ENCOUNTER/Amar SinghNone of the Capital''s glitterati was prepared for the extremely ugly exchanges that took place at a social evening last month between Congress MP Mani Shankar and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh. Starting off as a wordy duel, it degenerated into a physical one, much to the embarrassment of all present. However, it was a thoroughly unrepentant Amar Singh who gave STOI a blow-by-blow account of what happened. Excerpts from an interview:

What was the provocation for the brawl at Satish Gujral''s party?

In spite of being greatly provoked, I kept my cool for a very long time. The party was in honour of H.K. Dua, press advisor to the Prime Minister and a good friend of mine, who''d recently got married. Practically everybody who matters was there. Mani came up to me absolutely drunk and charged: `You are a racist. You prevented Sonia Gandhi from becoming the Prime Minister only because she''s a foreigner.'' I kept quiet.

Did you think it wasn''t worth countering? Or was it because you did stall her premiership?

I did not prevent her from becoming the PM. It was the collective decision of Samajwadi Party MPs and MLAs under Mulayam Singh''s leadership. As a spokesperson it was my duty to articulate the party''s view.

Surely that wasn''t provocation enough?

Mani didn''t stop at that. He called me an opportunist, a political weather cock. I countered: I was with Mulayam and I''m still with him. It''s you who, when denied a Congress seat, went over to Mamata and when she spurned you, you came back, calling her names. Mani shot back: `You are a broker of industrialists, you are Ambani''s dog.'' Without losing my shirt, I replied: Fine, as far as the Ambanis are concerned you people are virgins. Your party has not taken a single penny from them. As for proximity with industrialists the Congress has been in close touch with many of them. I told him: Yeh tu nahi, sharaab bol raha hai. To which Mani replied: `Mera dil aur dimaag bol raha hai''. Continuing in the same vein I said: Mote Mani Shankar, sharaab ke nashe mein dhhut tera sara shareer dol raha hai.

He was not offended?

He just wanted to provoke me, and when I didn''t get provoked, he said, `What sort of a Thakur are you?'' He just wanted to pick up a fight.

Why would he do that?

So that he could go back and tell Soniaji, I fixed Amar Singh, I''m the only one who could do it, and thus ensure a berth in the Congress Working Committee. I told Mani, I know your gameplan. I''m not going to help you get into Soniaji''s charmed circle. To which he said, `You are under-estimating my clout with her, I write all her speeches. I did it for Rajiv.'' Sure, how can anybody forget those infamous lines, `Mein VP Singh ki naani yaad karadoonga. God help the leader and the party which has a speech writer like you, I replied. He gave a maa ki gali. I said politely, but firmly, I can also abuse your mother, but I won''t stoop so low. For god''s sake don''t provoke the beast in me.

But he did?

He was irrepressible... He said, `We belong to the Oxford and Cambridge set... your leader can''t even articulate himself in English... Oh that bloody Mulayam -- he looks just like me. It could be because my father visited UP at some point. Why don''t you check with Mulayam''s mother''. This was crossing all limits. I grabbed him by the neck and did what I had to do.

You beat him up?

I did much less than what he deserved.

You said that knowing his gameplan you refused to get provoked. Why did you get provoked?

Mulayam Singh is very close to my heart. He is my leader. I''m sorry about what I did. I don''t think it was right.

So you regret what you did?

I don''t. I''m human, I''m not an angel. I got provoked when he talked about my leader''s mother in such a derogatory manner. As a member of civil society I''m ashamed.

You embarrassed your hosts!?

If the hosts invite such characters, give them too much to drink and don''t intervene when things get out of control, I''m sorry, I can''t help it.

Is such behaviour befitting of MPs?

Normally, in such an episode, people''s sympathies are with the victim. But in this case, the person who was kicked, enjoyed no sympathy.

That may be your perception.

That''s the truth. It was people''s collective desire to put him in his place. Even the hosts sent me flowers the next day with a `sorry'' note.

Maybe they sent him one as well.

I don''t know, I didn''t check. But they told everybody that it was Mani who started it all.

Given all this, should there be a code of conduct for guests? Should defaulters be kept out?

I don''t care whether I''m invited or not. I don''t care if it causes embarrassment but I''m not prepared to take s...t from the likes of Mani Shankar Aiyar.

What is the solution to such rowdyism?

Don''t invite unsavoury characters who can''t hold their drink. If you must, limit them to two pegs. If they exceed their quota or misbehave, have them thrown out.

Sakina Yusuf Khan

In the interest of fairness the STOI called Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar for his version of the encounter. His reply was: ``I have nothing to say about that goonda. It''s about time you people also stopped talking about it. Excuse me.'''' He banged the phone down.