Music over FM channel

Political relationships, like romantic ones, have their ardent and lean phases. One of the stormiest political ties of recent times was that...

Political relationships, like romantic ones, have their ardent and lean phases. One of the stormiest political ties of recent times was that between the NDA government and AIADMK supremo, J. Jayalalithaa.

Complicated as it was by the BJP’s fraternal links with the AIADMK’s bitter rival, the DMK, the relationship waxed and waned like the moon, until things reached a point of no return. What followed is history: Jayalalithaa withdrew her support and the government collapsed like a house of cards.

A great deal of water has flowed down the Cooum since then. Not only did the NDA come back to power, but Jayalalithaa came to occupy Tamil Nadu’s chief ministerial chair. Not only did the BJP’s links with the DMK appear increasingly etiolated, Jayalalithaa suddenly seemed more accommodative towards the Centre.

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It is against this patchwork quilt of a background that we must perceive the ineffable gallantry of Union finance minister, Jaswant Singh. When the Tamil Nadu chief minister was in the Capital on Wednesday, not only did he brush aside the hierarchies of protocol and visit her at Tamil Nadu House—instead of the lady visiting him at North Block as more ordinary chief ministers have had to do—he took along a splendid basket of roses.

What’s more, the Centre very generously hiked the plan outlay for Tamil Nadu by a cool Rs 1,250 crore— with the Planning Commission warmly commending the “comprehensive fiscal reforms” carried out by the state.

Now the wicked—and there are plenty of them around—will perceive in these acts of kindness, big and small, a certain political agenda. They believe that Jaswant Singh’s charm act is inspired by General Election 2004 and the BJP’s restless search for credible political partners. Even if this were the case, it would be churlish to look askance upon it, given the ease and grace with which the finance minister discharged his old responsibility of being Prime Minister Vajpayee’s chief interlocutor with the lady.

If music be the food of politics, let’s flood the FM channel with it. But a word of advice is in order: Etiquette demands that the next time rose bouquets are handed over, the minister should take care to remove their cellophane covers.

Nagaon, Dhubri, Himanta’s bid to arm people, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Himanta bid to arm people in Assam vulnerable areas, Assam vulnerable areas, Indian express news, current affairs

Himanta’s bid to arm people off to slow start: 266 applications, none accepted

India2 hr ago

Assam government's portal for indigenous citizens to seek arms licenses has received 266 applications. Most applications are from Muslim-majority districts, but 28 have been rejected and none have been accepted. Eligibility criteria include being an indigenous citizen, 21 years old, and residing in a vulnerable area. The government aims to protect those in sensitive areas, not arm young people.

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