Smart alecs

The one thing that comes out clearly from television exchanges is that politicians need to practise their clever lines before they come to the studio. The other day, a senior journalist moderating a political talk show on a business channel tripped up a minister from Haryana: “Now, tell me what is it that you lack to be projected as a future leader of the party… you are young, smart, educated … why can’t you be projected as a future leader, as against Rahul Gandhi?” Not having practised an answer, the politician was left speechless. In another TV studio, a senior BJP leader offered what he thought was the litmus test of whether or not Manmohan Singh was a weak prime minister: “Now, tell me, if Sonia Gandhi asks Manmohan Singh to resign, will he do so or not?” Given that any categorical answer would create a controversy, the Congress leader gave some wishy-washy reply.