The Pioneer: April 07, 2005
The BJP on Wednesday took a dig at the 'haphazard' functioning of the
UPA Government with former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh
wondering over the "interval" in three-day mourning in the country of
Pope John Paul II's death saying it reflected poorly on the nation's
image abroad.
"The three-day national mourning was announced after the death of Pope
in a haste without even realising that the president of Uzbekistan was
to arrive here on an official visit," Mr Singh said, addressing the BJP
national council meet here.
He claimed that when the Government realised its "folly", a quick word
was sent across to Uzbekistan asking it to postpone the president's
visit.
"When the request was declined, all the great brains in the Government
got together and decided to have an interval in the national mourning,"
Mr Singh said. "One had heard of intervals in games of hockey, football
or even cricket, but no one has ever heard of an interval in national
mourning," he quipped amid laughter from the audience.
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Cheers,
Carlos
