Of Big Brother and Big Sisters

The CPI has never quite got used to playing second fiddle to the CPI(M). After all, the CPI was the parent party from which the CPI(M) broke...

The CPI has never quite got used to playing second fiddle to the CPI(M). After all, the CPI was the parent party from which the CPI(M) broke away over four decades ago. That the erstwhile fledgling has acquired the status of ‘Big Brother’ is particularly galling to CPI veterans. But the unkindest cut came last week when the CPI(M) hogged all the limelight even on the workers-police clash in Gurgaon. The Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) workers’ union had sought and received help from CPI’s AITUC. CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta was also active on the scene. But the day after the police lathicharge on the workers, CPI(M) leaders were much more visible on television. Some TV channels kept focussing on Subhasini Ali battling with the police at the barricades outside Haryana Bhavan and her comrade-in-arms, Brinda Karat, holding forth on workers’ rights in the studio. CPI leaders were heard grumbling in private that Big Brother had once again ‘hijacked’ their issue, thanks to some of the telegenic ‘Big Sisters’ in their ranks.

Prodigals return to Sangh fold

BJP chief L K Advani’s on-off battle with the RSS may take a long time to reach closure but in the bargain, a number of party leaders have tried to worm their way into the Sangh’s good books. Madan Lal Khurana’s is the most visible case—remember, he had publicly attacked the RSS some years ago. But now, realising that you can’t go far without backing from Nagpur, Khurana used the Advani crisis to lash out at his chief and cosy up to the RSS.

Others were more subtle. Jaswant Singh, RSS insiders joke, made more trips to the RSS headquarters at Jhandewalan during one week in July than in his entire career in the BJP. And Pramod Mahajan, once regarded as persona non grata by the RSS, has re-established ties with the Marathi-speaking Sangh bosses. But the biggest winner of them all seems to be Atal Behari Vajpayee. Miffed with their erstwhile blue-eyed boy Advani, RSS swayamsevaks have suddenly discovered the virtues of the former prime minister. ‘‘He never embarrassed us like Advani has. The Sangh is truly his soul,’’ is the new saffron tune.

From aam aadmi to aam

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A year ago, Congress leaders talked of the aam aadmi (common man). But a week ago, UP Congress chief Salman Khursheed shifted the focus to just aam (mango) by hosting an aam dawat (mango feast). The invitees—journalists and friends of Salman and wife Louise—were treated to all available varieties of mangoes. There were jamuns, chaat and biryani, too.

Salman has another aam dawat lined up for the coming weekend—for Congress heavyweights. ‘‘No, madam (Sonia Gandhi) is not expected to attend it,’’ party insiders said. But the big question is: would Salman’s bete noire Satyavrat Chaturvedi, AICC general secretary in charge of UP, get the invite and if he does, would the mangoes lure him to the party?

It didn’t excite Rahul

When Rahul Gandhi attended an interactive session involving MPs and top honchos of the IT sector to discuss the impact of computers and technology on the lives of the common man, everybody expected him to display the same passion for computers as his late father. It is widely believed that Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of guiding India into the 21st century—with friend Sam Pitroda— started the IT revolution two decades ago. But to everyone’s disappointment at the meeting, Gandhi Jr sat through the three-hour session without opening his mouth. Was he soaking it all in or was he plain bored, nobody could tell. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party’s Bollywood face Jayaprada took a keen interest in the goings-on and even wanted to know what computer companies had done for her district—Rampur.

Seabird in IAF?

Heady from its ‘victory’ over Airbus a few months ago, Boeing was back in India recently, trying to convince the IAF to buy a large stock of Super Hornet fighter jets. The problem, however, is that many IAF pilots think the fighter is made largely for Naval use. And one look at the DVD that Boeing brought for viewing by Defence and IAF officials proves that they’ve been a little careless, too. The DVD had Boeing’s chief test pilot saying at least four times that the Super Hornet is built to land on a ship. Needless to say, that wasn’t lost on the keen and sceptical eyes at Air Headquarters.

When PM cleared ex-PM’s N-doubts

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At least for one former prime minister, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s exhaustive statement in Parliament on the Indo-US nuclear pact came as a revelation. V P Singh had called a late-afternoon press conference last week to voice his doubts on the pact. But earlier that day, Manmohan Singh had already addressed the ex-PM’s concerns in his speech.

After reading the PM’s statement, minutes before the press conference, V P Singh did a quick U-turn and announced that he welcomed the pact. He said that the pact did not compromise national interest and India could finally move ahead with its nuclear programme.

Tailpiece

The Congress has raised the bar for the ‘canteen’ at its 24, Akbar Road headquarters by handing it to a well-known South Indian chain. However, it is still no match for the steaming Chinese tea offered by party general secretary Digvijay Singh to visitors. An antique cabinet in a corner of his room serves as the counter, while a help does the needful with an electric kettle.