Indian prime minister's office says Time magazine article in bad taste >From Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister's Atal Bihari Vajpayee's office has decried a report in Time magazine as being replete with material and factual errors and in "bad taste" and said his competence to control the country's nuclear capabilities had never been questioned. The report has already been dismissed by India's ministry of external affairs as "completely without foundation" and a "completely biased and ill-informed article". In a rejoinder to the report "Asleep at the Wheel?" (June 17), Ashok Tandon, press aide to the prime minister, said in a letter to the newsmagazine that what it carried amounted to "purely fictitious notions about the prime minister's lifestyle" and was not just mischievous but also malicious. Following is the text of Tandon's letter: (text begins) Your report "Asleep at the Wheels" (June 17) is in bad taste. It carries several factual errors and contains certain observations about the Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which are nothing but fiction. Mr. Vajpayee is 77 and not 74. His bladder and liver are perfectly normal and he has an average cholesterol level. However, there are more material errors spread throughout the report. Purely fictitious notions about the Prime Minister's lifestyle are absurd and mischievous. He does not take alcoholic drinks. Comments such as "He takes a three hour snooze every afternoon on doctor's orders and is given to interminable silences, indecipherable ramblings and, not infrequently, falling asleep in meetings" are baseless. A post-lunch siesta is nothing unusual. However, the Prime Minister's punishing schedule keeps him busy from morning to late at night with a short break after lunch. Those familiar with the rigour of Indian politics and the marathon Parliament sessions which the Prime Minister has to cope with can vouch for his fitness. Recently Mr. Vajpayee attended a night-long Parliament session for nearly 12 hours without a break. It is ridiculous to say that the Prime Minister falls asleep in meetings. The use of phrases like "he appears confused and inattentive," "seems shaky and lost," I am afraid, are, malicious. Mr. Vajpayee has been in command for more than four years and his ability to control the country's nuclear capabilities has never been questioned. The media in India is free and TV crews have filmed him without any restrictions. We have taken strong exceptions to your one-sided report designed to tarnish the Prime Minister's image. Mr Vajpayee undoubtedly is a towering personality and the most popular political figure in the country. (ends text) --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
