In the end, there were more red faces than sore throats. The media storm in the wake of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee's aborted Lucknow trip may have been the proverbial one in a tea cup but it shows that conspiracy theorists currently hold sway. Seldom has a sore throat (and Vajpayee's cancellation of a press conference) earned so many column inches and engendered a plethora of theories-ranging from Vajpayee's reluctance to meet BJP dissidents to it being an excuse to avoid taking on the anti-disinvestment lobby at a cabinet meeting scheduled for the following day. Also on the excuse agenda was the Tenth Plan document which some cabinet colleagues want to amend to make it more "pro-farmer". Finally, it was seen as a subterfuge to stave off a confrontation with the Sangh Parivar, which has raised the Ram temple issue yet again. Inevitably, the "hidden hand" of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani was also speculated upon.

It was only after doctors confirmed that the prime minister was suffering from viral fever did the speculation abate, but the illness has put key decisions on hold. His most pressing concern is rumoured to be to counter the attacks on Principal Secretary in the PMO Brajesh Mishra. A little rest and recuperation should set him up to take on the increasingly vocal critics within the Parivar-an attack far more virulent than that of a virus.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The statement cannot even be uttered by an uncivilised brute. This shows Praveen Togadia's moral and mental bankruptcy."

S.M. Krishna, Karnataka chief minister, on the VHP leader's derogatory remark against Sonia Gandhi

VOICES

"Our position is clear. The Pakistan side has been sustaining and sponsoring cross-border terrorism. To have any atmossphere conducive to dialogue, there must be an absolute end to this activity."

Colin Powell, US secretary of state

"I would be surprised if the people are not disappointed. They did not hazard all the risks and come out to vote to have Governor's rule."

Girish Saxena, Jammu and Kashmir governor

"Brajesh Mishra has the credit of putting India in the lap of the US."

Giriraj Kishore, VHP senior vice-president, on the National Security Adviser

"In India, there are only two superstars-Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar."

Virender Sehwag, cricketer, on how it feels to be a superstar

VS ON
Sunita Rani testing positive for drugs

"Sunita has sullied India's image. She should be given exemplary punishment.

Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, Athlete

"If a ban is slapped on her, I feel the coaches and the doctors should also be suspended."

Milkha Singh, "The Flying Sikh"