Fixated by the MEA
You don`t say!
Darius Nakhoonwala
Indian journalists have always been fascinated by the ministry of external affairs, perhaps because they think foreign policy is so sexy and romantic. So it gets far more coverage than most other ministries. It also gives leader writers the chance to pretend that they are important advisors to the MEA. They hold forth and often miss the more important point.
That is why all newspapers wrote copious editorials on the appointment of Mr Pranab Mukherjee as the minister for external affairs. The ministry had been without a full time minister for almost a year because the previous incumbent, Natwar Singh, had been shown the door for his role in the oil-for-food scandal. Can you imagine such an outpouring of relief for any other ministry, even defence? Unlikely.
All the edits were full of bullshit. Here is a sample. " The ideal head of the foreign ministry should be a man with a vision about India`s place in the sun. Such a vision cannot emanate from the files. It has to come not only from the minister but also from the prime minister himself. The foreign minister and the prime minister must learn to tango together." Telegraph.
And another: "While the Ministry of External Affairs is staffed by professionals who are second to none, the policies they execute are only as good as the political and strategic vision they receive from the top… the MEA has kept the ship of Indian diplomacy on an even keel but… India needs progressively to influence the course of political events in Asia and round the world." The Hindu.
And a new high in sycophancy: "…Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi would seem to be targeting a recent conventional wisdom… that… political heavyweights are no longer considered fit for the job... this newspaper has been arguing the job of a foreign minister was too crucial to be left to juniors and lightweights. There should therefore be no doubt that his new assignment represents a political elevation for Mukherjee— it makes little sense to think that Sonia Gandhi or the PM would go out of their way to invite the disaffection of a senior colleague." The Indian Express.
The Hindustan Times said the absence of a foreign minister had been "bad for the country" as if it is somehow ok not to have other ministers. The Deccan Herald recited conventional wisdom about Mr Mukherjee not wanting the job and although if it had developed this theme a bit more, the edit would have been richer - why did he not want to leave MoD? - it fell short by a mile.
Even the Pioneer was not full of its usual piss and vinegar. " Mr Mukherjee can be expected to impart some spirit and provide direction to foreign policy initiatives. Thankfully, he is a conservative politician not given to thinking out of the box and can be depended upon not to embark upon misadventures."
The Asian Age went off at another tangent. In an edit called `The Loyalist` it got after poor Shivraj Patil because he has not been moved out of the home ministry. "He must be a relieved man, considering that his should have been the first head on the block. He has been saved by two factors. One, outstanding loyalty has endeared him to 10, Janpath and added to his invincibility. Two, that even though he had been considered at one stage for defence minister, the idea was dropped as the Congress leadership could not find a suitable replacement and was visibly reluctant to allow the then defence minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, to occupy this post." That at least was news.
Very few newspapers discussed the importance of Mr A K Antony in the defence ministry. An honest man, he didn`t want it because he knows how hard it is keep your reputation clean there. But he was "persuaded" to go in just as Mr Mukherjee was persuaded to go out.