Visits by foreign dignitaries usually mean a series of tedious meetings followed by boring official dinners where the menu is more interesting than the speeches. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha is trying to inject some life into this somnolent routine.When Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov came calling last week, Sinha staged a special Kathak performance by Aditi Mangaldas. Kamilov was charmed. From then on, business was smooth with the two countries setting up a joint working group on terrorism and sharing concerns about the Afghan situation. Given India's many dance forms, Sinha should have no difficulty in keeping his guests amused.

The drubbing in Gujarat has certainly altered the working style of the AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Kamal Nath. After the January 5 Congress Working Committee meeting on the Gujarat results, he has begun attending office for an hour every afternoon. While it is unclear whether he has been instructed by the Congress president to do so, the Chhindwara MP is not enjoying his daily trip to 24 Akbar Road. He is forced to receive favour-seekers from across the country. Not all perks of office are pleasant.

When some local activists trooped into a Bhubaneswar police station last week to lodge complaints against five Orissa ministers for not turning up for the Republic Day celebrations, it made for a big story. The media turned it into a great scandal and the ministers were roundly castigated for their "lack of patriotism". Some Congressmen even demanded that the ministers should resign.

Now, however, it is the critics who have egg on their face. Enquiries reveal that four of the five ministers were not allocated any districts to unfurl the national flag and, therefore, by staying away, they had committed no breach of protocol or insulted the tricolour. Clearly, a "patriotic" media and "paranoid" Congressmen had got their facts all wrong.

CONFESSIONAL

M. Venkaiah Naidu The BJP president spoke to Editor Prabhu Chawla on Seedhi Baat on the recent reshuffle in the Government and the party

Q. Who was the target of the reshuffle?
A. The Opposition. Our objective is to win the election.

Q. Why did Arun Jaitley return to the Government?
A. Vajpayeeji wanted him in the Law Ministry. Though I did not agree initially, finally ...

Q. Was the previous law minister not good enough?
A. No, but the prime minister realised that Jaitley would be better. The party leadership has to act for the good of the Government and the party.

Q. It sounds like Jaitley was not as good as Pramod Mahajan for party work. Why can't both of them be in the party at the same time?
A. That would have been very good but we have to shoulder responsibilities of a government too. The prime minister was keen on Jaitley joining the Government. And I told him that in such a scenario we need a capable leader to replace him in the party.

Q. Was Shatrughan Sinha shifted because of his poor performance as a health minister?
A. It was the prime minister's decision. He decided that Sinha would be better in the shipping department. It's an important portfolio. Sinha is a very good speaker.

Q. Can he replace you as party chief?
A. Why not? He can be in my place any time.

Q. It is the first time that party president was actively involved in the reshuffle. Why?
A. The basic aim is better performance in the Government as well as in the party. The second reason is to bring about social and regional balance.

Seedhi Baat is telecast on Aaj Tak on Wednesdays at 9.30 p.m. and on Thursdays at 12.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.