Now that it's on our heads willy-nilly, the Commonwealth Games is not the only event giving Dilli jitters.
Now that it's on our heads willy-nilly, the Commonwealth Games is not the only event giving Dilli jitters. There is increasing nervousness about US President Barack Obama's visit in November. With Kashmir on the boil and the US president having to deal with mid-term polls, experts have already lowered expectations from the presidential visit. Recently, India Inc's response when Ohio became the latest US state to end tax breaks for American firms that outsource jobs clearly shows that the move has hit India where it hurts.
With Obama trying to win back his disillusioned electorate, he may be talking more to his audience back home from India than about things India expects, such as a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and expansion of economic ties among a host of others issues. Consequently, at the moment it doesn't look likely that the much vaunted visit of the US President will result in any radical movement in bilateral ties.
Cold comfortThe BCCI may well have stumped Lalit Modi, but few would assert that the cricket board is out of the IPL woods. Dilli's heightened interest in the BCCI goes beyond Modi's alleged financial shenanigans. And in most cases involving mega bucks and powerful persons, there is no saying where the money trail leads to.
Already the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has turned its scanner towards the Board for alleged foreign exchange violations and income tax rules. The Supreme Court's blunt poser to board secretary N Srinivasan may well be an indication of where matters might be headed.
No doubt, the board's annual general meeting later this week will have to deal with these new problems. For those still obsessed with Modi may well find that the involvement of Dilli has taken the game to a whole new level, which cannot be a comforting thought for members of this cozy boys' club.
