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Journalism of Courage
Parivar8217;s problems
The swadeshi lobby8217;s harsh attack on the Vajpayee Government8217;s economic policies last week signals the start of a major power struggle within the parivar. The last time this lobby asserted itself, the Government tamely gave in and Jaswant Singh8217;s name was removed at the last minute from the list of Cabinet ministers at the swearing-in ceremony in March.
The threat held out by the SJM is no mean one. Its leaders have warned that unless the Vajpayee Government takes note of the criticism, the BJP will have to pay heavily inthe forthcoming assembly elections. In other words, RSS cadres, on whom the BJP is heavily dependent during polls, will not canvass for the party.
The Swadeshi lobby8217;s decision to go public with its feelings sparked off a flurry of activity within the Government. Advani is believed to have talked to the leaders and a senior PMO official apparently rang up the SJM office for a detailed briefing on specific points of criticism.
Meanwhile, the man in the eye of the storm, N.K. Singh, whose head the SJM is demanding, was down with a virus and did not attend office for most of the week.
Taking on the bosses
Two bureaucrats are in the limelight these days 8212; Urban Development Secretary Kiran Aggarwal and Company Affairs Secretary T.S. Krishnamurthy. These rather nondescript officers have suddenly acquired a profile for daring to cross swords with their high-flying ministers, Ram Jethmalani and AIADMK8217;s M. Thambidurai.
The ministers have been at the Prime Minister8217;s throat for the past three monthsfor the transfer of these two officers. But with the top echelons of the bureaucracy, from Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra and Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar down, backing them, Aggarwal and Krishnamurthy remain where they are.
Agarwal8217;s fight with her minister over the MRTS and MS Shoes hotel projects has hit the newspapers. Krishnamurthy8217;s tussle with Jayalalitha8217;s protege is locked in some 150 files gathering dust in Thambidurai8217;s room. The minister is refusing to clear them despite his Secretary8217;s recommendation.
Interestingly, both bureaucrats have shot off letters to the PMO in which they have criticised their ministers, creating a piquant situation for Vajpayee.
No, Defence Minister
Another minister who seems to have cheesed off his bureaucrats is the outspoken Defence Minister, George Fernandes. They have taken to shunning his public appearances. At the CII on Friday, where Fernandes spoke on information technology and the army, not a single Defence Ministry official was present.On the other hand, the top brass of the Army showed up in full strength 8212; from the chief down to young lieutenants, all dressed in crisp uniforms.
It was a similar story at the D.R. Mankekar lecture at the India International Centre a couple of weeks ago where Fernandes spoke on national security. All three service chiefs were present in well pressed suits as also many of their juniors. But Defence Ministry bureaucrats were conspicuous by their absence.
The schism between the bureaucracy and the armed forces has never been so apparent as now with Fernandes clearly creating a constituency for himself with the faujees.
Swadeshi for CEO
Although Prasar Bharati8217;s controversial CEO S.S. Gill was removed a week ago, his successor8217;s name is still to be announced. The delay, according to BJP circles, is because of differences between Iamp;B Minister Sushma Swaraj and certain lobbies in the Sangh Parivar on who should head this all-important body.
While Swaraj seems to have set her heart on atrue-blue professional like Kiran Karnik, CEO of Discovery Channel, Sangh circles have two other candidates in mind. One is Surya Kant Bali, ex-editor of Navbharat Times, and the other is Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, director of the TV serial Chanakya.
Alone in the crowd
The unseemly row that erupted recently between H.D. Deve Gowda and the Karanataka Janata Dal chief, B.L. Shankar, seems to have its roots in the former Prime Minister8217;s frustration over his slipping hold in the State.
Although both Shankar and Chief Minister J.H. Patel were once Deve Gowda8217;s proteges, they have grown wings and are now functioning as independent entities. Which is why Shankar refused to stay silent when the former PM and his son tried to behave as if nothing had changed. In the process, Deve Gowda only underlined his marginalisation in Karnataka politics.
