Vis-a-Vis

SHABANA AZMI actor versus SYED AHMED BUKHARI Imam, Jama Masjid

"The Quran speaks about a woman wearing clothes to cover her modesty, not her face."

"Who's authorised her to interpret the Quran? Her profession is to sing and dance, not to mislead Muslim women."

EPILOGUE: When it comes to the veil, nobody is trying to hide their feelings.

VOICES

"Natwar Singh's anger and frustration at the Volcker report is understandable. But that can't be an excuse for intemperate or threatening remarks."

Abhishek Singhvi, Congress spokesman

"Venugopal is one of the best doctors in the country. We all respect him. But he is also one of the worst administrators in the country."

Anbumani Ramadoss, Union health minister

"Sixteen per cent of the world's population is in India and 16 per cent of Indians live in Uttar Pradesh. If agriculture is neglected there, you should be ready to face the peril."

Raj Babbar, Jan Morcha president

"Only those who are born on Indian soil will understand the country's ethos and culture. Others will not."

K. Natwar Singh, former external affairs minister

"There is really no exceptional new talent in the country. They may be good at the domestic level, but they are not good enough for the international scene."

Dilip Vengsarkar, chairman, Indian cricket selection committee

THE BUZZ OF THE WEEK

A.K. Antony excused himself from the Congress chief ministers' conclave in Nainital citing acute sinusitis. Wonder what the new defence minister would do if, like George Fernandes, the army invites him to visit Siachen.

PICTURE SPEAK

STRATEGIC FRIENDSHIP: Manmohan (left) and Jintao

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi has informed CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan that the UPA Government intends to invite Hu to address the Parliament. For the Chinese President's convenience, the winter session would be advanced to November 22 from November 27, Dasmunshi supposedly told the CPI leader. Later, he denied having said anything as a "UPA Government representative."

When US President George Bush had visited India this March, sections within the Congress party and the Government had wanted him to address the Parliament; but the Left's anti-Bush protestations had made the Congress insecure, sources said. With a world leader again on Indian shores, the idea of a guest address in Parliament has resurfaced. But Washington isn't amused this time. With direct access to the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Indian communists are engaged in parallel diplomacy.

A CPI(M) delegation led by Politburo member Sitaram Yechury recently met CPC politburo members in Beijing. Detailed discussions on Indo-China relations were held with Chinese Foreign Minister Lizhao Xing. The CPI(M) leaders visited China's biggest special economic zone in Hainan province to study the sale of public land.

The Chinese seemed to have told Yechury that the UPA Government shouldn't insist on border talks during Hu's visit. CPC members are understood to have said that it was in India's interest to focus on bilateral trade instead.

China is India's second-largest trade partner after the US. In 2005, $18.7 billion (Rs 84,060 crore) was the value of bilateral trade, up from $1.16 billion (Rs 5,200 crore) in 1995.

By Satarupa Bhattacharjya

PICTURE SPEAK

NEW HEIRESS: (L-R) Rahul, Rao and Munde

Poonam supersedes her brother Rahul, who was touted to be his father's likely heir. But the BJP has barred his formal entry into the party following the drug controversy in June 2006. Rahul said he was "happy" for his sister. "Joining the party is a mere formality. I wish to continue working for the party," he said.

Meanwhile, Poonam has support from uncle Gopinath Munde. But certain sections of the BJP workforce are unhappy with the recent developments. The BJP hitherto was known to be an ardent critic of the Congress due to dynastic politics.

-By Prerana Thakurdesai

Some flashpoints that are driving a deep wedge between them are the delay over Cabinet expansion and nominations to boards and corporations. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy says he is ready to expand the Cabinet within two hours of the BJP furnishing a list of its nominees. The BJP is miffed that Kumaraswamy did not consider its nominees for the Karnataka Ekkikarana (unification) and Rajyotsava awards.

The parties are going their separate ways in the forthcoming byelection from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency. With the coalition partners clashing over everything, it remains to be seen if the rotation policy will stay.

-By Stephen David

APPOINTED: Admiral Sureesh Mehta, as the new chief of naval staff. Commissioned in 1967, he commanded the navy's western fleet during Operation Parakram against Pakistan in 2002.

WON: By Jeev Milkha Singh, the Volvo Masters of Europe Golf Championship, making him the first Asian to win a golf tournament in Europe and pocket $840,000 (Rs 3.8 crore).

CLEARED: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, in the Taj corridor case for the second time after a probe panel said there were no prima facie irregularities in the Rs 5,000 crore project.

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