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The Loser Takes It All

You can rail against news channels, protest against 'trial by media', threaten writs and libel suits. Nothing helps. Once the roll starts, it rolls and rolls.

Vinod Mehta

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The decline and fall of a high-flying politician, brought down by hubris, bad luck, skulduggery or voter disenchantment, is a familiar enough sight. We need shed few tears for Mr Natwar Singh on this score. (To write his political obituary, though, may be a trifle premature.) In the case of the minister without portfolio, it is the collateral damage which is truly heart-rending. The Natwar Singh and Sehgal families must dread the arrival of the morning papers, wondering what further bad tidings they bring, what sordid revelations they unearth, what new dirt they print.

All families have dark secrets, some more than others. Usually, it is possible to keep some sort of a lid on them. In India, happily, the media do not indulge in the kind of investigative tabloid journalism devoted to the sensational and the salacious. Alas, when a political scandal hits town, not only is the aforementioned scandal replayed but anything else which may have voyeuristic appeal. In this scramble, professional norms are stretched and sometimes ignored under the guise of 'public interest'. It is assumed that the man on the Chandni Chowk bus has a constitutional right to be fully informed not just about the politician under the scanner, but of his kith and kin too.

In free and open societies with a free and open press, it is difficult to contain the excesses of such reportage. Since there is little sympathy for the individual in the dock, it is open season on his family too. This is the price democracies pay for enjoying the luxury of a free press. You can rail against news channels, protest against 'trial by media', threaten writs and libel suits. Nothing helps. Once the roll starts, it rolls and rolls. I take no position on this kind of journalism, neither do I wish to sound critical. I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful.

Mr Singh's family history is both troubled and tragic—and most of it has been played out in the public domain. The juice is now being added with relish, some of it true, some of it coloured, some of it exaggerated, some of it plain lies. The air is thick with stories of mysterious suicides, thuggery, illicit liaisons, shootings, school expulsions, errant behaviour, messy divorces. Indeed, the financial 'crime' may appear small change in the sordid narrative. And you can be sure that the macabre in these unverified stories improves with each telling.

At the best of times, K. Natwar Singh did not have many friends. However, even his enemies must feel sorry for him as he fights his way through this muck.

PRINT	SHARE	COMMENTS

Also In This Story

VOLCKERGATE

That Foreign Feeling

The Volcker report claims its first victim. Natwar Singh is stripped off his portfolio. What next? Updates

Smita Gupta

Loose Cannon, Off The Ramparts

In the US, they prefer Manmohan at the helm of foreign affairs to Natwar's unpredictability

seema Sirohi

Still-Born Third World Reich

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Anuradha Raman

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Princeling And Pals

Rich, brash, with rich friends and Papa to clear up his mess, Jagat's typical of the brat brigade

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Investigators have found discrepancies but crucial evidence is still far away

Saikat Datta

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They were already under investigation in connection with an illegal telecom exchange

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Notwithstanding his integrity, veteran Volcker can be accused of oversight and anomalies in the report. It's a character assassination method he has followed.

Prem Shankar Jha

VOLCKERGATE

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V. Sudarshan

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Filed In Topics: Volcker Report: Oil for Food Scam, Congress, Vinod Mehta

