Vis-a-Vis

SUN YUXI Chinese ambassador to India versus PRANAB MUKHERJEE Minister for external affairs

"The whole of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory and Tawang is in it. We are claiming all of that."

"Arunachal is an integral part of India. The position of the respective countries with regard to Arunachal is well-known."

EPILOGUE: The claim could be pressure tactics before the visit of the Chinese President.

VOICES

"Will the BJP leadership ever be able to look into my eyes? They have been completely exposed."

Uma Bharati, expelled BJP leader and Bharatiya Janshakti chief

"The proposal to dismiss the Uttar Pradesh Government is under serious consideration. The Centre cannot behave like a hapless spectator and will exercise its Constitutional rights."

Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union minister of state for home

"I have earned the ire of terrorists by advocating unity among India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for lasting peace in the region."

Mulayam Singh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh chief minister

"It is character assassination and double murder of Jessica Lal. He (Ram Jethmalani) justified male sexual aggression. I did not expect that he would stoop so low."

Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Politburo member

"The widespread response to SEZ proves that there's some oomph in the idea."

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commission

THE BUZZ OF THE WEEK

Speculation about an enhanced role for Rahul Gandhi is growing in the Congress. He has been meeting key members of the Uttar Pradesh party unit on the eve of the polls. Whether UP or AICC, Rahul's profile is about to get a boost.

PICTURE SPEAK

SELF SCRUTINY: Sabharwal

After serious objections from both the chief justice and his predecessor R.C. Lahoti, the UPA has readied a draft Bill which will allow complaints against sitting judges. The Judges (Inquiry) Bill-which will amend the existing 1968 Act-will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament.

Sabharwal had returned the draft Bill with suggestions which have been incorporated. The most significant change in the Bill is the establishment of a National Judicial Council (NJC) comprising the CJI, two seniormost judges of the Supreme Court and two judges from high courts, nominated by the CJI.

The NJC proposes a two-tier method of commencement of inquiry against sitting judges. Citizens can directly approach the NJC with complaints or it can take suo motu note. Parliament can also refer complaints to it. The NJC can grant punishments ranging from censure to the option of 'resignation'. The method of impeachment will still lie with Parliament.

Lahoti had disagreed with the original composition of the council which included a nominee of the prime minister, while Sabharwal did not want Supreme Court judges to be scrutinised by high court judges. He had also objected to inquiry against retired judges. A similar Bill introduced during the NDA regime lapsed in 2003.

Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj has placated Sabharwal by assuring him that retired judges will not be investigated, the CJI will be out of the ambit of inquiry of the NJC and no high court judges will sit on the panel examining complaints against sitting Supreme Court judges.

The Bill is, however, silent about punishment for non-performance or delays in decisions. Jurists believe that is still the major cause of a huge number of pending cases in Indian courts. The NJC will hopefully devise its own mechanism to deal with it.

-By Neeraj Mishra

PICTURE SPEAK

FIT IS HIP: (L-R) Purie, Abraham and Shaikh

The evening began with a stunning acrobatic performance by an Ukranian duo, who received an encore request that they fulfilled later in the evening. A fashion show choreographed by Marc Robinson followed with shirtless male models and skimpily clad blondes taking to the ramp, only to be overshadowed by celebrities like Ashmit Patel, Rohit Roy, DJ Aqeel Ali, hotelier Timmy Narang, designer Lascelles Symons, businessman Ashish Raheja and others who personified the spirit of Men's Health. For the grand finalé, India Today Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie and Men's Health Editor Jamal Shaikh took to the ramp along with guest of honour John Abraham.

"I've been reading Men's Health for years and I'm the one who insisted Shaikh take over as editor when I heard this magazine was coming to India," Abraham said. "With fitness consciousness growing amongst men, there couldn't be a better time for Men's Health to come to India," said Purie, as the audience, comprising Parmeshwar Godrej, Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, Czaee Shah, Gauri Pohoomal, Farah Khan and a host of A-list celebs cheered on.

Men's Health is available in 43 countries. "It's your big brother, life coach and best friend," said Purie. Shaikh added, "Men's Health gives you advice on how to stay fit, eat right, look good and stay healthy. It's distinct from a clinical fitness mag that endorses XL-size muscles with veins popping out. Men's Health endorses healthier, happier living without going to the extremes. Little doubt then that Men's Health is referred to around the world as 'the magazine men live by.'"

PICTURE SPEAK

TITLE FIGHT: Yashodhara Raje and Jyotiraditya

All hell broke loose thereafter with the Congress becoming the shrillest champions of democracy decrying what they termed as blatant feudal pretensions. Yashodhara's office stated that it was not she but an overzealous secretary who had sent the notificaton to the state gazette.

In an interesting twist, however, Yashodhara's nephew Jyotiraditya Scindia, a Congress MP, told the media that he found his aunt's latest move out of place in a democratic polity. In his haste to be politically correct, the young Scindia scion forgot one thing: when the Congress Government in Delhi honoured his late father and named a road after him, it was called Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Marg.

But the Scindia vs Scindia battle is not restricted to the state. It is echoed in Parliament where Jyotiraditya sits in the treasury benches across his cousin from the BJP, Vasundhara Raje Scindia's son, Dushyant. The enmity between the two is so well known that a Congress MP quipped that perhaps the only time the two stop scoring against each other is when they play together on the MPs' cricket team. Each has a different forte. Dushyant keeps wickets while his older cousin is a batsman.

No one's fooled. It's not all play amongst the royals, whether in cricket or in politics.

-By Priya Sahgal

PICTURE SPEAK

KINSHIP: (L-R) Amit, Renu and Ajit Jogi

Renu's candidature is being opposed by PCC President Charandas Mahant and AICC Treasurer Motilal Vora who argue that Kota, a Congress stronghold, should be open to other party aspirants. Jogi's son Amit could be an aspirant from Marwahi. Actually, a Jogi in the House means increased intra-party politics.

-By Neeraj Mishra

DIED: Cricketer Polly Umrigar, 80. He represented India in 59 Tests from 1948 and was the first Indian to score a double Test century.

NAMED: Singer Lata Mangeshkar, as the recipient of the top French award, the Knight of the Legion of Honour, for her contribution to the world of music.

MERGED: K. Karunakaran's Democratic Indira Congress DIC(K) with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Kochi on November 12.

DISMISSED: By the Supreme Court, a PIL seeking a CBI inquiry against Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy for allegedly amassing wealth disproportion-ate to his income.

PICTURE SPEAK

Achuthanandan

-By M. G. Radhakrishnan

It's Not Fair

KOLKATA The Maidan, widely regarded as the city's lungs, is breathing hard. A court, on the basis of a PIL, had banned holding of fairs here in November 2003 and had directed the state Government to build a permanent venue similar to Delhi's Pragati Maidan. Most fairs have thus been asked to go to the unfinished venue, but not the book fair, thanks to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who feels the fair is special. Needless to say, environmentalists are up in arms.

-By Swagata Sen

Index