THE CUNNING FOX PUTS UP HIS PENNY WORTH ADVICE

There was news report in the Marathi media lauding the efforts of Mr. Sharad Pawar in bringing back the Indian students stuck in Ukraine. The Ukraine conflict is certainly not new and nations around the world are taking cognisance of this and reacting accordingly. India on it's part has been proactive and has a lot to offer in this crisis. This fact has been acknowledged by the powers like, Russia and Ukraine. Both have asked us to mediate in this issue and this speaks volumes of our aggressive and sustained foreign policy. 

Due to the ease of getting admissions in post graduate and medical science studies in Ukraine more than 20k Indian students were studying in Ukraine. The moment the likelyhood of a crisis emerged the diplomatic officials in Ukraine got in contact with these students and preped the about the circumstances. As there was no point to unduly alarm them they were told to continue till the situation changes. 

The moment Russia invaded Ukraine the machinery got into action. Routes, transport arrangements, evacuation routes and the requisite transport arrangements were finalised. Arrangements with Poland, Romania to accept immigrants were finalised. India has a vast experience in such evacuations. Yemen, Afghanistan are a few. This government and ministers like Mr. Hardeep Puri, Gen. V K Singh and Scindia have alot of hands on experience in this matter and rightfully our PM Modi has tasked them along with the external affairs minister to run Operation Ganga. 

Now after successfully moving thousands of students to safe exit points and sending 5 planes of students back to India Mr Sharad Pawar wakes from his slumber and realises that the Modi government is successfully bringing back the students and he has no finger in this pie. After being unduly busy with the Nawab Malik episode he had lost a golden chance to assert himself on the international stage. 

Yeras after becoming irrelevant in the national and state politics in 2019 he came back by treachery and dangled the carrot of the CM's chair to Uddhav Thackery and trapped him in an alliance. Naturally this unholy alliance was jumping from one scandal to the other as this alliance was only for power and graft.One after the other ministers and lawmakers were sent to jail and inquiries on a dozen of them are in progress. With the affair of Nawab Malik coming dangerously close to his clan, Mr. Pawar was busy fire fighting. The SS is also busy in fire fighting as their head honcho in the Mumbai corporation Yashwant Jadhav has come under the scanner and with likely links directly with Matoshri this was certainly serious. But as Uddhav Thackery does not have much to do on the national stage and absolutely nothing on the international arena, he concentrated on efforts in wriggling out of the current situation. He did his constitutional duty by writing to the PM and showing concern for the Maharashtrain students stuck in Ukraine.

 But it was another for Mr. Pwar. How could he loose a chance to show his importance in this situation especially when elections to 5 major lacal bodies are in the offing? So what if late he ran to hitch on the Ukranian bandwagon. Old as he is he did not actually run but just had a conversation with the External Affairs Minister and made sure atleast the pet Marathi media highlighted this in a big way. What was the discussion?  no details. What advice did he offer? No clue, then what was the need to call on the minister? News op nothing else. I am really amused to think of what more Mr. Pawar could have suggested to these veterans of a number of successful evacuations!!

Old habits die hard, nothing else.