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Nov 18, 2005 12:00 AM 42	OLD MAC writes: > I am not sure what you meant by your comment. Outlook, like any self-respecting journal, needs to preserve its journalistic integrity rather than lament the lack of it among others. Hope this helps, Lakshmi Srinivas - -, USA
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 41	Lalit Bagai I heared some people were rioting and claiming territorial control of some place(s) in Danmark also while world press was focussing on the car torching orgy of 'disaffect youth' in France. Do you think Danmark will be able to handle this kind of violence when (it is a question of when, not if) it happens ? Cynic_Learner Cynic_Learner Delhi, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 40	I am enjoying the desperate rants chief smut editor Vinod Mehta has come out with. Seems like he knows that when it comes to protecting the dynasty, the dynasty does not care about pets..if this can happen to Natwarlal who has been at the feet of reigning Gandhis for decades, what can happen to Vinod Mehta when they become mebarrassment for say, Sonia and/or Congress. Anyway, Mr Mehta has something special about him. He can never keep his hands of smut. So bang came outlook when Debonair was finished. It is a logical folly to treat outlook as a newsmagazine. It should be treated for what it is....a propaganda organ of the Gandhi Dynasty. Cynic_Learner Delhi, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 39	I have read in a Danish paper that the documents collected by the Volker commission will be returned to the various countries who supplied them The cut of date is 1 st jan 2006. Now all that the UPA government has to do is to keep sitting on their butt til after 1 st jan. After this time evidence of any wrong doing will not be available, Congress and Natwar will be off the hook, as usual. Most likely Natwar will be back. All will be forgotten, and the media willget back to its BJP bashing once again. If the whole episode had taken place in Denmark, the evidence would have been collected by now, and bad guys would be in trouble. In fact Denmark has already started invesigations against major Danish companies who took part in the scam. That is the difference bewteen a modern well regulated state and Lalloo land. lalit bagai kalundborg, Brazil
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 38	http://news.webindia123...date=20051117&cat=World A link to an interesting article which says that long before Volcker an Iraqi newspaper had already mentioned about Congress involvement. Deep delhi, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 37	One major foreign policy which this little man (I mean Natwar not Mehta)did when in power was abstain from co sponsoring a UN resolution that was coming up in the UN General Assembly to commemorate January 27 every year as a memorial day for the six million Jews and others killed in the Holocaust. Surprisingly this never got a mention in our "free and fair" pseudo secular press or media. Meanwhile I am still trying to figure whose policies Natwar is trying to follow? Osama Bin Laden or Hitler? Coz only these two worthwhile leaders would have considered Natwar's actions exemplary. Deep delhi, India
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 36	It's surpirising that you should go so emotionally overboard about a certain Natwar Singh's exploits being dragged into public. Millions of people are exploited by politicians for decades together and nobody dares to question the stance or responsibility of the government; the supposed 'decline and fall' of a politician makes you suddenly remember the ethics of democracy and question the right of the man on the Chandni Chowk bus to be informed about the people he elects and rests faith in! Ironical, Mr Mehta! Fifty-odd years should be a long enough time for anyone with a moderate intelligence to understand the character of an Indian politician and the games he plays. - Vijayender Ch Bangalore Vj Hyderabad, India
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 35	OLD MAC >>"I am not sure what you meant by your comment" Not a surprise to anyone!! sreejith bangalore, india
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 34	I guess the outlooks' reasoning is making money being anti American pro jihadi like Natwar is no crime since they do it all the time anyway. Prithviraj Sydney, Australia
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 33	Lakshmi Srinivas writes: >>Why comment about distant rain when your house is on fire? I am not sure what you meant by your comment. Old Mac ???, United States
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 32	Mr Vinod Mehta's lament on the alleged "trial by media" of Natwar Singh would be comic if it were not tragic. A Laloo Yadav making a laboured point on the decline of moral standards in public life would sound less ridiculous. There is nothing in Outlook's brand of journalism that betrays the least amount of respect for truth, fairness and accuracy in journalism. More often than not, this glossy magazine has emulated the methods of the gutter press. The uninhibted mud-slinging fest that Outlook subjected Sankaracharya to stands as the crowning achievement of Mr Vinod Mehta and team. Thanks to the training they gave us, we should now be able to face the most loutish of Brit tabloids squarely in its face or masthead. That said, Mr Mehta is also laying it on thick. There is no trial by media in Natwar Singh's case. If anything, the media is working overtime to save Singh's skin, as also Moanmohan's, Sonia's and the Congress Party's. The whole episode is already out of news, even as a cover-up is under way. To complain of "trial by media" is like committing robbery and then shouting thief. V Rajan Chennai (Madras), India
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 31	Even by Old Mac's dreadful macaquian standards his performance below is overdoing it: "He states once (!) the powerful find themselves in a corner..." "It's good to see the famous and the powerful to (!) fall on their asses." Mac has never got off his ass's "ass". Thomas Nile London, United Kingdom
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 30	Old Mac says Mr Mehta's point is that 'it pours'. Why comment about distant rain when your house is on fire? Lakshmi Srinivas - -, USA
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 29	I believe Mr. Mehta is better off writing in debonnair (not sure on how the word spells) it will be good if he spares serious issues to the talented lot in outlook. Ajay Muscat, Oman
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 28	"This is the price democracies pay for enjoying the luxury of a free press. You can rail against news channels, protest against 'trial by media', threaten writs and libel suits. Nothing helps. Once the roll starts, it rolls and rolls. I take no position on this kind of journalism, neither do I wish to sound critical. I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful" Is Mr. Mehta trying to explain how inevitable his comments were against the Aacharyaas during his interview by BBC or is he repenting? Does he say Freedom of Press licenses "mudslinging"? Or even allowing rumours to walk with a 'silver stick"? The Press Council of India however will not agree with his sayings! V. Krishnan New Delhi, India
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 27	Did Vinod Mehta feel the same twinge of trouble when covering Shankaracharya or the much touted PMO story at the time of Vajpayee? Makes me wanna puke, this hypocrisy. Ajit Tendulkar Seattle, United States
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 26	Why is Mr.Mehta picqued when a congress leader is put under the scanner? Mr.Mehta , read some of your own magazine reports about George Fernandes before moralising about Natwar Singh sridhar Bangalore, India
