The headline grabber

No politician is as infuriating as George Fernandes. It is not his pugnacity or cussedness, notable as those traits are, but his contrarine...

No politician is as infuriating as George Fernandes. It is not his pugnacity or cussedness, notable as those traits are, but his contrariness which perplexes and eventually manages to annoy all those who have dealings with him. Everyone has trouble pinning down the real George Fernandes because of the way he combines opposite poles in his political positions. Many politicians have moved from far left to far right in their careers; Fernandes can stand at both compass points at the same time. He professes life-long commitment to the ideals of the Socialist International and then goes right ahead and embraces Mandalism. Like many new converts, he carried things to an extreme by splitting the Janata Dal and creating a new, more narrowly-defined casteist faction. When the dust settled, Fernandes was discovered at the other end of the political spectrum in an electoral clinch with the BJP. To former trade union comrades he is a fair weather friend, to new-found saffron allies, a realist. To the MEA and the Home Ministry he is a loose cannon. Chameleon, idealist, hypocrite, pragmatist, opportunist, champion of lost causes 8212; all the descriptions fit.

So which Fernandes is responsible for the latest fracas? According to Indrajit Gupta, who tried to ban it, the convention Fernandes organised this week was in aid of the LTTE. The facts tell a different story. Jaya Jaitley, one of the organisers, denied receiving any funds from the Tigers. Gupta should be able to verify this soon enough. The discussions which were open to the Press and resolutions drew attention to the terrible plight of Sri Lanka8217;s Tamils, condemned state terrorism8217; and urged Colombo to reach a negotiated settlement with the LTTE. None of this is objectionable. Ordinary Tamils have suffered enormously during the two-year-long war against the LTTE, often at the hands of the authorities. Media censorship which is in force has prevented all the facts coming to light. And Colombo8217;s dual policy on the ethnic conflict leaves open the possibility even now of talks with the LTTE under certain conditions. If Fernandes can be faulted it would be on account of being one-sided and not simultaneously condemning the terrorism of the LTTE. He has also, of course, been very undiplomatic.

In the midst of all the Jain commission revelations about the Government of India8217;s interference in the affairs of another country, sensitivities in New Delhi are raw. How could Fernandes be so inconsiderate as to express sympathy with the Sri Lankan Tamils at a time when New Delhi wants to forget the whole thing? One can be sure Chandrika Kumaratunga is made of sterner stuff and will recognise that Fernandes8217; opinions, as well-grounded as they are this time, are not going to influence the GOI today or in the event that the Samata Party becomes part of a ruling coalition at the Centre. Not that such considerations will stop Fernandes, who still fancies himself a dragon-slayer. Remember the noise he made about Tibetan human rights a few years ago when New Delhi was cosying up to Beijing? And the mileage he got from the government8217;s attempts to gag him?