INDIA-POLITICS: SUGAR SPICES UP THE POLITICAL SCENE

NEW DELHI, Dic 20 (IPS) - FEW READERS IN INDIA COULD HAVE MISSED THE SARCASM BEHIND NEWS PICTURE CAPTIONS OF THE RECENTLY-CROWNED MISS WORLD, AISHWARYA RAI, MEETING HER COUNTRY'S PRIME MINISTER.

"THIS RAI IS SWEETER", "ALL SUGAR AND NO MUDDLE," SAID BLURBS WITH FRONT-PAGE NEWSPAPER PHOTOGRAPHS TUESDAY OF A RADIANT RAI TALKING TO AN AMUSED P.V. NARASIMHA RAO AT THE PREMIER'S RESIDENCE IN THE INDIAN CAPITAL.

BUT THE GUSHING MEDIA PRAISE FOR THE GREEN-EYED BEAUTY DID NOT EXTEND TO THE USUALLY GRIM-FACED PREMIER WHO IS IN POLITICAL HOT WATERS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER RAI.

THE PORTLY KALPNATH RAI, A SENIOR MINISTER IN RAO'S CABINET KNOWN FOR HIS BLUSTERY POLITICAL STYLE, HAS BEEN INDICTED BY A GOVERNMENT INQUIRY INTO WHAT HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE SUGAR SCAM.

FOOD MINISTER RAI HAS BEEN FOUND MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUNGLE IN A LARGE SUGAR IMPORT DEAL EARLY THIS YEAR WHICH CAUSED A MORE THAN 300 MILLION DOLLAR-LOSS TO THE EXCHEQUER AND DELAYED SUPPLIES MEANT TO DAMPEN HIGH PRICES OF THE SWEETENER.

RAO GAVE A CLEAN CHIT TO RAI IN PARLIAMENT MONDAY, CAUSING AN UPROAR AND FURTHER STALLING BUSINESS IN THE WINTER SESSION OF THE HOUSE WHICH IS PARALYSED SINCE THE GOVERNMENT LAST WEEK TABLED THE REPORT OF THE PROBE INTO THE SUGAR MUDDLE.

"THERE WAS NO MALAFIDE ON THE PART OF ANYONE," RAO TOLD THE HOUSE, ADDING THAT THERE WERE ADMINISTRATIVE LAPSES, CAUSING LOSS TO THE TREASURY. OPPOSITION PARTIES DISMISSED THE STATEMENT AS AN EYEWASH AND ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF SHIELDING THE CORRUPT.

IN FAST-MOVING POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE REPORT WAS UNVEILED UNDER OPPOSITION PRESSURE, A SENIOR CABINET MINISTER HAS RESIGNED AND SEVERAL JUNIOR MINISTERS OFFERED TO QUIT TO STRENGTHEN THEIR LEADER'S HANDS.

COMING CLOSE ON THE HEELS OF MAJOR LOSSES FOR THE RULING CONGRESS PARTY IN STATE ASSEMBLY POLLS, THE SUGAR IMBROGLIO HAS PUT THE PREMIER, WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS WAVERING, UNDER GREAT PRESSURE TO ACT.

"WHATEVER MR NARASIMHA RAO'S COMPULSIONS AND CALCULATIONS, THE REDOUBTABLE MR (KALPNATH) RAI HAS DONE HIS BIT TO WEAKEN THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRIME MINISTER," SAID THE DAILY, HINDU.

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