Tailpiece

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is never given to loose talk and is the epitome of measured pronouncements. But, racked by the Opposition and the Left allies on the nuclear agreement, Mukherjee was more candid than he would have liked to be last Thursday. Talking with a group of journalists, he asked them if they would like coffee or soup. 8220;We are in a soup anyway,8221; he quipped. A second later, his senses in control, he added, 8220;I mean the Opposition is not letting Parliament function.8221;