It’s business for Vajpayee in Andamans but holiday for his family

Accompanied by almost his entire secretariat Vajpayee means business in Andamans. His daily schedule is meeting public representatives, party workers, hearing their grievances and addressing public meetings. “There is hardly any time for him to relax, let alone having leisure,” says one of his confidantes.

But, relaxed he does appear. He does not seem to be the prime minister who stumbled and fumbled during his Independence Day address last year. He is his witty self again. He is darling of thecrowd, tickling their ribs with caustic remarks about the system. “Now he seems to be coming into his own,” commented one of his aides.

On being presented a written question during his press conference here yesterday, Vajpayee told an amused journalist, “I will send you a written reply.” To another question on what was his new year gift to the islanders, the prime minister quipped without batting an eyelid, “I had hoped that you people will give me a new year gift. After all, I am your guest.”

Vajpayee though sympathising with poor condition of the main Andaman Trunk Road expressed his helplessness before a huge crowd at Rangat Island in differentiating whether there was road within potholes or if potholes were littered on the road. The crowd predictably burst into a laughter.

He seems to be preparing himself for the war ahead, the BJP National Executive Committee meeting starting at Bangalore from tomorrow. The meeting is likely to take note of his criticism of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, one of thechief constituents of the Sangh Parivar, as well as his economic agenda, which has completely reversed economic policies of the BJP and its allies, mainly the Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

Vajpayee was visibly delighted when school children welcomed him at Car Nicobar, by singing Vande Mataram as well as a Bhojpuri song. More so because over 90 per cent of the 25,000 population of the island consists of tribals — most of them Christians and some Muslims but no Hindus.

Andaman and Nicobar islands are known for negligible crime rate and perfect communal harmony, prompting the prime minister to term it “mini India” sans rogues.

At a rally at Diglipur Island, hometown of the seven-time local MP, Manoranjan Bhakta, Vajpayee promised to reserve 33 per cent seats in legislature for women. “Why should Bhaktaji be elected all the time. He should give a choice to a woman for once,” he said. The crowd was delighted at Vajpayee’s witticism.

Vajpayee probably wanted to sway the political wind in BJP’s favour byaddressing rallies and announcing various grants for islanders. Vajpayee went out of Raj Niwas, the Lieutenant Governor’s residence, around 10 am to inaugurate a building and address a rally, only to come back for a siesta preceded by lunch. He followed a similar schedule in the afternoon as well. In Raj Niwas he was left receiving a series of memoranda from various social and political organisations on problems faced by the islanders. There was no visit for sight-seeing though the islands are known for their pristine beauty.