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 25	Cannot expect you to be objective..But even then, pls refer to your coverage of the Shankaracharya episode and then judge whether you can actually talk of trial by media ankush poddar Kolkata, India
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 24	"However, even his enemies must feel sorry for him as he fights his way through this muck." I am definitely no fan of natwar so for all purposes I may be classified as an enemy but I definitely do not feel any remorse for whatever Natwar had to go through in fact I feel he got away too easy. The proper thing for Natwar as a Senior member of the parliament to do when his name appeared would have been to caution restraint and find out more on the same instead of irresponsibly attacking Volcker, US, UN etc. That kind of behaviour is definitely not expected of a Sr. Minister who represents India at all international forums. His response to the volcker report was like that of a child kicking and screaming besides throwing tantrums. Whatever happened to maturity? The media only played what they got and having got a loose cannon like him they obviously played it up for whatever it was worth. He and his son went around sprouting conspiracy theories at anyone who would listen. His entire behaviour post the report was very petty to say the least and to cow down his detractors within his party he also resorted to blackmail. It is said that one gets to know the true nature of a man by seeing how he behaves when his chips are down and seeing Natwars behaviour I believe he is the most unqualified man ever to have occupied the external affairs Ministry post. How in the world can we ever expect him to handle tricky negotiations or conduct complex diplomatic maneouverings with other countries with such behaviour. Regarding the media circus Natwar has only himself to blame media didn't force him to make a fool of himself, he willingly did so and I am sure that dumb fool must be still congratulating himself on his bravura performance in the media. Deep delhi, India
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 23	areu an independent editor or CWC mouthpiece.. make up ur mind u idiot mehta Rahul Delhi, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 22	To the extent one discerns a theme, the editor seesm to say "when it rains, it pours." He states once the powerful find themselves in a corner, everybody piles on them and their entourage. It's good to see the famous and the powerful to fall on their ass in public. It publicly reestablishes their humanity, with all its attendant frailties, to themselves and the rest of us. Old Mac ???, United States
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 21	Lakshmi Srinivas writes: >>Does Outlook seriously think that the Congress and its leaders set the example to the rest of the country in the matter of probity and integrity in public life? What's the basis for such an inference? >>Alternatively, what aspect of its secularist credentials did Outlook think would be compromised by a little more balance in its reporting of the Volcker affair? What does "balance" mean in concrete and practical terms? Old Mac ???, United States
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 20	Mr Mehta writes: > This is the price democracies pay for enjoying > the luxury of a free press. You can rail > against news channels, protest against 'trial > by media', threaten writs and libel suits. > Nothing helps. Once the roll starts, it rolls > and rolls. I take no position on this kind of > journalism, neither do I wish to sound > critical. Does Outlook seriously think that the Congress and its leaders set the example to the rest of the country in the matter of probity and integrity in public life? Alternatively, what aspect of its secularist credentials did Outlook think would be compromised by a little more balance in its reporting of the Volcker affair? It appears Outlook does not seem to think that it is part of a free press operating in a democracy. Lakshmi Srinivas - -, USA
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 19	In all debates the readers are devided into two camps- One camp supports the members of the secular parties- regardless of their obvious guilt- and attacks the communal camp-despite their obvious innocense. This is best illustrated by the views expressed by Outlook regarding Mr Shourie and Mr Fernandes, despite their innocense. And now regarding Natwar Singh where any one on with a reasonable commonsense can percieve that he is most likely guilty. Not 100 % of cource, but near enough, the secular gaurd is there to defend him. Why this interest in just him. I guess it is because he is seen as the anti American and pro muslim hero. Natwar and company are not comeing up with any explanations, but going on a headless attack against the US, Volker and other shadowy trolls. I sense that even Rahul Gandhi - the future hope of the secularists- is disgusted with his party and their politics. Neither he or his mom. who are liege lords of the Natwar clan have said a word. Remarkable. If they are convinced of his innocense then this is not the way to show it. Innocent till guilty is a typical slogan all the crooks in India. These innocents would be enough to fill the former Sing Sing jail, with jail birds from ALL parties. In India its only the lowly who get sentenced to jail. And their crimes are at times quite trivial lalit bagai kalundborg, Brazil
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 18	Ohh poor Natwar. Sure he's crying, more like laughing all the way to the bank. With friends like this in the secular media Im sure he will be fine. Congress and the Ghandhi covered up Bofors for the last 2 decades with the help of the Indian media. In the name of secularism and socialism,they have sold India out time and time again. Prithviraj Sydney, Australia
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 17	Some High Society thieves. And some who write apologies for them. That's this piece is. Biraj Konar Haldia, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 16	Loser takes it all--Sure. But here loser is Vinod Mehta, not Natwar. Mr, Mehta lost all civility of throwing proper lights onto this utterly anti-social acts of Socially upscale 'progressive' modern Indians!! Instead he is shedding Croc treas. Who are involved? Tell me who is not. 1. UN Undersecretary General Shashi Tharoor described Minister without portfolio (K Natwar Singh) as a personal inspiration ! Yikes. 2. One is the entrepreneur-cum-politician son of a distinguished diplomat-turned-politician who is overwhelmed by his nostalgia for the erstwhile Soviet Union. His maternal uncle is one of the bigger Maharajas of India. 3. The second is the businessman grandson of a former card-carrying Communist, whose family benefited enormously from India's trade with the erstwhile Socialist bloc, and who married into minor royalty. 