Who is the real Amitabh Bachchan? Not just the persona that recites his Babuji’s Madhushala in his gifted, sonorous voice at every function. Not just an accomplished actor portraying the gamut of human nature. He is a shrewd actor indeed and deep within lurks a politician, who lost out years ago to the vagaries of fate.
While the nation shunned Narendra Modi – and his own party was wary of his double-edged appeal – the Big B has embraced him. And not because of any love for the man or the state of Gujarat or with an eye on tax exemption for his film, Paa.
The Bollywood star is engaged in rehabilitating two close friends who had steered him out of financial trouble some years ago. Also, one of them, Amar Singh, is currently unemployed and bereft of opportunities to raise the decibel level of his voice.
Bachchan has not charged for lending his name to the Gujarat government. Sources in JALSA reveal that Bachchan and his two associates propose to apply for a huge SEZ in Gujarat. This has reportedly been agreed to in principle. Bachchan’s associates had been looking for an opportunity to mend their ties with Modi, and the actor struck the right note. It suits Modi, too, as he is looking for acceptance in the mainstream.
Petty politics in Congress
general secretaries’ moves
There is one General Secretary in the Congress who is outspoken on policy matters. When Satyavrata Chaturvedi criticized Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on the price rise of foodgrains, party workers were gladdened but Pawar and his coterie took it up with the Congress. And Janardan Dwivedi, another Brahmin and General Secretary, lost no time in settling scores with Chaturvedi. He announced that Chaturvedi had been removed as spokesperson of party for criticizing Pawar.
The fact is that those at 24 Akbar Road, Congress headquarters, know that many moons ago Mukul Wasnik and Chaturvedi refused to work as spokes person under Dwivedi. The latter has never disclosed anything of import to the media, being confined to issuing the formal press release.
So Chaturvedi is unperturbed by Dwivedi’s move as he has direct access to 10 Janpath. But Dwivedi is unable to understand the message emanating from the palace.
Aiyar’s rocking again
may become minister
Mani Shankar Aiyar is back with a bang. His nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India has shown the thumb to the power coterie around Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose members are Mani haters. He is likely to be appointed Minister with a significant portfolio.
More important, his splendid entry into the pavilion is an indication that the Congress leadership is restituting its authority on the government. If Congress insiders are to be believed, there is little harmony between the Prime Minister’s Office and the party. Congress leaders are open about their aversion to Manmohan’s Americanomics.
It appears that Captain Satish Sharma is also likely to be rehabilitated. Are PC and Montek picking up the strains of music emanating from 10 Janpath?
Patel plans and plots
air india merger on the anvil
Praful Patel is unstoppable. Even 10 Janpath is powerless as far as the Ministry of Civil Aviation is concerned. After duping the nation of Rs 5000 crore and paving the way for a similar sum to be whittled away in the next five years, he has become a despot whom none dares question.
Civil Aviation Ministry sources say his latest move is to merge Air India and all Indian Airlines outfits and wind up India’s international flights. A secret meeting has already taken place in Bangalore with the private operators who will directly benefit from this. Ministry officials are apprehensive as mainly two airlines stand to benefit. But, as long as Patel has one important connection in the right place in the government, he will zoom ahead.
