PM to answer 20 questions from owners of TV channels

DR MANMOHAN SINGH PREPARES

for TV interaction, while Sonia Gandhi

to announce CWC on Thursday.

By R Rajagopalan

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh spent the second half of

Tuesday with Union Ministers and senior officials to update himself

on the Wednesday TV editors meeting.

TKA Nair Principal Secretary to Prime Minister and Harish Khare

had identified thirty major issues on which possible questions 

expected. First and foremost is on ISRO Antrix-Devas deal.

Three or four times, PMO was in constant touch with

ISRO chief and with Kasturi Rangan. To elicit more inputs

on cancellation of the Devas deal.

The second key issue on which PM will face tough

questions on 2G and JPC.

But from PM personal preference would be to deal

more with the foreign relations questions-then economy

finally the politics. Dr Singh is certain to take his personal 

theory forward, like Shram el Sheikh- utterances. To deal

with Pakistan. PM is also likely to come out a political package

for J&K.  

Wednesday will be the day of Prime Minister  Dr SIngh,

while on Thursday, it is of Sonia GAndhi.

Both of them had strategised to hold on to the headlines

of TV and print media, Hence  a possibility of a massive 

publicity  for Sonia Gandhi who is set 

to announce the CWC and also AICC shuffle.

In Monday morning core committee the strategy to divert

focus of TV channels from ISRO to political side, 

AICC and PMO were too concerned on negative publicity

the UPA2 had drawn on ISRO. 

Prannoy Roy from NDTV, Arun Purie from Headlines Today

and top editors of the TV news channels are invited to interact 

on Wednesday at 1030 hours with Prime Minister at 7 Race Course Road.

Doordharshan will go live, while other national channels will link

to DD.

Just before Parliament, the publicity stunt style suggested

by the duo Harish Khare and Janardhan Diwedi will be put

to test, and that too just before the commencement of Parliament.

ends