4. The third person, a business partner of the second, is a grandson of one of the most distinguished "progressives" of the Indira Gandhi era who also served as India's ambassador to the Soviet Union. Is India a Banana republic? ha..ha..Yes. Socialism in India wasn't about egalitarianism. It was centred on nepotism, bribery and kickbacks. It was never about skill, perseverance and entrepreneurship; it was all about instant gratification through shortcuts. Biraj Konar Haldia, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 15	Please do read all about the decline and fall of a high-flying politician, brought down by hubris, bad luck, skullduggery or voter disenchantment and of course, NO CORRUPTION or CRIMINAL TENDENCY. Folks, we were right to figure out that our SECULAR DUNDERHEADS or numskulls including ‘Our Chief Outlook’s Dunderhead’ have no abilities to comprehend the meaning of words like corruption, crime or criminal; and neither do our Indian secularists have any words like corruption and crime in their ‘Secular Dictionaries’, which are now freely available to all our secular intellectuals and extreme secular Indian Lalujis in all our Nehru Dynasty’s Secular Reference Libraries. However the use of the words like hubris, skullduggery, or voter disenchantment are highly recommended when describing any secularist caught with his pockets saturated, with shady Iraqi oil. Even though the dripping oil trail leads all the way to the Sonia’s office in New Delhi, our chief secular intellectual dunderhead from the Outlook’s thinks and gives impression that it is caused not by the corrupt Congress politicians known criminal tendencies but because of those overbearing proud (hubris) voter disenchantment, deliberately caused by crafty communalist voters deception or skullduggery! Oh! Mehtaji, Mehtaji, Mehtaji, you really sound like a typical Congressi paid artful dodger. I am sure your defensive article to protect your third rate Congress Party’s corrupt politicians must have boosted the egos of our simple secular Indian Lalujis. But I am sure that our average Indians must be feeling kind of sorry for you today. Mr. Mehta, you sound like one helpless, frightened, and shorn pseudo secularist. Remember one thing Mr. Mehta, a man is known by the COMPANY he keeps. And FAMILIARITY breeds contempt. Raj Toronto, Canada
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 14	your article appears to convey a view that the Minister is betng unnecessarily blamed.while certainly it is in bad taste to comment on personal family tragedies what is wrong in the media by and large seeking the resignation of the minister pending an investigation.after all the same party made so much noise relating to a similar unsubstantiated charge by tehelka expose on george fernandes.atleast the minister resigned then and was not retained as minister without portfolio.there should not be double standards on such revelations/ramachandran v n/usa ramachandran v n baroda, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 13	ghulam: Â¨Mr Vinod Mehta seems to be ignoring our cherished rule which dictates that we hang Natwar now, try him later.Â¨ dumb mac supplied you that Â¨ruleÂ¨ ? Kiran Hyderabad, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 12	"I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful." --- Nobody is preventing the opposition to counter the 'bad taste' reporting. Sue them. Instead of preaching against 'bad taste' journalism, spend your money on hiring some real investigative journalists who can substantiate their claims through backup evidence. Dirty journalism is no longer dirty when when you have the power to form governments or vamoosh them. I don't think Vinod Mehta is too stupid to know about how FOX News Network and Rupert Murdoch operates. Do your freaking research and watch out. Check out who owns the media and what their political affiliations are. Join the mud fest. Raj Chicago, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 11	sorry missed that. Well if the family uses the connection knowinglly with Minister's knowledge then there is nothing sacrosanct. Free Speech Bihar, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 10	Free Speech, I wrote several days ago that Natwar Singh should resign while the matter was being probed. However it is not a good scene when people and even their families get dragged through mud while charges are under investigation. Ghulam Y Faruki New York, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 9	GHULAM Y FARUKI: Do you mean Natwar should be kept as FM till the investigation is complete. Free Speech Bihar, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 8	wow, after reading all these responses, one thing is sure that english speaking elite is truly anti-congress and by some coincident pro-usa. there was an article on asianage that some thinktank in usa is happy with N Singh gone, Natwar Singh should take that non-compliment as the best compliment. we all know what happens to the past allies of usa. love and peace Ajay Troy, usa
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 7	Mr Vinod Mehta seems to be ignoring our cherished rule which dictates that we hang Natwar now, try him later. Ghulam Y Faruki New York, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 6	Vindon Mehta writes, "man on the Chandni Chowk bus has a constitutional right to be fully informed not just about the politician under the scanner, but of his kith and kin too". Is he suggesting, the role of the family members in this episode is not worthy of investigation? There is compelling prima facie evidence to suggest that the family members were direct beneficiaries of Natwar Singh's actions and Saddam's largesse. Vinod Mehta's slip is showing, the Congressi stains so nicely hidden behind his journalistic outfits have strange of revealing themselves. Its ugyly. YUCKS !!! Ramana Murthy NEW YORK, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 5	Comments regarding Mr Mehta's writeups are fair. Why did Outlook pursues Mr Shourie-a true gentleman, Mr Fernandes and several other fugures from the enemy camp- However the most important thing is- who are the others who shared the loot. Maybe outlook with its excellent connections can find out. This service is owed to us readers. We hope to hear from you Sir. lalit bagai kalundborg, Brazil
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 4	"I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful." Wow!! How about the reporting on the trip by Justice Phukan? Was it done on "good taste"? or the reports on the supposed fraud by Arun Shourie and co in the sale of the hotels? No one is talking about that after Shourie answered everything. Was that in "good taste"? The SC has effectively punctured the case against the Kanchi Seer. But the reports by Anand were disgusting in the least. Was that in " good taste"? Only when fingers are pointed against congress and commies do people'e tastebuds turn on and detect bad taste. In case of BJP, RSS and others who do not share the views of Outlook, the tastebuds go to sleep! BTW, why the flooding of Outlook office was not reported by any paper? I mean, with Mehta , Jha and others crying for what happened to Natwar(even his enemies must feel sorry.Oops) I imagine the office was washed away in tear floods. Ganesan Nj, USA
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 3	why should u b so apologetic?yes certainly there should not be unnecessary comments on the personal tragedies of the Minister.but the press has every right to remand his resignation when as an oppositionparty they demanded george fernandes resignation on the unsubstatiated charges in tehelka.atleast there the minister resigned without being retained as minister without portfolio.there cannot be double standards now/ramachandran v n/usa ramachandran v n baroda, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 2	I can already see the author disassociating with Natwar Singh and getting his parachute ready. Let us see what the 'moral ethical and secular' stuff this KING of 'Religious Left' is made of. May be the media will remove the burka a little to reveal the working of the old boys network for a little while before the veil of secularism covers it again. Let us see the gems from this 'secular king' of the World famous Congress Party!!. Pompous prick. The Nero of India. Let us hope he brings down someothers along with him - this time somebody from Communist. Free Speech Bihar, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 1	Why this apology??!! kjs Bangalore, India

Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 1	Why this apology??!! kjs Bangalore, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 2	I can already see the author disassociating with Natwar Singh and getting his parachute ready. Let us see what the 'moral ethical and secular' stuff this KING of 'Religious Left' is made of. May be the media will remove the burka a little to reveal the working of the old boys network for a little while before the veil of secularism covers it again. Let us see the gems from this 'secular king' of the World famous Congress Party!!. Pompous prick. The Nero of India. Let us hope he brings down someothers along with him - this time somebody from Communist. Free Speech Bihar, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 3	why should u b so apologetic?yes certainly there should not be unnecessary comments on the personal tragedies of the Minister.but the press has every right to remand his resignation when as an oppositionparty they demanded george fernandes resignation on the unsubstatiated charges in tehelka.atleast there the minister resigned without being retained as minister without portfolio.there cannot be double standards now/ramachandran v n/usa ramachandran v n baroda, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 4	"I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful." Wow!! How about the reporting on the trip by Justice Phukan? Was it done on "good taste"? or the reports on the supposed fraud by Arun Shourie and co in the sale of the hotels? No one is talking about that after Shourie answered everything. Was that in "good taste"? The SC has effectively punctured the case against the Kanchi Seer. But the reports by Anand were disgusting in the least. Was that in " good taste"? Only when fingers are pointed against congress and commies do people'e tastebuds turn on and detect bad taste. In case of BJP, RSS and others who do not share the views of Outlook, the tastebuds go to sleep! BTW, why the flooding of Outlook office was not reported by any paper? I mean, with Mehta , Jha and others crying for what happened to Natwar(even his enemies must feel sorry.Oops) I imagine the office was washed away in tear floods. Ganesan Nj, USA
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 5	Comments regarding Mr Mehta's writeups are fair. Why did Outlook pursues Mr Shourie-a true gentleman, Mr Fernandes and several other fugures from the enemy camp- However the most important thing is- who are the others who shared the loot. Maybe outlook with its excellent connections can find out. This service is owed to us readers. We hope to hear from you Sir. lalit bagai kalundborg, Brazil
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 6	Vindon Mehta writes, "man on the Chandni Chowk bus has a constitutional right to be fully informed not just about the politician under the scanner, but of his kith and kin too". Is he suggesting, the role of the family members in this episode is not worthy of investigation? There is compelling prima facie evidence to suggest that the family members were direct beneficiaries of Natwar Singh's actions and Saddam's largesse. Vinod Mehta's slip is showing, the Congressi stains so nicely hidden behind his journalistic outfits have strange of revealing themselves. Its ugyly. YUCKS !!! Ramana Murthy NEW YORK, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 7	Mr Vinod Mehta seems to be ignoring our cherished rule which dictates that we hang Natwar now, try him later. Ghulam Y Faruki New York, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 8	wow, after reading all these responses, one thing is sure that english speaking elite is truly anti-congress and by some coincident pro-usa. there was an article on asianage that some thinktank in usa is happy with N Singh gone, Natwar Singh should take that non-compliment as the best compliment. we all know what happens to the past allies of usa. love and peace Ajay Troy, usa
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 9	GHULAM Y FARUKI: Do you mean Natwar should be kept as FM till the investigation is complete. Free Speech Bihar, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 10	Free Speech, I wrote several days ago that Natwar Singh should resign while the matter was being probed. However it is not a good scene when people and even their families get dragged through mud while charges are under investigation. Ghulam Y Faruki New York, United States
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 11	sorry missed that. Well if the family uses the connection knowinglly with Minister's knowledge then there is nothing sacrosanct. Free Speech Bihar, India
Nov 12, 2005 12:00 AM 12	"I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful." --- Nobody is preventing the opposition to counter the 'bad taste' reporting. Sue them. Instead of preaching against 'bad taste' journalism, spend your money on hiring some real investigative journalists who can substantiate their claims through backup evidence. Dirty journalism is no longer dirty when when you have the power to form governments or vamoosh them. I don't think Vinod Mehta is too stupid to know about how FOX News Network and Rupert Murdoch operates. Do your freaking research and watch out. Check out who owns the media and what their political affiliations are. Join the mud fest. Raj Chicago, United States
