New Delhi, November 13
A strong media presence and the easy accessibility of venom-spewing Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed saved Pakistan High Commission’s much-hyped Iftar today from being a non-event.
From Islamabad’s point of view, the Iftar proved to be a damp squib as the top brass of both the factions of the All Party Hurriyat Conference failed to turn up. There were different versions about the Hurriyat leaders’ non-attendance.
Mr Ahmed sought to imply that the Hurriyat leaders were in a way prevented from coming because of the last-minute cancellation of Srinagar-Delhi flight.
However, an independent version was that if the Hurriyat leaders were so keen on attending the Pakistan High Commission’s Iftar they could have landed here couple of days in advance as they had done on earlier occasions.
Obviously disappointed by the absence of the top Hurriyat leadership, the Pakistan High Commission had to make do with second or third-rung leaders like Mr Agha Badgani (a Shia leader) and Mr Ghulam Nadi Sumgi (Muslim Conference). Ms Shabnam Gani Lone, a Supreme Court advocate and daughter of the slain Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone, was also present at the Iftar.
The faction led by Maulvi Abbas Ansari had already announced its boycott of the Iftar as Pakistan High Commission had invited the other faction also.
The Pakistani Information Minister was the centre of attraction for over a dozen TV news channels which were present at the Iftar.
A TV reporter when asked Mr Ahmed whether the comments he was reported to have made about Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani were his personal remarks or reflected his government’s views, the Minister replied with his characteristic elan: ‘‘In all my interactions with the media here in past few days, the only Indian leader’s name I have taken is that of Mr Vajpayee and no one else. If you can prove otherwise, I am willing to pay penalty.’’
A piquant situation arose when Mr Ahmed was asked about the stamp paper scam about which Mr Advani had reportedly said today that the strings of this scam went across the border. First, Mr Ahmed appeared non-committal and said: ‘‘I don't want to say anything on this. We have stopped reacting to such statements from India. I have come here to join the strings of hearts. I don’t know, where he (Mr Advani) wants to link the strings,’’ Mr Ahmed remarked.
Then after his thoughts crystallised, the kid gloves were off and the iron fist was out, ‘‘I don’t want to raise the stature of somebody by commenting on his comments.’’ In the same breath, he also praised India’s warm hospitality to him and his delegation.
