Not-so-flattering opinion

Not all the African delegates, who were in New Delhi to attend the third India-Africa Forum Summit that ended on October 29, had charitable things to say about the deliverables from the summit's events and meetings. One African politician told a top Indian leader - the two have known each other for years - how the summit seemed more of a "fancy dress" event where African leaders and their first ladies got the chance to wear different kinds of Indian attire. Another African diplomat said he had expected to attend "a big Indian wedding" - that was what he got at the summit and enjoyed it thoroughly. The delegates were, however, unsure about the results expected from the summit, not because of lack of intent from the Indian side, but what they said was the "peculiar habit" of Indians, unlike the Chinese, to falter when it came to following up plans and discussions.