‘Not a leaf moves in the Congress without Sonia Gandhi’s approval and knowledge,’ declared former external affairs minister and suspended Congress veteran Natwar Singh today, insisting that he had kept the Congress chief informed of all that had ‘‘transpired’’ in his now infamous visit to Baghdad in January 2001.

Isolated in the party and with 11 days to go to reply to his show-cause notice, the barb against Sonia Gandhi—his protestations of loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhis notwithstanding—may well end Singh’s long innings in the Grand Old Party. And Singh, despite his bravado today, seemed to know it.

Sitting under the shade of a late-flowering laburnum tree, a deep burgundy handkerchief providing a quaint touch to his natty grey suit, Natwar Singh delivered a 75-minute performance this evening that was clearly inspired by Dylan Thomas’s immortal lines: ‘‘Do not go gentle into the good night; Rage, rage against the dying light...’’

And rage he did—against the ‘‘flaws’’ in Justice Pathak’s report that unfairly indicted him, against the Prime Minister who refused to give him an appointment or listen to his words of wisdom on international affairs, against the Congress’ Disciplinary Action Committee which had dared to issue him a show-cause notice, and against the United States of America not just for turning the war on terror to ‘‘a war against the Islamic world’’ but also, he hinted darkly, for turfing him out of South Block.

His rage did not even spare Sonia Gandhi, though he tried to cover it up in reply to specific questions. ‘‘Till today, Sonia Gandhi in her generosity and greatness has said nothing against me and neither will I say anything against her,’’ Natwar said, apparently still hoping against hope that his avowed loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family, his self-acknowledged ‘‘Nehruvite’’ inclinations would somehow shield him from the sword of discipline.

... contd.