Amar forgives 'betrayer' Lalu

NEW DELHI: Grinning wide, theirrepressible Amar Singh has declared truce with Lalu Prasad in their fast-pacedwar of words. And in the bargain tried to usurp his opponent’sunchallenged position as king of political entertainment. After aslew of names traded by the two politicians over the weekend and beyond, Singhbowed to Lalu’s “age� and coyly suggested the last had beensaid from his side. For the record, Amar Singh had first called Lalua “betrayer�, Lalu called him a “dalal (broker)� ofcorporates and one seen “dancing with girls�.To whichAmar Singh described Lalu as a “maskhara (joker)�, which he nowclaims is the mildest of all words bandied about. So what broughtabout the sudden change of heart? Amar Singh says it is the realisation that all“this is only strengthening the hands of the communal forces, onlyrecently decimated�.Also because, and it sounds almostheartfelt, “Laluji is elder to us and I respect him.� TheLakshman-like demeanour is accompanied by the ever-present smile that says he isenjoying himself vastly.In the same breath and same tone, Amar Singhalso suggests that the case of Lalu’s RJD mate Taslimuddin continuing asminister is curious. But of course “I am not saying that they are taintedministers�, he says, tongue firmly in cheek. “But why is the sameLeft that sought his resignation in the UF government silentnow?�In his new peace-loving avatar,Amar Singh decries the words flying about in the political world, his war withLalu included. “It is very unfortunate. But what I said for Lalu is not asgrave as what he said about me.�Of course, as is usual, AmarSingh has the culprit for all this nailed too. The media. “You�, hesays dramatically, �provoked me to react. Now you are provoking meagain.� There he’d like to end it, though not without some musicalreferences. “I’m ending this, but if Lalu continues the“thumke baazi (dancing about) then we’ll sing a thumri(song).� No doubt, the Bihar bigwig is already lining up with his take onthis. Watch this space.