Telling Tapes

The Home Ministry believes that telephonic intercepts between Ayub Thuker, the London-based conduit of funds to Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Kas...

The Home Ministry believes that telephonic intercepts between Ayub Thuker, the London-based conduit of funds to Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Kashmir, and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi will constitute sufficient evidence for the extradition of Thuker, an Indian citizen whose passport has lapsed, from Britain.

In one of the taped conversations, Andrabi is heard informing Thuker that Geelani has been demanding more funds.

Thuker responds by protesting that his bosses first require receipts for the money already sent. He also explains that because of the tightening of security at both Indian and British airports, it has become difficult to get any carrier to deliver the money physically.

In a subsequent conversation, Andrabi gives a bank account number to which the money should be transferred. The agreement was that first a small amount would be deposited to test out the new system followed by a major money transfer. Conscious that they had stumbled on vital evidence, the authorities brought investigative agencies of the Finance ministry into the picture. The arrest of Geelani and others was made only after Thuker deposited the money in the specified bank account.

Dateline Panic Room

The droves of foreigners hastily departing from the subcontinent reflects the West8217;s paranoia at the possibility of a nuclear conflict.

Foreign TV channels like BBC and ABC, compelled to remain on in the war zone, hired a high-priced specialist, David Butler, to fly to Delhi and hold workshops for their staff at a five star hotel on how to survive in a hostile environment. Butler brought with him protective masks, goggles and body suits for his students. Another international TV network contemplated shifting its regional headquarters out of Delhi.

All foreign networks had evacuation plans ready, in case. In contrast, our government is yet to construct a single nuclear shelter anywhere in the country!

Change of Plan

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The NDA8217;s decision to field Dr Kalam for president has impacted on the vice presidential elections with potential Muslim candidates like Najma Heptullah and Farooq Abdullah out of the reckoning.

The Abdullah plan was that Omar would take over as chief minister of J038;K and the National Conference chief while Farooq would move to Delhi as vice president.

In fact, Omar8217;s coronation as NC president was postponed thrice in the hope of Farooq8217;s nomination materialising.

Now that Farooq is out of the race, Omar has demanded that the NC be granted a full ministership at the Centre and not a mere MoS as at present. Does this mean that Omar, who is all of 32, believe that he is entitled to a Cabinet rank or is he preparing the ground for his father to move to Delhi as a Central minister?

Hip, Happening

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A P J Abdul Kalam could be an unusual president in more ways than one. While the Left objects because of his lack of political experience, Kalam8217;s informal style could give the uptight members of our protocol department some anxious moments.

When Kalam was scientific adviser to the defence minister his habit of turning up in rubber chappals for meetings was frowned upon by bureaucrats, but he was excused on the grounds that he was after all an absent minded scientist. Kalam8217;s casual dress code of rubber chappals, shorts and bush shirt is not the only point of concern; the length of his white locks may seem a trifle too hip for a head of state.

Parallel Tracks

President K R Narayanan and his wife Usha celebrated their wedding anniversary with a dinner at New Delhi8217;s Spice Route restaurant last week, but the mood was slightly somber.

Earlier that day, Prime Minister Vajpayee had conveyed to the President that the NDA would not back him for another term in office.

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Narayanan feels that political parties have unnecessarily humiliated him. He is also bitter about the role of fellow Keralite Dr P C Alexander who succeeded in scuttling Narayanan8217;s chances without benefiting himself.

The careers of both Alexander and Narayanan have remarkable parallels. Both are 82, were born in Kerala8217;s Kottayam district and joined the civil service in 19488212;Alexander in the IAS and Narayanan in the IFS.

Despite their humble beginnings, both achieved success in their chosen professions and held many illustrious positions post retirement. Narayanan and Alexander learnt in the same week that they were out of the presidential race for 2002. Narayanan is likely to move to the Safdarjung Road bungalow where Alexander resided when he was principal secretary to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Maya Rules

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is not even a member of the NDA, but the BJP accords her A plus status as an ally on par with Chandrababu Naidu.

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At the NDA meet on Kalam8217;s candidacy as president Mayawati was accorded pride of place seated with Vajpayee, Advani, Fernandes, Jaswant Singh and Naidu. Mayawati, who is creating havoc for the BJP in UP, was singled out to speak and endorse Kalam8217;s candidature.

The views of most of the NDA leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, who was actually among the first to suggest Kalam8217;s name, were not solicited.

Illustrations by Ajit Kumar