Two flights and a tight schedule

The Indian Air Force is finding it difficult to keep up with our over-active VIPs. Since last summer, it has on its hands a President, a Vic...

The Indian Air Force is finding it difficult to keep up with our over-active VIPs. Since last summer, it has on its hands a President, a Vice President, a Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister and a Defence Minister who are constantly on the move. The hitch is that IAF has only two Boeings to take them places. Schedules are so tight that at times, the VIPs have to consider other travel options or simply rework their plans. Or the IAF has to operate its Boeings like a taxi service. For instance, when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee went to Chitrakoot recently, the plane first dropped him off at Khajuraho, flew back to Delhi to pick up President A P J Abdul Kalam, took him to Mangalore, returned to Delhi, left almost immediately for Allahabad to ferry Vajpayee home and the next day, journeyed to Ahmedabad to bring the President. Worse still, the IAF has a major headache coming up soon. One of the planes is being taken off VIP duty for short-duration servicing of 15 days. The other will not be available for three months because it needs more thorough overhauling. There8217;s talk of pulling out a Boeing from Indian Airlines or Alliance as a substitute. But VIP security is having kittens at the thought of using a commercial aircraft that is bound to be in worse condition than an IAF-maintained plane. With a general election due next year, it8217;s hardly likely that this Government will go in for the badly-needed purchase of a new fleet of Boeings. The IAF will just have to keep shuffling planes and plans to keep pace with the demands of pro-active leaders.

Advani8217;s Art of Living

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani is the latest to join the growing ranks of the pupils of Art of Living Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Although the DPM is not a disciple, he was apparently impressed enough with the Art of Living philosophy to have a shot at a short-term course. It was held recently at 6 am at the Advani residence on Prithviraj Road and the whole family was out on the lawn dot on time for the discourses, meditation and yoga session. Advani threw open his house for others interested in the course as well. They included members of his staff and the Cabinet Secretary8217;s wife, who happens to be an immediate neighbour. That8217;s service at your doorstep.

When the PM shows up

Judging by the myriad reactions, Vajpayee8217;s recent visit to Srinagar and his resounding endorsement of Mufti Mohammed Syed8217;s Government have set the cat among the pigeons. Predictably, the People8217;s Democratic Party8217;s chief rival, the National Conference, is in a deep sulk. Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah showed up at the airport to receive Vajpayee but disappeared after that. Son Omar Abdullah was missing too, although the National Conference technically is still a part of the ruling NDA. Farooq was also quick to criticise the PM8217;s dove-like statements on resuming a dialogue with Pakistan. The PDP8217;s partner-in-government, the Congress, boycotted the official functions to avoid being seen rubbing shoulders with a BJP leader. Ironically, the Deputy Chief Minister is a Congress leader from Jam, Mangat Ram. The BJP was reluctantly represented by Union Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta. Some leader had to show his face, although it8217;s an opposition party and loudly critical of the Mufti8217;s policies. Apart from the Chief Minister and his daughter, Mehbooba, the only other J-K leader who showed some enthusiasm for the PM8217;s historic visit was Bhim Singh of the Panther8217;s Party. He attended every single function and didn8217;t miss an opportunity of getting as close as possible to Vajpayee.