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 13	ghulam: Â¨Mr Vinod Mehta seems to be ignoring our cherished rule which dictates that we hang Natwar now, try him later.Â¨ dumb mac supplied you that Â¨ruleÂ¨ ? Kiran Hyderabad, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 14	your article appears to convey a view that the Minister is betng unnecessarily blamed.while certainly it is in bad taste to comment on personal family tragedies what is wrong in the media by and large seeking the resignation of the minister pending an investigation.after all the same party made so much noise relating to a similar unsubstantiated charge by tehelka expose on george fernandes.atleast the minister resigned then and was not retained as minister without portfolio.there should not be double standards on such revelations/ramachandran v n/usa ramachandran v n baroda, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 15	Please do read all about the decline and fall of a high-flying politician, brought down by hubris, bad luck, skullduggery or voter disenchantment and of course, NO CORRUPTION or CRIMINAL TENDENCY. Folks, we were right to figure out that our SECULAR DUNDERHEADS or numskulls including ‘Our Chief Outlook’s Dunderhead’ have no abilities to comprehend the meaning of words like corruption, crime or criminal; and neither do our Indian secularists have any words like corruption and crime in their ‘Secular Dictionaries’, which are now freely available to all our secular intellectuals and extreme secular Indian Lalujis in all our Nehru Dynasty’s Secular Reference Libraries. However the use of the words like hubris, skullduggery, or voter disenchantment are highly recommended when describing any secularist caught with his pockets saturated, with shady Iraqi oil. Even though the dripping oil trail leads all the way to the Sonia’s office in New Delhi, our chief secular intellectual dunderhead from the Outlook’s thinks and gives impression that it is caused not by the corrupt Congress politicians known criminal tendencies but because of those overbearing proud (hubris) voter disenchantment, deliberately caused by crafty communalist voters deception or skullduggery! Oh! Mehtaji, Mehtaji, Mehtaji, you really sound like a typical Congressi paid artful dodger. I am sure your defensive article to protect your third rate Congress Party’s corrupt politicians must have boosted the egos of our simple secular Indian Lalujis. But I am sure that our average Indians must be feeling kind of sorry for you today. Mr. Mehta, you sound like one helpless, frightened, and shorn pseudo secularist. Remember one thing Mr. Mehta, a man is known by the COMPANY he keeps. And FAMILIARITY breeds contempt. Raj Toronto, Canada
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 16	Loser takes it all--Sure. But here loser is Vinod Mehta, not Natwar. Mr, Mehta lost all civility of throwing proper lights onto this utterly anti-social acts of Socially upscale 'progressive' modern Indians!! Instead he is shedding Croc treas. Who are involved? Tell me who is not. 1. UN Undersecretary General Shashi Tharoor described Minister without portfolio (K Natwar Singh) as a personal inspiration ! Yikes. 2. One is the entrepreneur-cum-politician son of a distinguished diplomat-turned-politician who is overwhelmed by his nostalgia for the erstwhile Soviet Union. His maternal uncle is one of the bigger Maharajas of India. 3. The second is the businessman grandson of a former card-carrying Communist, whose family benefited enormously from India's trade with the erstwhile Socialist bloc, and who married into minor royalty. 4. The third person, a business partner of the second, is a grandson of one of the most distinguished "progressives" of the Indira Gandhi era who also served as India's ambassador to the Soviet Union. Is India a Banana republic? ha..ha..Yes. Socialism in India wasn't about egalitarianism. It was centred on nepotism, bribery and kickbacks. It was never about skill, perseverance and entrepreneurship; it was all about instant gratification through shortcuts. Biraj Konar Haldia, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 17	Some High Society thieves. And some who write apologies for them. That's this piece is. Biraj Konar Haldia, India
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 18	Ohh poor Natwar. Sure he's crying, more like laughing all the way to the bank. With friends like this in the secular media Im sure he will be fine. Congress and the Ghandhi covered up Bofors for the last 2 decades with the help of the Indian media. In the name of secularism and socialism,they have sold India out time and time again. Prithviraj Sydney, Australia
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 19	In all debates the readers are devided into two camps- One camp supports the members of the secular parties- regardless of their obvious guilt- and attacks the communal camp-despite their obvious innocense. This is best illustrated by the views expressed by Outlook regarding Mr Shourie and Mr Fernandes, despite their innocense. And now regarding Natwar Singh where any one on with a reasonable commonsense can percieve that he is most likely guilty. Not 100 % of cource, but near enough, the secular gaurd is there to defend him. Why this interest in just him. I guess it is because he is seen as the anti American and pro muslim hero. Natwar and company are not comeing up with any explanations, but going on a headless attack against the US, Volker and other shadowy trolls. I sense that even Rahul Gandhi - the future hope of the secularists- is disgusted with his party and their politics. Neither he or his mom. who are liege lords of the Natwar clan have said a word. Remarkable. If they are convinced of his innocense then this is not the way to show it. Innocent till guilty is a typical slogan all the crooks in India. These innocents would be enough to fill the former Sing Sing jail, with jail birds from ALL parties. In India its only the lowly who get sentenced to jail. And their crimes are at times quite trivial lalit bagai kalundborg, Brazil
