Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee has clearly warned Pakistan that there was a limit to India's tolerance to the proxy war that Islamabad was waging. Addressing troops in the forward area in the Kupwara sector, Vajpayee threw clear hints that the country was considering steps other than diplomatic to check cross-border terrorism. This could be a fight to the finish in India's war against terrorism, he told the cheering soldiers.Vajpayee said that a challenge has been thrown to India and "we accept it". "The world understands that we have been wronged but they are not coming out with their views openly. Hence we have to defend ourselves; we are ready for that. My arrival here is indicative of something. Whether our neighbour understands it or not, whether the world takes note of it or not, history will record that we will write a new chapter of victory..." he said. His trip to boost the morale of the frontline troops came at a time when the navy was asked to keep war ships in readiness in the Arabian Sea for any eventuality.

Minister of State for Statistics and Programme implementation Maneka Gandhi said the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) had never stopped any research or experiment. Reacting to statements made by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare C. P. Thakur, Maneka Gandhi said CPCSEA had only ‘‘questioned the wasteful expenditure done on duplicative and irrelevant research and for grants that are being misused in the name of science.’’ Thakur had pointed out that an ‘‘amicable solution’’ needed to be reached on the issue as research in the country had come to a virtual standstill. He said he would meet Prime Minister Vajpayee to discuss the issue.

Maneka Gandhi, however, said that the committee had adequate representation from the Ministry of health. It said that more than 590 laboratories have been inspected by the committee and in all cases it was found that the condition of animals and animal houses was far from satisfactory. ‘‘Badly kept animals means invalid research which is a waste of India’s money and bad for people’s health...Compromise on the condition of animals and the animal houses would lead to compromised research’’, her statement added.

Is the ice melting between Ajit Panja and Mamata Banerjee? Signals from the Panja camp suggest that it may well be so. "Talks between the two leaders can take place only after the March 15 status quo ante is restored," said a source close to Panja. On March 15, 2001, Mamata and Panja resigned from the NDA Cabinet in the wake of the Tehelka scam. Sources close to Panja said that given the changed circumstances, the two may not be after all unwilling to sit together. Apparently, the PMO is also eager that the two let bygones be bygones and move ahead. Insiders pointed out that Prime Minister’s emissary Vijay Goel was entrusted with the task of getting the two together. Goel had recently visited Banerjee and it was during this meeting that he floated the formula that "Mamata and Panja should try to patch up". The Trinamul camp, however, has interpreted the restoration of status quo as Panja’s demand to return to the NDA Cabinet. This suits Banerjee well, they argue. With all the MPs eager to become ministers, the Trinamul supremo is beseiged with dissension in the Parliamentary Party. Banerjee has realised that the numbers do not stack up for her, pointed out Panja. "At last she has got her mathematics right. The Vajpayee government faces no crisis even if she quits on some pretext along with the TDP," Panja said.

One can understand the strong feelings of J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for the victims of the militant massacres. But is it necessary for him to break down every time, like Nirupa Roy in the old Hindi films, in public and in full glare of the electronic media? When the deadly attack on the State Assembly left many innocents killed, Farooq broke into tears. And recently, during the debate on the May 14 Jammu attack, moved by the frank eloquence of his son and MOS, Omar, Farooq who was in the Visitors’ Gallery, was again noticed wiping his tears. Feeling that the government was not responding aggressively to the continued killings of civilians and security personnel, the Chief Minister walked out of the House and launched an emotional outburst in front of the TV cameras.

Does it not give the impression of a Chief Minister who is frustrated at his inability to control the situation. With a few months left for the Assembly poll, one wishes he puts up a brave face to show his determination in stamping out militancy. His strong demand for a full-scale war with Pakistan, too does not indicate the political maturity one would expect from a long-time State leader.