The Indian Express -- Expressions

This page contains Editorial and Op-Ed articles

Sunday, December 21 1997

Letters to the Editor

Detainee No 872686/X

Detainee No. 872686/X often has bad nights. His lawyer says he is going though an identity crisis. He is afraid that, shut away in a French prison for three years, he might start believing that he is indeed Detainee No. 872686/X. So he has to remind himself every day that he is Carlos the Jackal, with 80 confirmed kills to his credit.

Will you take charge, Mr Secretary

One of the things that the new secretary of the department of heavy industries, P. Shankar, will have to guard against is the attempt to hijack his portfolio, by others in his own as well as in related ministries.

Inside track -- Untouchability, politically incorrect 4

Just three years ago, Laloo Yadav had caught Ramakrishna Hegde by his shirt-collar and showered abuses because the Karnataka leader had recommended that the Janata Dal should ally with the Congress to defeat the BJP. Now the roles are reversed. Laloo is hoping for a tie-up with the Congress and Hegde with the BJP.

Will you take charge, Mr Secretary

Inside track -- Untouchability, politically incorrect 4

Detainee No 872686/X

Interview of the week with S S Gill