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Journalism of Courage
So, who spilt the beans to the VHP about the secret Ayodhya compromise formula? According to BJP circles, it was none other than the Ramjanambhoomi Nyas convenor, Mahant Ram Chander Das Paramhans. It seems Paramhans was called to Delhi earlier this month for an unannounced luncheon meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. He naturally had to be kept in the loop because the Shankaracharya could only proceed with the negotiations after getting a green signal from him. Word leaked to the VHP that Paramhans was headed for a rendezvous with Advani so when he arrived at the railway station, there were two cars waiting for him, one courtesy the VHP and the other from the Home Ministry to take him to Advani’s residence. Of course, he went for lunch in the Home Ministry’s car but the message got through to him that the VHP wanted to see him afterwards. Also present at the lunch was the new Minister of State for Home and one of the leading lights of the mandir agitation, Swami Chinmayanand. He’s been coopted to work with the Government for a solution on behalf of the sadhus and sants affiliated to the VHP. Although the Government had hoped to keep the VHP in the dark till the negotiations were almost through, it was not to be. Paramhans apparently went straight to the VHP office from Advani’s residence and naively revealed the secret plan. Since then Government and the BJP have been battling the VHP which is naturally miffed over its marginalisation. Efforts are now on trial sites, to placate the irate VHP leadership with assurances that they will be included in the final settlement, if it comes about.
MP’s cup of MP woes
No state funds please, we are AICC
The Congress has opened its pursestrings for the forthcoming assembly polls. It has acquired a fleet of a dozen new Ambassador cars for the election observers appointed for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Most unusual for a party which otherwise expects its state units to provide hospitality for central observers, especially wherever the party is in power. However, this time, the observers are under strict instructions not to ask the governments in the states going to polls for anything. The new cars have been put at their disposal, for use both here in Delhi and in the states they will be visiting in the run up to the ticket distribution. They have also been told to submit all bills for hotel stay, food, etc. to the AICC for reimbursement instead of depending on the state governments. Congress circles are not quite sure what’s prompted this change which is going to make quite a hole in the AICC’s account. The observers for the other two states where elections are due, Delhi and Chhattisgarh, are yet to be appointed. The million-dollar question waiting to be answered is whether the AICC will buy them a set of new cars as well.
