I'm a loyalist, not a sycophant: Arjun

Tue, May 13 10:15 AM

Isolated in the party following his controversial remarks about internal democracy in the Congress, the Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on Monday made an about turn saying the Congress was 'very democratic' and rejected suggestions that there was a tension between him and the party high command. Arjun Singh also said that he was a loyalist and not sycophant.

Two days after Congress President Sonia Gandhi gave him a cold-shoulder at a university convocation ceremony, they met again on Monday evening at a meeting of the party top brass at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence. The meeting is learnt to have discussed the security scenario in the wake of terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir.

Ahead of the meeting, the minister rejected suggestions that Sonia Gandhi was unhappy with him: "I have not felt like that. What can I say about a thing which has no base?"

Talking to reporters, he also reiterated that AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has the capacity to be a potential prime ministerial candidate, though he clarified he was not seeking removal of Manmohan Singh or suggesting to make Rahul PM right now. Asked whether it meant that Manmohan Singh should not be projected as the PM in the next polls, Singh said it was for the party to decide on the issue when elections come.

The HRD Minister's about-turn on internal democracy in the party came shortly after an AICC spokesperson gave clear signals that the party high command was not impressed by his pledge on Sunday of lifelong loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

"The Congress party is very democratic and we are accused of too much multi-layered discussion. So, any charge of lack of democracy cannot but be baseless," AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press briefing.

Taking on the HRD Minister, who had said that he did not support Emergency, he said, "We do not recollect his ever coming out in opposition to the Emergency in the last 30 years."

The spokesperson sought to justify public criticism of the minister by party leaders arguing, "It is a free country, free party. If an opinion is aired, you must not forget that counter opinions will also be aired." Singhvi, however, added that the chapter was closed for the Congress as "he opened the book and he has closed it".

Sensing the high command's mood, Singh, who had said in an interview in a book on him that the process of consultation in the party had fallen into a bit of disarray, told reporters on Monday that he had never said there were no consultations. "The Congress is very democratic," he said.

In the context of AICC spokesperson's remarks about his stance on Emergency, Singh said he had told both Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi in private conversation that it should not be misused.

Singh also denied that Sonia had ever asked him to give up the HRD Ministry. "She never spoke to me about it. Never," he said. Asked about leaders like Ajit Jogi whom he had brought into politics and who were critical of his recent statements, he said: "Don't ask me the list of what sins and good deeds that I have done."

New face of Russian power: End of KGB Raj?

Moscow, May 13 (PTI) The new cabinet ministers and key officials of Kremlin administration appointed by President Dmitry Medvedev could spell the end of KGB Raj even as his mentor and predecessor Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB man, retains his clout as the prime minister, the number two job in the hierarchy.

In the rebooting of the Kremlin power matrix Putin's old-time KGB friends like FSB director General Nikolai Patrushev and Anti-narcotics Agency Viktor Cherkessov have lost their jobs.

Both, Patrushev and Cherkessov, belonged to the rival groups of "Siloviki"(power ministers) inside the Kremlin and were involved in infighting to retain their clout ahead of the presidential polls. Cherkessov even went to media to wash the dirty linen in public.

His mentor, in the Kremlin clan, Justice Minister Vladimir Ustinov lost the job in the new power configuration.

He himself was sacked from the powerful post and transferred to the cabinet to serve as the Chief of the Arms Procurement Agency for the defence services under Prime Minister Putin.

Medvedev appointed FSB Chief Patrushev as the Secretary of National Security Council -- a post whose importance totally depends on the will of Russian President.

Many, including Putin, held this post in the past.

Leader of the another rival Kremlin clan and Rosneft oil major chairman, an ex-KGB man Igor Sechin has been moved to Russian White House with Putin to look after a wide range of issues including non-military industry and energy resources as vice premier.

Another former KGB operative Sergei Ivanov, whose name was doing rounds along with Medvedev as Putin's successor, has been demoted to the simply vice premier from his earlier post of First Deputy Prime Minister.

