Editor's Byte

Dr Manmohan Singh, our venerable prime minister is, allegedly, a changedperson. The soft-spoken, self-effacing, media-shy economist-cum-civilservant-cum politician has been, we are told, transformed into an"aggressive", "combative", "no-holds-barred", "rude" netaready to take up any challenge or invective thrown at him. The TV channels spentconsiderable time debating and analysing the "new" Manmohan Singh. The manwho had provoked the prime minister into verbal belligerence was L K Advani. 

For evidence we were repeatedly shown Dr Singh’s utterances at a tea partythe PM threw for women journalists. Apparently, he had some strong and nastythings to say about the leader of the Opposition. Mr L K Advani’s record ashome minister was recounted: Kandahar, attack of Parliament. And finally: "Hewatched helplessly while the Babri Masjid was demolished." 

And what has Mr Advani been saying? He has called the prime minister"weak" and subservient to "10 Janpath". So, what’s new? 

If this is aggression, what would non-aggression be like? Do we forget thatwe are bang in the middle of the election season during which there areinvariably rude exchanges between the contenders. I had visions of Bal Thackerayor Varun Gandhi or Parveen Togadia when I read the headlines. It is true DrManmohan Singh does not relish the cut and thrust of heated debate, but he isnot a babe in the woods. At any rate, I thought both Mr Advani and Dr Singh didnot cross the line. The charges they flung at each other are routine in ademocracy and perfectly normal at election time. 

The prime minister and the leader of the Opposition are vying for the top jobin the county. So, why do expect them to behave as if they were at a tea partythrown by the Speaker? I hope there are more exchanges which go beyond, "whatmy good friend, Mr So and So, has said is not correct." 

Tailpiece:

In the mother democracy, an Opposition MP called the British Prime Minister,Gordon Brown, "a one-eyed idiot." (Mr Brown is almost blind in one eye.)Nobody raised an eyebrow!