Pranab Mukherjee is juggling three responsibilities now. In addition to his External Affairs, he is also handling Prime Ministerial job and also the Finance Ministry. This vetern Congressman, who was disgraced by Congress Party, for aspiring exactly for this role in the wake of Indira Gandhi assassination, is admirably handling his present unique assignments. I think he is also handling Bengal Congress affairs.
But coalition politics and compulsions will not leave him alone. He has to go to Sri Lanka at a most un-diplomatic juncture just to mollycoddle Karunanidhi. It is another thing that the President of that country politely found time for this big brother despite engaged in a most decisive military exercise after Bangladesh War.
This poking of our nose in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country with the Kashmir problem already in our lap is just shooting one's own leg. If Pakistan raises hue and cry over the fate of Kashmiris, it is interference in our internal affairs. But same is not the case when we talk of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Double standards!
Though his timing was undiplomatic - when war is raging in its climax - his utterances were diplomatic enough. He might have even privately congratulated Sri Lanka.
Also contrast the present stance of our government with that of immature Rajiv Gandhi, who was led the garden path by the wily Jayawardane and India had to lose face by the rout that IPKF suffered then.
Sonia is better than Rajiv, Coalition politics and Karunanidhi not withstanding.
...ponder
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