Coalition dharma, Congress!

Chatting about UN reforms with a European diplomat at an informal gathering, some of us asked why Britain was still there in the Security Council. They are no longer a military power, nor an economic power. They have a veto, but have never cast it on their own since 1972, the year in which Correlli Barnett published The Collapse of British Power. Worse, they haven't toed a line of their own in the council on any global issue since.

- R. PRASANNAN

After discussing several whys and why-nots, she started writing down the reasons and scoring out one by one.

Point: They were big when the UN was formed. Counter: They are no longer big.

Point: They have the big bomb. Counter: Neither they nor four of the big five had the bomb when they were made members.

Point: All five have the bomb now. Counter: So do India and Pakistan.

Point: They still have diplomatic clout. Counter: So does Germany.

Finally, she admitted: "I guess there is only one reason-they are there because we feel it good to have them around." We all burst out laughing.

The Congress's continuance in the INDIA alliance is becoming something like Britain's in the council. There is no concrete reason for the grand old party to be there, save that many feel it is good to have them around.