Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had uncomfortable moments at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. HRD Minister Arjun Singh, who, ironically, dragged the Prime Minister’s name into the quota controversy, complained against Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal for his remarks against “dilution of excellence.” And Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar is said to have raised US Ambassador David Mulford’s remarks on the Iran-India pipeline which credit his successor Murli Deora with a “much broader, balanced” view on energy. Sources confirmed that during the meeting, all officials were asked to leave the room with all Cabinet ministers going into a huddle. Without naming Sibal, Arjun Singh told the PM that Cabinet Ministers should not criticise their colleagues on issues outside their jurisdiction. His complaint came after Sibal in Hannover was reported as saying: ‘‘No policy should be taken up which will dilute the levels of excellence in our educational institutions.” Aiyar complained against Mulford’s remarks at the American Enterprise Institute on April 24 in Washington: ‘‘The Indians have made a change recently in their minister of petroleum, which is (regarded?) in India, at least, as move of a person who was very much keen on that project out of that department and a new person in there who has a much broader and balanced view of their energy problems and so on.’’ Sources said that Aiyar apparently complained to PM that Mulford was hinting he was shunted out of the Petroleum Ministry because he was in favour of the Iran-India pipeline. Aiyar echoed the Left’s complaint that Mulford was interfering in domestic matters.
