Vis-a-Vis

A.B. VAJPAYEE former prime minister versus H.R. BHARDWAJ Union law minister

"The kind of letter written by the PMO shows the CBI was pressurised to reopen the Ayodhya case against L.K. Advani."

"The letter was routine. Advani should be grateful to the CBI for not filing the revision petition against the Rae Bareli court order."

EPILOGUE: election time, the PMO letter provides good fodder for the BJP.

VOICES

"She is temperamental. Nobody will take her seriously."

Laloo Prasad Yadav, Union railways minister and RJD chief, on Uma Bharati being BJP's star campaigner in Bihar

"If I am healthy, it is no news. If I fall sick, it is news. So we should remain healthy."

L.K. Advani, BJP president, cautioning partymen that the media is not to be blamed for highlighting the party's weakness

"Keeping in mind the poor health facilities in Bihar hospitals, if any person out of sensitivity gives money to a starving person, he does not commit any crime or sin."

George Fernandes, NDA convener, who is accused of violation of election code of conduct, for giving money to a Dalit

"Technique is not the all-important thing. Everything boils down to bat and ball. It is eventually the adjustment that is crucial."

Sachin Tendulkar, cricketer

"I don't think our cinema is opening up enough doors. There is too much stagnancy."

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, filmmaker

THE BUZZ OF THE WEEK

A.B. Vajpayee's revelation that P.V. Narasimha Rao had backed India's nuclear bomb is revealing. India was ready to test in 1995 but Rao got cold feet and allowed the BJP to take credit-and poll victory.

PICTURE SPEAK

Pre-poll pricks: Laloo

PATNA: RJD supremo and Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav could find his electoral campaign in Bihar derailed. The Election Commission's Legal Adviser K.J. Rao, after touring Patna, Nalanda and Hajipur, has submitted his report to the chief election commissioner on the violation of the model code. It was the same Rao who had recommended countermanding of the Lok Sabha polls in Chapra.

This coincides with signs that the Congress high command is not amused by Laloo's antics: he has become a perennial source of embarrassment for the upa Government. Taking advantage of his battle with the EC, the Congress is now demanding at least 100 seats in the Bihar polls. It is also speculated that the Congress may join the new alliance with LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar to dislodge the Laloo-Rabri Devi regime in Bihar. But so far the Congress move is being seen as an attempt to blackmail Laloo. Laloo, however, has ruled out chances of any split in secular votes and rubbished the talks of the Congress joining any other alliance in the elections. But if the EC does crack down on him, his bargaining position could change quite a few equations.

-By Sanjay Kumar Jha

BHOPAL The tussle under the surface between Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur and Uma Bharati has taken a sharp turn. Bharati loyalist Sunil Nayak was dropped from the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet soon after Bharati's return to the BJP. Nayak was asked to sign a letter of resignation which he refused and the same afternoon he was dropped.

The grounds were ludicrous. A fortnight ago, Nayak had made a statement in Bharati's support demanding revocation of her suspension and return to the state. At the time, Nayak was not even admonished or asked to explain. While clearly the Uma Bharati saga refuses to die down, unfortunately for Gaur he is not seen as a long-term incumbent even by his closest sympathisers.

-By Lakshmi Iyer

REVOKED: The suspension of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharati from the BJP, by party President L.K. Advani, more than a month after she openly challenged his authority.

DIED: Nripen Chakraborty, 99, veteran Marxist leader and former Tripura chief minister, two days after being readmitted into the CPI(M) from which he had been expelled in 1995 for violating party discipline.

ISSUED: By the Government, an ordinance to amend the Patents Act to meet WTO obligations before the December 31 deadline. The proposed amendment was necessitated as the country has only patents for processes and not products.

ANNOUNCED: By India, unilateral relaxation of the visa regime for Pakistani nationals above 65 years and below 12 years, as part of confidence-building measures.

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