'Make Laloo ambassador to Pak'
NILANJANA BHADURI JHA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2003 07:26:51 PM ]
NEW DELHI: The most unlikely people make the best ambassadors. In the Indo-Pak context, ailing Baby Noor, hawk Fazlur Rehman and now the comic politician Laloo Prasad Yadav.
The man from Bihar, who gets away with the most personal of remarks in public fora, has taken Pakistan by storm and few are surprised. Years ago, Bollywood beauty Hema Malini did not sue Laloo for comparing Bihar roads to her flawless cheek. It is unlikely that Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed will hold Laloo's remark - that he resembles the fugitive Saddam Hussain - against him either.
Carrying betel leaves (paan) and ground gram (sattu) as peace offerings, Laloo has in one stroke of homey diplomacy done what a myriad state visits would not have accomplished - broken the ice.
The popularity transcends borders. On this side, an indiatimes reader, msanand7 suggests, "I feel Lalooji should be made the special external affairs minister for Pakistan." And another, hari_krsna: "Should make Laloo as our ambassador to Pak!"
On that side, qureshhr says: "This was really a nice gesture from Laloo to visit, on his own, Lal Haweli and local markets of Rawalpindi. This will help in reducing orthodox bitterness found in public. In fact, such visits should be more common as we saw people welcome the delegates which was an obvious indication of the people's attitude to get away with the barriers. I personally long to visit India to explore our heritage, but rule and regulations hinder my wish."
Of course there is also the danger of getting carried away by all those antics. Laloo is not known to do things in half-measures. His very inclusion in a group of MPs and journalists visiting across the border for a seminar ensured that no one else could hope to get a word in edgeways.
Pakistanis say they love Laloo's rustic mien. They want leaders like that, men from the grassroots who know the pulse of people. Who speaks their language and without apology. That it is the wily politician at work, is forgiven. After all, no one entertains quite like Laloo. For ajay_kumar_singh, it is a whole lot of fun: "Laloo forgot to take his cows and buffaloes with him, they would have added more 'MASALA' to his visit."
But why is Laloo in Pakistan? This is not a big political visit, only a media event that Laloo has neatly converted into a one-man celebrity bash.
He speaks theatrically, one eye on the television cameras, the other making sure the adoring crowds are hanging on to every word. This is the symbol of a vibrant democracy, a common man who has made it big and he will never let anyone forget it.
Before leaving for his Pakistan jaunt Laloo said the purpose was to pave the way for talks between the neighbouring countries towards peace. Left unsaid was that Laloo also has his electoral agenda firmly in mind. A bonhomous, successful trip to Pakistan would go a long way in keeping the substantial Muslim population in Bihar on his side.
In Pakistan, Laloo has kept the one-liners flowing, like a one-man entertainment show. He has juxtaposed diplomacy with Laloo prattle to such effect, this visit will undoutedly be remembered far more than, say, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's stately tour of 1998.
Laloo plays the showstopper well. His advent into the Rajya Sabha in 2002 was the most awaited event ever since his nomination was announced and his first speech in the House thereafter played to packed galleries. And Laloo did not disappoint, performing a series of antics, with props in place.
During the Asssembly elections in Narendra Modi's Gujarat, when the Congress seemed to do nothing right, Laloo was its one trump card. People flocked to hear the man from Bihar even if they didn't quite vote for the party he asked them to.
Not that it is love messages all the way. According to coolguy 2709: "Hope his return visa to India is denied and he stays in Pakistan...Maybe, he could even stand for elections in Pakistan." And dnprasanna says ein true Laloo style: "Make deal with Pakistan. Give them Laloo and take back Pakistan occupied Kashmir."
If two-year-old Noor rode new hope for peace on the reinstated bus service from Lahore, and the hardline Pakistan Leader of Opposition Fazlur Rehman had the most unlikely people playing host to him as he mouthed peace talk here, India could not have picked a better dove to carry its olive branch than the straightalking person of Laloo Prasad Yadav.
"I think he is the person who can bring this two beautiful countries with beautiful people together. He should be made an Indian Ambassador to Pakistan. Hey guys take my suggestion seriously," Vishal, in Christchurch New Zealand, says.
Laloo goes shopping, wins hearts, gifts
IANS[ SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2003 11:28:03 PM ]
ISLAMABAD: Talking about Indo-Pak ties and cultures of the two countries, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav hogged the limelight here as he and some other members of the delegation went out to explore the markets of Islamabad on Sunday.
People from all age groups, particularly children, vied with each other to have a glimpse of the Indian leaders as Laloo charmed the crowds with his inimitable style. Doing a little bit of shopping, the leader from Bihar was even presented gifts by shopkeepers.
''We have all heard about you,'' said a cloth merchant while he gifted a piece of Pakistani fabric to Laloo. |
