Mystery of missing honey bottles

Prime Minister Modi’s recent meeting with his Israeli counter-part Benjamin Netanyahu in New York grabbed headlines in both countries as it was the first time that the heads of the two countries met in over a decade. However, it is not known to all that BJP general secretary and RSS ideologue Ram Madhav, who was also present in the US during Mr Modi’s visit, played a key role in facilitating this meeting. Mr Madhav has travelled to Israel several times during his stint in the RSS. When Israeli deputy ambassador Yahel Vilan visited the BJP headquarters before Parliament debate on the Gaza violence during the last budget session, Mr Madhav was amongst the senior leaders he met. The ministry of external affairs apparently had some reservations about the Modi-Netanyahu meet in view of India’s pro-Palestine stand but these were brushed aside. Both the BJP and the RSS have always favoured strong ties with Israel, a view which has strong ideological moorings. Moreover, Mr Modi is a great admirer of Israel.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has been unusually low-key in the ongoing campaign for the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. Having learnt a bitter lesson in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Congress was keen to avoid another Modi vs Rahul contest. The party’s managers are privately relieved that he has chosen not to play a lead role in the electioneering given the strong antipathy towards the Congress in general and the Nehru-Gandhi scion in particular. Consequently, Rahul Gandhi has put in only a token appearance and that too, towards the end of the campaign. Congress insiders maintain that the few election meetings that Rahul did address were carefully scheduled in constituencies where the party candidate stood a good chance of winning. In Maharashtra, former CM Prithviraj Chavan was placed in an awkward position as it fell upon him to tell the Congress vice-president that he should confine his campaign to the rural belt with an eye on wooing the minority, tribal and SC voter. Rahul was studiously kept away from areas populated by the urban middle class who have little regard for the Congress leader.

Kalraj Mishra, minister of micro, small and medium enterprises, could do with the services of a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. No, there is nothing serious to be investigated but there is a mystery which needs to be cracked. Apparently, a visitor recently dropped in to meet Mr Mishra but when told that the minister was not in, left behind a gift of special bottles of honey from Khadi Gram Udyog. Mr Mishra found himself in an embarrassing position when the visitor called on him later in his office and asked if he had enjoyed the honey. The minister looked blank as he had no clue about the packet. Mr Mishra has been in a bind since then. He was unable to reveal to his visitor that he had not received his gift. On the other hand, he was also unable to make any inquiries about the honey bottles as it would amount to an admission that the minister had accepted a present. This is clearly not an option as Prime Minister Modi has issued instructions against receiving any gifts. As a result, the mystery of the missing honey bottles remains unresolved.

When the BJP appointed party loyalist Kesrinath Tripathi as West Bengal governor, it was confident that he would aid the Centre in taking on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. But the party is now furious with Mr Tripathi as he has gone by the rule book and endorsed the appointment of Ms Banerjee’s candidate Abhijit Chakrabarty as the next VC of Jadavpur University. New Delhi had apparently forwarded two other names but the governor ignored them. When an angry BJP leader called up Mr Tripathi to complain the governor pointed out that he was only following the Constitution. Mr Tripathi went on to cite the example of President Mukherjee who, he said, has also been endorsing the NDA government’s decisions. As a result, Ms Banerjee has softened her stand and the buzz is that she is reaching out to the Guv through the Prez.

Years ago, President Mukherjee created history when he became the first Indian defence minister to visit the Antarctic. Now he is all set for another landmark visit. This time, he will become the first Indian head of state and to cross the Arctic circle. President Mukherjee leaves on a six-day tour of Norway and Finland on Sunday and it is during this trip that he will cross the Arctic circle. While his trip to Finland is considered significant since an Indian President is travelling to Helsinki after 26 years, it is his visit to the Arctic which is even more important. There is worldwide interest in the region as it is rich in minerals and oil and gas. Mr Mukherjee’s visit will demonstrate that India is serious about its Arctic role.

The writer is a Delhi-based journalist