upshot of a powerful nudge from Washington

 Former BJP leader L K Advani on Monday asked aloud if the government's decision to start foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan was the "upshot of a powerful nudge from Washington".

"The question people have been asking in a more straightforward manner is ... is its (India's) latest U-turn on dialogue the upshot of a powerful nudge from Washington?" the former deputy prime minister wrote in his blog.

The offer of dialogue, he pointed out, came despite the government's earlier insistence on "steadfastly refusing to resume talks with Pakistan until Islamabad brings those behind the Mumbai attacks to justice."

"New Delhi's sudden announcement last week that India was willing to hold foreign secretary level parleys with Pakistan has naturally made many political analysts in the country ask: is this the consequence of (Barack) Obama's assertion being put into action?" writes Advani.

Advani, an advocate of tough posture towards Pakistan, was alluding to an pre-election interview by Obama in which he hinted at appointing a special envoy for the Kashmir issue to resolve the India-Pakistan tensions.

During the presidential campaign in 2008, Obama had said that "working with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the Kashmir crisis in a serious way" would be among the critical tasks of his administration if he was elected.

Advani contended that India's change of stand had led to gloating in Pakistan. He referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's remarks boasting "gleefully that it was international pressure that had forced India to return to the negotiating table!"

He reminded the government of the February 22, 1994 parliament resolution on Jammu and Kashmir that condemned Pakistan's support to subversive activities in the state.

"The country, the government as well as the world would do well to keep the above resolution in mind," Advani said.

Making Politics everything either its good for the country or the bad one.

No 2 authority in Maha says CM Chavan

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Monday disapproved of Union Minister Sharad Pawar’s meeting with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray making it clear that his government was “competent enough” to give adequate security to IPL matches. 

“I do not think there is need to take permission from any other authority in the State... There cannot be an extra-constitutional authority,” Mr. Chavan told reporters. “…The government is competent, it is the authority and there cannot be two authorities in State,” he added 

(Reports said Mr. Pawar, who is also president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, requested Mr. Thackeray to withdraw his threat against Australian cricketers’ participation in the IPL cricket tourney.) 

Mr. Chavan, however, refused to comment on why Mr. Pawar met Mr. Thackeray on the issue. 

“Don’t ask me. It will be better you ask Pawar, who is a senior leader, about his motive behind meeting Thackeray,” Mr. Chavan said adding that a “democratically elected” government will perform its duty “as expected.”

In a strong message to the Shiv Sena, the Chief Minister said all security will be provided and “any body who will try to take law in hands, try to perpetrate any violent incident, state government will take stern view and initiate legal action.”

To a question on VHP threatening to hold the release of Sharukh Khan’s latest movie My Name is Khan, Mr. Chavan said “nobody can take law in hands. We will take action if somebody is giving such threats. Law will take its course, let them say whatever they want.” 

“I will also go to see the movie along with my family members,” he added.

About his meeting with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr. Chavan said he discussed the “problems of Mumbai” with him. 

“I met the Prime Minister and discussed the problems of Mumbai. To expedite desalination process, Central grant should be given to our state as it is being given to other States. I requested the Prime Minister to help my State,” he said. 

NCP justifies Pawar-Thackeray meeting

 

Meanwhile, the NCP on Monday justified its chief’s discussion with Mr. Thackeray contending that in a democracy dialogue and discussion are important. 

NCP spokesman D.P. Tripathi said Mr. Pawar had met Mr. Thackeray along with BCCI chief Shashank Manohar to convince the Sena supremo about holding of the IPL matches in Mumbai and there was no political import to the meeting.

“In democracy we persuade people through discussion and dialogue,” Mr. Tripathi said. 

At the same time he agreed with Mr. Chavan that there was no extra-constitutional authority. 

Mr. Tripathi also insisted that persuasion is far more important than coercion in a democratic state.