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August 16, 1999
 Cover Story
Elections 99
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Lucky Viewers
Delhi: The public may have been
denied the opportunity to see the award-winning Shabana Azmi-starrer Godmother, which is
tied up in litigation. But Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee took time off from his busy
schedule to watch the film along with his adopted family. I&B Minister Pramod Mahajan
had organised a special screening of the film for Vajpayee at the Films Division
auditorium on Delhi's Mahadev Road. With Vajpayee reportedly enjoying the film and Shekhar
Kapur's Elizabeth drawing praise from President K.R. Narayanan, what everyone would like
to know is: when will these films get clearance from the Censor Board for general viewing?
Blessed Start
Chandigarh: Chief Minister Om Prakash
Chautala of Haryana is showing a hitherto unknown religious streak. First, as a Hanuman
faithful he sought the vote of confidence on a Tuesday. Then he chanted a new mantra --
subtly -- by committing to run the government with the blessings of Brahmins. He portrayed
his earlier meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee -- on the eve of his
installation -- as one where he sought a Brahmin's blessings. And last week, a beaming
Chautala personally approved the office nameplate with his first name "Om"
scripted in Sanskrit. Given the fragile coalition he is heading, all this shouldn't
surprise anyone.
Promises on Paper
Chennai: As a champion of women's
causes, AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha would love to believe she has few peers. The party's
poll manifesto waxes eloquent on the subject and lambasts mainline parties for not
providing 33 per cent quota for women. The AIADMK's women cadres were thus looking forward
to getting at least eight of the 23 seats the party is contesting in alliance with the
Congress. But when the party released its list of candidates, only one women figured.
"There will be another election soon. I will consider 33 per cent then," she
assured the disappointed women ticket-seekers. Sonia Gandhi must have begun wondering:
with allies like her scoring self-goals, who needs enemies?
Missing Sisters
Delhi: The Talkatora Indoor stadium was
packed with clerics and on the stage were several Muslim leaders besides Congressmen Arjun
Singh, Manmohan Singh, Ahmad Patel and N.D. Tiwari. When it was her turn to speak,
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi began with the customary Buzurgon, bhaiyon aur beheno (elders,
brothers and sisters), only to suddenly realise that apart from her, Mohsina Kidwai was
the only woman present. Turning to the dais, she smiled and said: "I have a small
request. I hope next time we will not be left to feel alone." Even the flowing beards
and the white skullcaps could not hide the red faces of the clerics. |
