All of Delhi is giggling about the rather international faux pas by the rapidly aging Foreign Minister SM Krishna. Making an ass of himself at the UN is one thing but brushing it aside as normal is absurd
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Clearly, this is one man who must have protection from higher authorities to have survived for so long. Of course, there is the sideshow of the blame game going on, with babus of Delhi wondering who will have to pay the price for the minister's inflicting a national embarrassment on an international stage.
There are some who believe that this may even alter the odds in the foreign secretary sweepstakes which are bound to come into play in the next couple of months. Buzz has it that Ranjan Mathai, India's envoy to France, Alok Prasad, deputy national security adviser, and Hardeep Puri, the permanent envoy to UN, are frontrunners, but that may change.
Fortunately, the Opposition, hobbled by LK Advani's equally inopportune revival of the Jinnah remark, hasn't had too much time to taunt Krishna. So, though the moment may have passed, Krishna's gaffe is bound to have some repercussions on either the Cabinet reshuffle or the next line of promotions at the foreign secretary level.
Height of trouble
Asia's longest runway at Dilli's airport has remained largely unused because of a Shiva statue which stands in the way of large aircraft during the final descent. For years the trust which runs the shrine refused to relocate the 80ft tall statue, but Dilli is finally relieved that an obvious solution may now be implemented.
To ensure the statue does not endanger the safety of landing aircraft, its height will be lowered by digging the ground below, without damaging it.
But while there is much relief all around, the Capital will continue live with yet one more example of laws being flouted with impunity and then being rectified at great expense.
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