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 20	Mr Mehta writes: > This is the price democracies pay for enjoying > the luxury of a free press. You can rail > against news channels, protest against 'trial > by media', threaten writs and libel suits. > Nothing helps. Once the roll starts, it rolls > and rolls. I take no position on this kind of > journalism, neither do I wish to sound > critical. Does Outlook seriously think that the Congress and its leaders set the example to the rest of the country in the matter of probity and integrity in public life? Alternatively, what aspect of its secularist credentials did Outlook think would be compromised by a little more balance in its reporting of the Volcker affair? It appears Outlook does not seem to think that it is part of a free press operating in a democracy. Lakshmi Srinivas - -, USA
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 21	Lakshmi Srinivas writes: >>Does Outlook seriously think that the Congress and its leaders set the example to the rest of the country in the matter of probity and integrity in public life? What's the basis for such an inference? >>Alternatively, what aspect of its secularist credentials did Outlook think would be compromised by a little more balance in its reporting of the Volcker affair? What does "balance" mean in concrete and practical terms? Old Mac ???, United States
Nov 13, 2005 12:00 AM 22	To the extent one discerns a theme, the editor seesm to say "when it rains, it pours." He states once the powerful find themselves in a corner, everybody piles on them and their entourage. It's good to see the famous and the powerful to fall on their ass in public. It publicly reestablishes their humanity, with all its attendant frailties, to themselves and the rest of us. Old Mac ???, United States
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 23	areu an independent editor or CWC mouthpiece.. make up ur mind u idiot mehta Rahul Delhi, India
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 24	"However, even his enemies must feel sorry for him as he fights his way through this muck." I am definitely no fan of natwar so for all purposes I may be classified as an enemy but I definitely do not feel any remorse for whatever Natwar had to go through in fact I feel he got away too easy. The proper thing for Natwar as a Senior member of the parliament to do when his name appeared would have been to caution restraint and find out more on the same instead of irresponsibly attacking Volcker, US, UN etc. That kind of behaviour is definitely not expected of a Sr. Minister who represents India at all international forums. His response to the volcker report was like that of a child kicking and screaming besides throwing tantrums. Whatever happened to maturity? The media only played what they got and having got a loose cannon like him they obviously played it up for whatever it was worth. He and his son went around sprouting conspiracy theories at anyone who would listen. His entire behaviour post the report was very petty to say the least and to cow down his detractors within his party he also resorted to blackmail. It is said that one gets to know the true nature of a man by seeing how he behaves when his chips are down and seeing Natwars behaviour I believe he is the most unqualified man ever to have occupied the external affairs Ministry post. How in the world can we ever expect him to handle tricky negotiations or conduct complex diplomatic maneouverings with other countries with such behaviour. Regarding the media circus Natwar has only himself to blame media didn't force him to make a fool of himself, he willingly did so and I am sure that dumb fool must be still congratulating himself on his bravura performance in the media. Deep delhi, India
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 25	Cannot expect you to be objective..But even then, pls refer to your coverage of the Shankaracharya episode and then judge whether you can actually talk of trial by media ankush poddar Kolkata, India
Nov 14, 2005 12:00 AM 26	Why is Mr.Mehta picqued when a congress leader is put under the scanner? Mr.Mehta , read some of your own magazine reports about George Fernandes before moralising about Natwar Singh sridhar Bangalore, India
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 27	Did Vinod Mehta feel the same twinge of trouble when covering Shankaracharya or the much touted PMO story at the time of Vajpayee? Makes me wanna puke, this hypocrisy. Ajit Tendulkar Seattle, United States
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 28	"This is the price democracies pay for enjoying the luxury of a free press. You can rail against news channels, protest against 'trial by media', threaten writs and libel suits. Nothing helps. Once the roll starts, it rolls and rolls. I take no position on this kind of journalism, neither do I wish to sound critical. I merely emphasise the inevitability of some 'bad taste' reporting in a situation where hard information is scarce while anonymous quotes are plentiful" Is Mr. Mehta trying to explain how inevitable his comments were against the Aacharyaas during his interview by BBC or is he repenting? Does he say Freedom of Press licenses "mudslinging"? Or even allowing rumours to walk with a 'silver stick"? The Press Council of India however will not agree with his sayings! V. Krishnan New Delhi, India
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 29	I believe Mr. Mehta is better off writing in debonnair (not sure on how the word spells) it will be good if he spares serious issues to the talented lot in outlook. Ajay Muscat, Oman
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 30	Old Mac says Mr Mehta's point is that 'it pours'. Why comment about distant rain when your house is on fire? Lakshmi Srinivas - -, USA
Nov 15, 2005 12:00 AM 31	Even by Old Mac's dreadful macaquian standards his performance below is overdoing it: "He states once (!) the powerful find themselves in a corner..." "It's good to see the famous and the powerful to (!) fall on their asses." Mac has never got off his ass's "ass". Thomas Nile London, United Kingdom
