Facing it on Facebook

Pervez Musharraf has clinched another, (hope I am not branded unpatriotic for such a comment) tactical victory over old rival Vajpayeeji.

After his media-hyped Nahervali Haveli trip to Old Delhi, the much-criticised Agra Summit and controversial Kargil, Musharraf has scored another ton with his personal account on Facebook. On this site, that was constructed about a month ago, but was made public few days back, the dynamic (please forgive me for my somewhat misplaced sense of hero worship) former Pakistani president allows his 'friends and fans' controlled peek-a-boos into his private life.

As fans and group members get to know why Musharraf loves Ben Hur and how Mukesh and KL Saigal have the right notes to perk up his mood, smartly camouflaged comments about why the young in Pakistan prefer him to the present regime are also highlighted.

Musharraf doesn't need Pakistan TV anymore to voice his opinion about his nation's imminent economic collapse, he just has to post his unedited speech video on Facebook. Pakistanis from Lahore to London hear him without interruption.

If, our dear Vajpayeeji had such reach, he may have today given a fitting and very public reply to Justice MS Liberhan. He wouldn't have to wait for his party's half-hearted efforts to clear his name.

But not all leaders can handle such uncensored public glare and for such long periods. Vajpayee's political progeny LK Advani seems to have learnt it the hard way when he discontinued blogging as hate messages and jeers filled his blog site after the poll drubbing of his party!

But we have Shashi Tharoor as well, who despite almost fatal faux pas on his twitter account, continues to wage the virtual war of words. Let's see how long this dictatorship lasts!