Helping Hand

Political circles are are nonplussed as to why SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav agreed to play into Mamata Banerjees hand

POLITICAL circles are are nonplussed as to why SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav agreed to play into Mamata Banerjees hand and sat with her at a joint press conference on the Presidential issue where she announced the three names of APJ Abdul Kalam,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Somnath Chatterjee. A senior Congress leader sought to explain it by saying that Mulayam belonged to the old school of politicians from UP and a staunch Lohiaite who would never refuse help to anybody,even to opponents. It was pointed out that such veterans continue to exist in Congress too,like party treasurer Motilal Vora and senior leader Oscar Fernandes,who have never say to any help or favour sought by party workers and commoners.

MOOD SWINGS

UPSET somewhat over the turn of events in the race for Presidents election,Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was not his usual self at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. A senior minister revealed that Mukherjee looked a bit down,and did not say anything at the meeting. However,as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs started discussions on urea pricing shortly thereafter,he could not help but join the debate. Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath sought to know the extent of impact on farmers,to which Mukherjee conceded that it would raise prices of fertilisers by about 10 per cent. When Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar objected to the pricing,Mukherjee was back to his combative self,and asked where the money would come from if the decision was not taken. The debate ended inconclusive though,with the subject sent back to the GoM.

ONLINE SUPPORT

WHILE India may be doing a balancing act between Israel and the Arab world,the Israelis are quite happy with the support they enjoy within India,at least from the online community. The Israeli embassy in India said on Thursday that its Facebook page has received the most Likes after those in the US and UK. The Israel in India Facebook page,launched by the embassy in August 2010,has received almost 20,000 likes,a figure surpassed only by similar pages in the US and UK. This comes less than two years after the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi decided to tap the growing online community in India with activities on Facebook,Twitter,YouTube and other virtual platforms. The embassy has also ensured that its website has Hindi and Urdu versions as well.

High hopes

IF Mamata Banerjee can resurrect APJ Abdul Kalams candidacy,then why not Hari Narain Sharmas. Sharma happens to be a 64-year-old commoner as he describes himself from Haryana with hopes of becoming the President. And who better to present his credentials than Banerjee. As the West Bengal CM walked out of her residence to go for a meeting with Mulayam Singh Yadav,Sharma,sporting a cowboy hat,hurried through the crowd to hand over his bio-data to Didi. The bio-data describes him as a common man,physically fit and morally strong. He also claims to be a retired Lt Colonel. And he certainly believes that Banerjee was best placed to forge a political consensus around his name. Sadly for him,just as he lunged forward to give his bio-data to Banerjee,someone from the security ring grabbed the sheaf of papers and took them out of her sight.