Coomi Kapoor has been a journalist for the last four decades. Her forte has been political reporting. She has witnessed the shifting power equations in the capital -- from Indira Gandhi’s regime to the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party. She is presently contributing editor to The Indian Express. Earlier, she worked for the newspaper as chief reporter, special correspondent and editor, Delhi. Coomi has worked in several publications in different capacities. She was principal correspondent, India Today, editor news, Sunday Mail, bureau chief, Indian Post and political editor, Illustrated Weekly. She has been writing a political diary in a lighter vein since 1985 and her syndicated column was carried by many newspapers. She was also stringer for The Times, London, and columnist for The Star, Malaysia.
Inside track: Dress up
Manmohan Singh comes from a humble background and temperamentally felt more comfortable in a secure government job than a temporary position in power.
Manmohan Singh displayed a wry sense of humour and complete candour at a function last week to release the five-volume collection of his speeches. The audience consisted largely of academics and friends and there were only half-a-dozen Congresspersons present. Singh recalled that he was as taken aback on being appointed finance minister as when he was declared prime minister by Sonia Gandhi. After I G Patel declined the offer to be FM, P C Alexander vaguely mentioned the possibility of Singh being chosen. Since there was nothing definite, Singh left for Geneva for a conference. When he was unpacking on his return, he received a frantic call from Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, insisting he come for the swearing-in ceremony. “Get yourself dressed up,” was Rao’s cryptic advice. Singh comes from a humble background and temperamentally felt more comfortable in a secure government job than a temporary position in power. For instance, when Indira Gandhiwanted him in her Cabinet, he demurred, since he would lose his pension and job security. As a compromise, he was appointed member-secretary in the Planning Commission.
Spy cams at wedding
Guests to the recent Ambani wedding were requested in a letter, accompanying the invitation, to refrain from photographing the proceedings. But, the large number of videos which flooded WhatsApp groups indicate that the invitees did not respect the host’s wishes. From the mind-boggling jewellery to the high-powered politicians present, nothing remained secret. With elections round the corner, few politicians could afford to decline an invitation from India’s wealthiest industrialist. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were among the few top politicians who did not attend. Thanks to the presence of the glitterati, film stars and political heavyweights, prying cellphone cameras did not bother to focus on the senior officialdom of Maharashtra and Gujarat and the key bureaucrats from Delhi who were also present.
Fitness drive
Politicians are working hard to shed flab before the start of the gruelling campaign for the next elections. Narendra Modi has a gym in his South Block office and a fitness trainer who works for a paramilitary force. Modi’s problem is that he has such a crowded schedule that he gets to exercise only every other day. Many MPs and some ministers, including HRD Minister Prakash Javdekar and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, have been seen of late actively working out at the Constitution Club gym for parliamentarians. Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh takes regular walks in Lodhi Gardens and so does Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs, Vijay Goel. NCP president Sharad Pawar has also been exercising.
Bridge’s two mentors
Several governments over three decades take credit for the Bogibeel Bridge over the Brahmaputra, which was inaugurated on Christmas Day by PM Narendra Modi. The railway and road bridge will greatly boost connectivity in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Though the long-delayed project was part of the Assam Accord of 1985 and the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda in 1997, two individuals played a pivotal role in getting the project off the ground, despite enormous resistance from the Railways because of the unviable cost. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, elected as a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, was responsible for declaring the bridge a national project in 2007, so that 75 per cent of the cost was borne by the Finance Ministry. The late Ashok Saikia, additional secretary in the Vajpayee government and the then PM’s trusted aide, ensured that construction work began in 2002. Saikia, who was from the Assam cadre, understood the importance of the bridge for his state, and got the PMO to pressure the Railway Board to expedite implementation.
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