| Published on 27-11-2007 In National |
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| Corridor Whispers - Nov 26 Part - 2 |
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Written by
Insider |
Intriguing SAFMA silence
The movement for democracy in Pakistan has seen arrest and detention of many journalists in Pakistan. Surprisingly, there is utter silence in Indian media particularly among South Asian
Federation of Free Media (SAFMA) office-bearers and members. This is more glaring because SAFMA secretary general Imtiaz Alam has himself been detained.
In Press Club of India those critical of SAFMA activities attribute SAFMA silence in terms of more worldly considerations. The "headless chicken" approach comes from the fact that many Indian SAFMA office-bearers continue to receive generous "dollar payment" for their services. Since survival of SAFMA is part of tripartite arrangements, muted criticism or silence is best course to keep the hawkish General happy.
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Oil "Barell-i"!
Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora can barely wipe the smile off his face. In between Shastri Bhawan and card room at Delhi Gymkhana, Deora has been smiling, admiring himself even after losing many rounds in rummy.
His close associates say Deora has reasons to be happy. His pet project of getting Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) to Sonia Gandhi's parliamentary constituency Rai bareili has been cleared. Deora had been trying hard to convince his ministry and parliamentary panel since the time he took over from Mani Shankar Aiyar.
There were several potholes in the path. Firstly Rai bareili or for that matter entire Uttar Pradesh does not produce even a single barrel of crude oil. Deora reportedly sold the proposal on grounds that oil exploration possibility existed in and around Rai bareili. The second logic was Rai bareili's "proximity" to Delhi. The distance of over 500 kilometres was taken as "close." If all goes well, parliament will soon give its go ahead and clear the proposed bill.
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Congress Muslims' woes in Gujarat
After the left's minority bashing in Nandigram and Calcutta, the Congress is letting Muslim leadership down.
If prominent Muslim leaders in Congress are to be believed, Sonia-led Congress is avoiding tickets to Muslim nominees in Gujarat. The first list consists of mere three nominees and going by the indications, the final tally would not cross a single digit out of 182. The allies are feeling pinched too. The Nationalist Congress Party has so far got three, which is much less
than its expectations. Muslim leaders in Congress who do not wish to be named said if the trend continues, the bulk of Muslim aspirants in Gujarat would go to Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party or BSP.
The Congress think-tank of course has its own calculations based on "profound polarization." According to them, in 2002 assembly polls, the party did not win a single seat within a 100-km radius of Godhra where a rail coach was set ablaze leading to large-scale violence. The
Congress had also lost badly in all seats, which had 25,000 or more Muslim votes.
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Maya's "maya" on the Mumbai Muslims
The recent Mumbai rally of BSP supremo Mayawati clashed with a protest rally called by several Muslim groups in city against Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.
But Maya prevailed upon the representatives of several Muslim organizations to call off the rally promising to take up Nasreen issue with the Centre. She told Muslim leaders that by protesting against Nasreen, they were giving her "undue" importance. Muslim leaders saw merit in "Bahenji's" wisdom. A prominent Muslim leader even went on to say, "She (Maya) is an alternative to the Congress party since Muslims are now moving out of the latter. They prefer Mayawati's hardcore planning process than just mere promises that the Congress is familiar with."
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Tailpiece: Days after Rahul Gandhi's speech at AICC session, Congressman are heard singing, "Ajeeb dastan hai yeh, kahan shuru kahan khatam; yeh manzilen hai kaun see, na woh samajh sake na ham!" |
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