MoM’s the word!

Time is running out for the US to submit its application for observer status at SAARC, the summit in New Delhi is in April. While rumour has it that Washington is no longer interested in this privilege, the truth lies elsewhere. The US did send in its application to Bangladesh, the current chair of SAARC, but it was returned because the application was signed by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. In a terse response, Dhaka informed Washington that the application has to be signed by the head of state i.e. President George W Bush. Now, this has presented a challenge to the American bureaucracy that is pushing all channels so that Bush signs the application in time. It promises to be a nail-biting finish.

Deals behind deal

The PM is believed to have told a close aide that as far as he is concerned, the decision on the civilian nuclear agreement with the US will now be a political one, a clear reference to senior Congressmen who had voiced their skepticism on the deal. The remark came soon after the government won a hasty approval from the Congress Working Committee to move ahead on the negotiations for the bilateral 123 agreement with the US. The PM also admitted the government had done well by first getting a US legislation and then the support from the CWC. However, one of the reasons for the government’s haste has to do with South Africa’s presence in the Nuclear Suppliers Group—the country is pro-India and pro-deal. Thereafter, the seat will be taken by Germany, which opposes the deal.

Parking problem

Babulal Marandi’s supporters had celebrated when Arjun Munda had to resign as Jharkhand chief minister but now there is a tinge of regret. No one had disturbed Marandi as he permanently occupied room No 301 at the Jharkhand Bhawan during the Munda regime. He vacated the room only last May when he quit the Lok Sabha. But the Madhu Koda regime has refused to accord a similar favour to Marandi, that too for just a month, which is precisely the time he needs for his new address, at 16 Mahadev Road, to be done up.

Title tattle

It may be another royal or ex-royal mood swing, but Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan obviously has no intention of courting a fresh controversy. Remember MP minister Yashodhara Raje, the youngest daughter of Vijayaraje Scindia, who made Chouhan issue a gazette notification to let it by known to all and sundry that they had to prefix “Shrimant” to her name? Now she has undergone a change of mind and written a letter to Chouhan to reverse the decision, pointing out that she had thought of the feudal title only for the sake of uniformity—her name on the electoral rolls carried the same. However, Chouhan does not seem inclined to initiate any action to accede to Yashodhara’s latest request. Who needs more controversy?

Right hand, left hand

Just a word on how the Defence Ministry appears to be functioning with A K Antony at the helm. One proposal before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs when it met last week was for the creation of a civilian conclave at the Halwara air base. The Airports Authority of India would build the civilian air terminal and extend the runway. Sources close to the PM said Manmohan Singh himself was keen on the project, which is also being promoted by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who wants a cargo hub there. However, when the proposal came up before the CCEA, the Defence Minister surprised everyone by saying he had not read the Cabinet proposal. As a result, it was deferred till the next meeting. As a senior cabinet minister present at the meeting said, “This is simply not done.”

Left in the middle

Can Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan hold out against party state secretary and the real power in the party, Pinarayi Vijayan? The outspoken Achuthanandan let it be known to the media in Delhi recently that corruption issues were eroding goodwill for the party, a snide attack against Vijayan. There is some agreement in the party that if the feisty Achuthanandan is actually relieved of his post—for creating more controversies rather than solving problems— the one man who could step in is the genial politburo member S. Ramachandra Pillai. It is not the first time Pillai’s name has been suggested; he was the favourite in the CPI(M) HQ when the comrades were unable to choose between Achuthanandan and Vijayan for the CM’s post.

Dual personalities

Senior IPS officials in central police organisations are alarmed over the culture of dual-charges that is being promoted by the Home Ministry. The first was GS Rajagopal, who was appointed director of the National Police Academy in addition to his portfolio as the special secretary in charge of internal security. Then came Director-General of the National Security Guards J K Dutt who was asked to take charge of the CRPF after J K Sinha’s retirement last month. Several IPS officials are now convinced that currying political favour and regular trips to North Block are now essential to rise up the professional ladder besides good performance.

Going for busts

While Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister stayed away from the installation of MGR’s statue in Parliament Hall, the women’s bill lobby has pointed out that not a single woman parliamentarian—neither Sucheta Kriplani nor Indira Gandhi or Geeta Mukherjee—find a place there. Such is the jostle for space now that an exasperated Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee commented : “It would be better to find a site for a statue park outside Parliament and cart all the existing ones there.”

Returning the salute

Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh, who was military secretary to President KR Narayanan and President APJ Abdul Kalam, has been appointed Lt Governor of Andamans and Nicobar Islands, and his chief secretary is none other than Shumsher K. Sheriff. Till only the other day, the army officer used to report to Sheriff, who was then officiating as secretary to Kalam. Now Sheriff will have to report to Governor Bhopinder Singh. C’est la vie.

North Star

The BJP leadership may have put the Congress in a spot by backing President APJ Abdul Kalam for a second term, but not all BJP members are toeing the party line. Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, they say, is very much in the race. And he has the support of legislators across party lines who argue that it’s time to break the southern monoply over Rashtrapati Bhavan, from K R Narayan to Kalam. And Shekhawat fits the bill.

Tailpiece

When BJP MPs met a UPA minister to complain that none of the light bulbs were working in the house of Leader of the Opposition LK Advani, the minister quipped, “Where’s the problem there? He’s the Shadow Prime Minister, isn’t he?”

Medal of honour

At last Saturday’s Vijay Diwas celebrating the 1971 War’s 35th anniversary, the country’s military brass was out in its polished finery at the capital’s National Stadium. The Air Force band, clearly in tune with its audience, played an incessant stream of songs from the film Lage Raho Munnabhai. Among those at the stadium was Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt, whose slate safari suit was adorned with military medals. As an army captain, Dutt had won a Sena Medal (SM) for gallantry during the 1971 operations and had left the Army shortly after for a career in the administrative services. Upon becoming Defence Secretary last year, however, insiders say he was wary of appending his military rank on official documents—possibly because “captain” is not a particularly high rank. But he insisted that his decorative suffix “SM” continue. For all purposes now, therefore, he continues to be Shekhar Dutt, SM.