It used to be Tatas and Birlas in the loose political rhetoric of the 1970s and the 1980s. Today, it is Adani and Ambani in the heated Lok Sabha election campaign.
About 300 employees had called in sick Wednesday, allegedly in protest against mismanagement of airlines. Remaining staff given ultimatum to rejoin work by end of Thursday.
Even in the weeks leading up to Chamkila’s assassination there were massacres every other day. To airbrush all of this is sheer intellectual cowardice if not a crime.
Dr Jaishankar was one of the most gifted diplomats of his generation. Even UPA wanted to promote him out of turn to become FS. So his intellect and lifetime’s experience of foreign policy make him especially valuable to lead MEA at an unsettled time. If anything, the Foreign Office needs to be restored to its earlier role and status as the primary locus of policy formulation. India needs a carefully modulated foreign policy that avoids an excess of emotion and personalities. A minefield stretches ahead.
Dr Jaishankar was one of the most gifted diplomats of his generation. Even UPA wanted to promote him out of turn to become FS. So his intellect and lifetime’s experience of foreign policy make him especially valuable to lead MEA at an unsettled time. If anything, the Foreign Office needs to be restored to its earlier role and status as the primary locus of policy formulation. India needs a carefully modulated foreign policy that avoids an excess of emotion and personalities. A minefield stretches ahead.