Time, health and relationships

Politician Amar Singh, who dominated the headlines at one time, retired as Rajya Sabha member on Tuesday at the end of his six-year term. In his three-minute farewell speech, Singh, who has been an MP for 18 years, recalled how he was initially a member of Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (after a bitter parting of ways, Singh has been an independent member of Parliament). More significantly, however, Singh had glowing words for Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, his "long-time friend." He told members how it was Jaitley who visited him in hospital in Singapore when he was critically ill. When Jaitley was hospitalised in the capital, Singh said he visited him and gave him a nugget of advice, "Jaitleyji, nurture time, health and relationships. Especially health, the other two will follow suit." Singh admitted that he, too, had neglected his health and paid a price for it. Jaitley duly reciprocated in his speech to the retiring members, singling out Singh as one of the most "colourful" members, who will be missed for his "turn of phrase". Are we looking at another potential Bharatiya Janata Party member?