point. Five years have passed since the designers launched their elaborately designed studios in these malls while the municipality and the courts slept. In the meantime, these malls became famous as they housed all major designers under one roof. Today the malls are an international destinations for shoppers from abroad spending huge amount of dollars there, and now suddenly someone in Delhi’s municipal corporation remembers their violation of Lal Dora regulations. If blame has to be fixed, it should be on corrupt officials and conniving builders who violated the norms knowingly.

In his won voice

I have had the opportunity to watch a number of Indian prime ministers addressing the media during their tenure. I have yet to see an annual prime ministerial press conference generate as much excitement amongst mediapersons as those by Rajiv Gandhi did. After a long time, it was Dr Manmohan Singh who gave an impressive performance at his annual press conference, looking hardly ruffled by the barrage of questions.

Years ago, when he was prime minister, V.P. Singh faced constant criticism for his aloofness and indifference while addressing press conferences in Vigyan Bhavan. P.V. Narsimha Rao preferred to avoid facing press as far as he could, and the trait was followed with religious zeal by H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral later. It was Atal Bihari Vajpayee who set the record straight putting his oratorical skills to good use with members of the press.

There were many skeptics before Dr Singh’s press conference on February 1, but he laid all doubts to rest. He fielded a diverse range of questions and showed no signs of agitation while facing embarrassing ones.

The author is a Congress MP in Rajya Sabha