Tit for tat

As we remarked in Chinese Whispers before, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's "suit-boot ki sarkar" allusion has really raised the hackles of Bharatiya Janata Party bosses and they have not missed a chance to give it back to Gandhi. Replying to a debate on the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley remarked the government of the day was a "soojh-boojh ki sarkar" (a wise government). Then, in reply to Gandhi's contention that the prime minister was often abroad, he said, "At least we know where the prime minister is. The PM's trips are a national duty. There is a difference between a national duty and disappearance for a jaunt."