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 32	Mr Vinod Mehta's lament on the alleged "trial by media" of Natwar Singh would be comic if it were not tragic. A Laloo Yadav making a laboured point on the decline of moral standards in public life would sound less ridiculous. There is nothing in Outlook's brand of journalism that betrays the least amount of respect for truth, fairness and accuracy in journalism. More often than not, this glossy magazine has emulated the methods of the gutter press. The uninhibted mud-slinging fest that Outlook subjected Sankaracharya to stands as the crowning achievement of Mr Vinod Mehta and team. Thanks to the training they gave us, we should now be able to face the most loutish of Brit tabloids squarely in its face or masthead. That said, Mr Mehta is also laying it on thick. There is no trial by media in Natwar Singh's case. If anything, the media is working overtime to save Singh's skin, as also Moanmohan's, Sonia's and the Congress Party's. The whole episode is already out of news, even as a cover-up is under way. To complain of "trial by media" is like committing robbery and then shouting thief. V Rajan Chennai (Madras), India
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 33	Lakshmi Srinivas writes: >>Why comment about distant rain when your house is on fire? I am not sure what you meant by your comment. Old Mac ???, United States
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 34	I guess the outlooks' reasoning is making money being anti American pro jihadi like Natwar is no crime since they do it all the time anyway. Prithviraj Sydney, Australia
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 35	OLD MAC >>"I am not sure what you meant by your comment" Not a surprise to anyone!! sreejith bangalore, india
Nov 16, 2005 12:00 AM 36	It's surpirising that you should go so emotionally overboard about a certain Natwar Singh's exploits being dragged into public. Millions of people are exploited by politicians for decades together and nobody dares to question the stance or responsibility of the government; the supposed 'decline and fall' of a politician makes you suddenly remember the ethics of democracy and question the right of the man on the Chandni Chowk bus to be informed about the people he elects and rests faith in! Ironical, Mr Mehta! Fifty-odd years should be a long enough time for anyone with a moderate intelligence to understand the character of an Indian politician and the games he plays. - Vijayender Ch Bangalore Vj Hyderabad, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 37	One major foreign policy which this little man (I mean Natwar not Mehta)did when in power was abstain from co sponsoring a UN resolution that was coming up in the UN General Assembly to commemorate January 27 every year as a memorial day for the six million Jews and others killed in the Holocaust. Surprisingly this never got a mention in our "free and fair" pseudo secular press or media. Meanwhile I am still trying to figure whose policies Natwar is trying to follow? Osama Bin Laden or Hitler? Coz only these two worthwhile leaders would have considered Natwar's actions exemplary. Deep delhi, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 38	http://news.webindia123...date=20051117&cat=World A link to an interesting article which says that long before Volcker an Iraqi newspaper had already mentioned about Congress involvement. Deep delhi, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 39	I have read in a Danish paper that the documents collected by the Volker commission will be returned to the various countries who supplied them The cut of date is 1 st jan 2006. Now all that the UPA government has to do is to keep sitting on their butt til after 1 st jan. After this time evidence of any wrong doing will not be available, Congress and Natwar will be off the hook, as usual. Most likely Natwar will be back. All will be forgotten, and the media willget back to its BJP bashing once again. If the whole episode had taken place in Denmark, the evidence would have been collected by now, and bad guys would be in trouble. In fact Denmark has already started invesigations against major Danish companies who took part in the scam. That is the difference bewteen a modern well regulated state and Lalloo land. lalit bagai kalundborg, Brazil
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 40	I am enjoying the desperate rants chief smut editor Vinod Mehta has come out with. Seems like he knows that when it comes to protecting the dynasty, the dynasty does not care about pets..if this can happen to Natwarlal who has been at the feet of reigning Gandhis for decades, what can happen to Vinod Mehta when they become mebarrassment for say, Sonia and/or Congress. Anyway, Mr Mehta has something special about him. He can never keep his hands of smut. So bang came outlook when Debonair was finished. It is a logical folly to treat outlook as a newsmagazine. It should be treated for what it is....a propaganda organ of the Gandhi Dynasty. Cynic_Learner Delhi, India
Nov 17, 2005 12:00 AM 41	Lalit Bagai I heared some people were rioting and claiming territorial control of some place(s) in Danmark also while world press was focussing on the car torching orgy of 'disaffect youth' in France. Do you think Danmark will be able to handle this kind of violence when (it is a question of when, not if) it happens ? Cynic_Learner Cynic_Learner Delhi, India
Nov 18, 2005 12:00 AM 42	OLD MAC writes: > I am not sure what you meant by your comment. Outlook, like any self-respecting journal, needs to preserve its journalistic integrity rather than lament the lack of it among others. Hope this helps, Lakshmi Srinivas - -, USA

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