Second punishment

MUMBAI, November 16: Following the noises over the Jain Commission report, the DMK has indicated to Prime Minister I K Gujral that it is wi...

MUMBAI, November 16: Following the noises over the Jain Commission report, the DMK has indicated to Prime Minister I K Gujral that it is willing to quit the Union government. Though Industries Minister Murasoli Maran has repeatedly said that, 8220;We cannot be punished for the same alleged crime twice,8221; he has also told journalists in private conversations that the party is willing to leave the government. This is to save Gujral from embarrassment and M Karunanidhi8217;s government from threats of dismissal. After all, the party8217;s government had been dismissed in 1991 for aiding the LTTE militants.

But moves are afoot to avert such a scenario. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu8217;s visit to Chennai on Wednesday, Gujral8217;s meeting with Congress leaders and efforts to convince Sonia Gandhi to wait at least until February when the final report of the Jain Commission will be out are part of the fire-fighting.

All for Jalandhar

The secular8217; Gujral government is placating the Akalis to the hilt, much to the disappointment of the Congress and even some of the UF constituents. Apart from doling out favour after favour to them, he is now on a remission spree. After ordering the remission of the sentence to Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar of the Akal Takht, he also granted remission to Nachhattar Singh who was undergoing life imprisonment for the murder of Lala Jagat Narain, the owner of Punjab Kesri.Nachhattar Singh8217;s plea for relief was quietly cleared by the Government in order to avoid criticism. However, the remission has deeply hurt Lalaji8217;s heirs and Gujral is now trying to placate them because Punjab Kesri is published from Jalandhar, the constituency he is said to be targeting for his entry into the Lok Sabha.

Officiating from hospital.

After his fall in Guwahati, CBI chief R C Sharma has survived a bid to curtail his extended tenure. Since his 8220;faculties8221; are in order, he has decided to function from his hospital bed. Doctors attending on him say that he may be discharged next week.This will end speculations that Special Director D R Kartikeyan is set to replace him. Sharma8217;s extended tenure is to end in January and Kartikeyan8217;s in April. The possibility of Gopal Achari, additional director, being given the charge also does not arise, as he has not been impanelled.

The race hots up

With the appointment of Yogesh Chandra as chairman of the Trade Fair Authority of India, Mata Prasad8217;s name is being mentioned for the post of Cabinet Secretary. But insiders say that former revenue secretary M R Shivaraman, who is on the IMF executive board, is also in the race. They say, T S R Subramanian, due to retire as Cabinet Secretary on December 31, may go to the IMF and Shivaraman may come back.

The Mask, still playing

Carsten Pigott, the first secretary in the British High Commission is returning to London, wounded after the controversy that dragged him to the BJP8217;s internal war. Apart from doing a lot of explaining to his own government on whether Govindacharya called Atal Behari Vajpayee a mask or not, Pigott met the Leader of the Opposition, who wanted a first-hand account of his meeting with Govindacharya.