At the cabinet meeting Putin had clearly defined the charges of all the vice premiers but did not mention the areas to be looked after by Ivanov.

In a parallel development President Medvedev abolished the post of deputy chairman of the Military Industry Commission which was held by Ivanov's subordinate and ally Vladislav Putilin.

Appointment of ex-premier Viktor Zubkov, a Soviet-era agricultural technocrat and liberal Igor Shuvalov without KGB background, as first deputy prime ministers indicates the need of the hour of innovative transformation and modernisation of the former Communist nation into an affluent modern society based on liberal values.

When Putin came to power in December 1999, amid the chaos of the Soviet collapse, he hardly could depend on any political or any other forces except his former KGB colleagues or corrupt bureaucrats.

Putin, in past eight years of his rule, was himself seems to be eager to contain the influence of his former KGB colleagues in the power structures. Anyway it was not Medvedev's but Putin's choice to pick a liberal successor to move ahead with the liberal development of the country.

Five Kolkata Night Rider players asked to leave team hotel

Kolkata, May 13: (PTI) In an apparent bid to cut cost, the Kolkata Knight Riders team management on Monday "politely" asked five of the players, who are yet to feature in the side's 14-member squad in any match, to leave the team hotel.

The players are Ranadeb Bose, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sourasish Lahiri, Yashpal Singh and Hokkaido.

One of the players said they were "politely given the option of either staying at the team hotel or going home".

"It was clear what the the team managment wants.

Apparently coach John Buchannon feels that he has found his set combination and had no need for the fringe players," one of the players said.

Fit-again Tendulkar to make IPL debut against Chennai

Mumbai, May 13: Mumbai Indians' hopes got a big shot in the arm when their icon player and captain Sachin Tendulkar on Monday declared himself fully fit to play his first Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on May 14.

"Yes I will be playing the match on May 14. I feel very comfortable. It has been tough and disappointing to have missed the two tests against South Africa and the first seven IPL ties," Tendulkar told reporters after a strenuous practice sessions under lights.

"It has been hard work and with help from the physio and masseuse," Tendulkar, who has not played a competitive match since March-end due to a groin injury, said.

Tendulkar said though ace South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock had done a commendable job as captain, resurrecting the team's fortunes after a string of defeats in the first four matches, he would take over the reins now that he is fit.

"Shaun Pollock was the makeshift captain and has done a terrific job but I will be captaining the side," Tendulkar said.

He will open the innings with Sri Lankan ace Sanath Jayasuriya for the Mumbai Indians against Chennai, Tendulkar said.

The batsman however refused to be drawn into comments over off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who has been banned from the IPL for slapping S Sreesanth after the Mumbai Indians match against Punjab Kings XI at Mohali.

"It is a past chapter. Let's put it behind and look ahead," Tendulkar said.

"It's not about who is captain but about helping each other," Tendulkar said.

Talking in detail about his rehabilitation process, the ace batsman explained that the first half was spent in taking complete rest.

"The first half of my rehabilitation was done by taking rest and I was not allowed to play. I spent time on strengthening my muscles and swimming in the pool. All these contributed to my recovering full fitness," he said.

When asked about the team's performance so far, especially the defeats, Tendulkar said the first two matches were very close and in the crunch moments went in the opposition's favour.

The third and fourth matches the team could not compete as expected, he said, adding the key for the turn around in the team's fortunes leading to its three match winning streak was the ability to take early wickets.

"We could get early wickets and that was the key," Tendulkar said.

The master batsman was also very confident that the crowd would support the home team as has always been the case at the Wankhede stadium.

"The crowd has always been a constant support for us and like Shaun has said earlier it acts as the twelfth man for us," Tendulkar said.

When asked if he would be looking to strike good form after an injury lay-off like in the past, he said, "I always try hard."

About the rivals from Chennai, Tendulkar said,"They are a tough side. There will be plenty of talking done in the team before the match, it will be a question of implementing them."

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