NEW DELHI, 25 October 2006 — Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee was switched to the post of foreign minister yesterday, ending a vacancy of nearly a year at the key ministry ahead of some crucial diplomatic events.
The long-awaited move was part of a minor expansion and reshuffle of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Congress party-led coalition ministry. Mukherjee’s switch comes weeks before India and Pakistan resume fragile peace talks and a last ditch attempt is made to get a controversial civilian nuclear cooperation deal approved by the US Senate. Besides, Chinese President Hu Jintao is due to visit New Delhi next month during which the Asian giants are expected to push for a solution to a decades-old border dispute and tackle some hurdles in their thriving business links.
“They (US administration) have given us assurances that the deal will be through,” Mukherjee told reporters after the reshuffle, referring to the nuclear deal which is expected to seek approval of a “lame duck” Congress next month. A.K. Antony, a former chief minister of the southern state of Kerala, was named to replace Mukherjee as defense minister, a statement from the president’s office said.
Mukherjee, 70, a veteran Congress politician and number two in Manmohan’s Cabinet, has held the foreign, finance and trade portfolios, among others, in the past.
The foreign minister’s post fell vacant last November when Natwar Singh resigned after being named in an independent report into irregularities in the United Nations oil-for-food program for Iraq.
The ruling party suspended Natwar Singh in August after an Indian inquiry — ordered after the UN investigation report — said he had sought favors from Saddam Hussein. Natwar Singh has denied any wrongdoing and insisted he had been made a scapegoat.
Prime Minister Manmohan was handling the duties of foreign minister in the interim, overseeing such crucial assignments as talks with Pakistan and negotiations over the US nuclear deal.
While A.K. Antony is now the new defense minister, Oscar Fernandes heads the Labor Ministry. Formerly a journalist and a teacher, Mukherjee was earlier the foreign minister 1995 - 1996 and has held other portfolios, including finance and commerce.
Being a leader of the House in Lok Sabha, heading several GoMs (Group of Ministers), Mukherjee’s importance had recently increased significantly at home. He has even presided over Cabinet meetings in the absence of the prime minister.
Now, with his heading the foreign ministry, he is likely to be left with little time for domestic affairs.
Eid Celebrated in Parts of India
A festive feeling filled the air as people dressed in new attire exchanged greetings and sweets to mark Eid celebrations in New Delhi yesterday. Eid was celebrated in some parts of India yesterday, in Kerala it was celebrated on Monday and in rest of the country it will be celebrated today. Eid was also celebrated yesterday in Bihar, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and some other places.
Preparations began on Monday night after Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari made an announcement that Eid would be celebrated on Tuesday. Initially, there was a little confusion about the announcement as there were no reports about the sighting of the moon until late Monday night.
However, announcements were later made and sirens were blown from mosques across the city. Predominantly Muslim areas suddenly came to life, with shops becoming busy for last minute Eid shoppers.
Greeting the people, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said in his Eid message: “On the auspicious occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, I extend my best wishes to all my people in India and abroad.”
He also received a steady stream of visitors including students, elderly people and representatives of social organizations at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in the morning. Marking the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan, Kalam said in his message that the festival was an inspiration to “strengthen mutual goodwill” and an opportunity to follow the “path of love and compassion.”
Describing the festival as one that brings to the fore the “noble instincts” of people and evokes feelings of “brotherhood, compassion and sharing,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in his message, “May Eid usher in peace, prosperity and happiness for all.”
