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November 02, 2001
Talk Back

The Bangle-Wearers

The PM’s comments over the last few days seem to suggest that a Dilip Kumar has finally become an angry Sujit for those of you who are Hindi film buffs much like him and our Home Minister!

I loved his retort to Musharraf on the whole bangle incident, but if you ask me, most men in the Union Cabinet are bangle-wearers. Look at how we’ve slowed down on disinvestments; or the knee-jerkish reaction we have to anything that Pakistan does. And then we have a defence minister, convinced that we must go to war or the BJP will lose the next election; a doddering foreign policy with inarticulate people putting forth the Indian view. Also a foreign minister who can bore you with verbal vomit; a foreign office spokesperson who could put you to sleep, and a neighbour, winning every media battle.

A good man
If Rahul Bajaj weren’t an industrialist, he’d make a great chameleon. He, not long ago, went public on his discomfort with Yashwant Sinha. But the recent CII-organised Insurance Summit saw a much-chastened Bajaj. He actually said he loves the FM. And we beheld a pleased Sinha until GE’s Scot Bayman made his presentation tearing apart the ‘Reformist Government’.

Why can’t the Government publish a Rogue’s Gallery, mentioning industrialists who are building little chalets in the heart of London on the strength of institutional money? Accountability needs to begin at the top. So if Sinha doesn’t see the need to resign after presiding over so many financial scams; then why should industrialists worry?
Elections?

Lets talk temples
Vajpayee, the secularist, suddenly became communal this week with his visit to Somanth temple being indicative of where his loyalties rest. The way with which this Government has activated the demand for Ayodhya and Somnath reflects its real agenda. The only secular face of the BJP, Vajpayee, was also forced to drop his mask.

 

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