EPOCHAL!

Imagine the police is trailing a minister - a powerful Central minister at that - to arrest him with a non-bailable warrant!And the minister in question is forever on the run.

A comic, almost absurd scene. But such things are happening in today's India, thanks to history's fixing attitude now-a-days.

Like most Indian politicians, Shibu soren is just another corrupt politician, but coming as he does of a poor and tribal caste background, he's a bit less clever and sophisticated. His behaviour is naturally gross and crass.

About twenty nine years ago he triggered a mass massacre in Chirudhi, and about nine years back, he murdered his private
secretary. He was naturally implicated in both the cases. But the court could not punish him. Soren evaded the court all these years despite an unbailable warrant against him. Of course, he had clout, and in India, it's easy for a politician to get away with anything.

Strangely, the old cases have been activated now - after all those years. No doubt the BJP is behind all this. But it's the beginning of a scheme to destabilise the current Monmohan government.

As I write this, Soren has submitted his resignation. A big triumph for the BJP. Whose turn is it now? Possibly, Advani and Co will now target Laloo Prasad Yadab, another tainted minister in the cabinet.

I wonder why the present government is not activating the case against L.K. Advani who was one of the provocateurs for the Ayodhya riot.
MRINAL BOSE

THE NAKED TRUTH

Imagine the Defence Minister of India being strip-searched by American security staff at US airport despite his protests and before his own embassy staff! Yes, that was what exactly happened to George Fernandes back in early 2002 and mid-2003. Thanks to Strobe Talbott's recently published book, we get to know the whole story only now.

Richard Hermitage, the US deputy secretary, who is now on tour to India, apolozises to George for the incident.

The more pathetic part of the story is that neither the minister nor the NDA government then did anything about it, and swallowed the ignominy without any complaint to the Big Brother. Perhaps it was politically correct to shut up but the whole incident was outrageous and crushing to any Indian's self-esteem.

Could we dare enact the same thing on a US minister? And what do you figure out about us and them from the incident?
MRINAL BOSE