Relying on us MPs

Corporates have been known to fight proxy wars through politicians, both within and without Parliament. But now another trend has emerged in the national spotlight — that of politicians fighting a proxy war by mudslinging corporates perceived to be close to their political rivals.

A powerful Mumbai-based business house has been at the receiving end of a tirade by a member of Parliament from a regional party which owes its existence to backward caste politics in Uttar Pradesh. And it’s more than just one MP mustering courage to fight a powerful business house. It’s actually a case of one political party trying to settle scores with a rival party.

A representative of this business house called the supremo of the political party to know why they were being singled out by their MP. The rep was, in pretty straight forward fashion, asked to put an end to his family’s friendship with the top two bosses of a rival political party in the state. Not surprisingly, the business house expressed its inability to do so. Following which it was told that the campaign against it would continue.

Interestingly enough (isn’t an enemy’s enemy a friend?), an arch business rival of this particular corporate house moved in to cash in on the opportunity. Thus has begun its very cosy relationship with the political party in question. Look out for some fireworks in the near future!

Blairing forth
Blair coming here again? Yes and no! This time it won’t be the British prime minister, but the US commander in chief of the Pacific Region Admiral Dennis Blair. Can we hear sighs of relief at the British High Commission? Also, on their way to New Delhi are the head of policy at the US defence department, Douglas Feith, and assistant secretary of state for global affairs Do Briansky. And these are just the officials who have firmed up their plans for a visit over the next four to eight weeks. If one includes those like US secretary of state Colin Powell, and US defence secretary Don Rumsfeld, who cobbled together their programmes at barely a week’s notice, there may be many more visits in store. Talk of boosting flagging inflow of foreign arrivals.