|
 Q.
You mooted the audit of the MP/MLA Local Area Development fund during
elections. Was it the right time?
A. Election is the time when voters put pressure on political parties
to address their issues. Now all have agreed to a public audit of Rs 1,600
crore or so under this head.
Q. Your meeting with Sonia Gandhi fuelled speculations about your
return to the Congress.
A. If I want a national consensus, how can I omit the Congress? I'm
not joining any political party. I'm not even a Lok Morcha member.
Q. Do you think Sonia met you because of the steps taken to extradite
Bofors pay-off accused Ottavio Quattrocchi?
A. Don't read motive in every act. There is goodness in all.
Q. Are you upset with Mulayam Singh Yadav for not giving your son
Ajeya a ticket?
A. My equations matter little, my goals do. My son did not want to contest.
Besides, these can be considerations only for those who do not understand
politics fully.
Q. Why are you opposed to the use of filmstars and helicopters in
election campaigns?
A. Election is a time for political education and debate. The presence
of filmstars trivialises issues. As for choppers, we must cut costs. As
prime minister, I campaigned in three state polls by road.
Q. Is it the end of the road for caste and religion politics?
A. Yes. The next decade will be of hunger politics.
-Lakshmi Iyer
TREMORS
Update on Indo-Russian Ties
|
 |
Terrorism: Russia backs India fully
in its fight against cross-border terrorism, sends blunt message
to Pakistan.
|
 |
Defence: Nuclear subs to be leased
to India; Russia open to a joint futuristic weapons programme.
|
|
|
Trade:
The two-way trade last year stood at about Rs 6,400 crore. Aim is
to match trade volumes of the Soviet era. |
 |
Axis:
Russia wants a trilateral relationship among Delhi, Moscow and Beijing.
India is cagey. |
|
CURRENT
ISSUE FEB 18, 2002
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