Of course, the good news is that you can still count on some friends from your own side-like the Southerner, for instance- who are standing by you and saying that they believe you will still be an asset to the blues.

Now, although all this fuss is because you apparently supported a national government, I don't think that is really the case. After all there are people who supported a national government still among the blues and who can forget the contributions of Ronnie and no lesser a person than the Crown prince himself who spoke of this as his dream when he was chairing proceedings in the House.

So, Fowzie, I'm sure a person of your experience would realise that there may be other ideas in trying to show you the door. And I'm sure you are just as aware that those responsible are from the blue camp rather than from the green camp.

In fact, I think the greens would be hoping that you do not join them-not because you are a bad man- but because then they would find it difficult to accommodate you because there are so many of your brethren among them and they themselves are not the best of friends!

But then you also know that such events do occur in parties after defeat. Some people are replaced because they can then be made convenient scapegoats for defeats and others want to crossover just to be with the winning team. Ask the professor and the sportsman and they will tell you all about that.

Therefore, we do admire you for your courage in trying to stay with what is-for the moment at least- a losing cause and in trying your best to restore flagging morale. But I must warn you, once this issue ends in the courts of law, you-and those trying to oust you- could be in for a long, long wait.

What you must remember at all times though is that the final decision makers in all this are the people. And they do remember you as being among the most energetic ministers in Satellite's cabinet. Of course, you wouldn't have won a popularity contest among the doctors but then, you weren't as unpopular as Nimal who followed in your footsteps. Anyway, dealing first with the doctors and then with the conductors were no easy jobs but you handled them quite well.

And then, we do also remember you for your constant tiffs with the dear departed Ashraff and I'm sure many people admired your courage for standing upto someone who wanted to acquire a larger than life image almost overnight.
So, we are sure you will have the courage to fight the good fight. But it would be better for everyone concerned if you could also settle this dispute and decide where you want to go because a weak opposition is the last thing this country needs at this point of time!

Yours truly,
Punchi Putha

PS- The worst that can happen to you, Fowzie, is to end up with the greens. And if that happens you can still call it a 'home-coming' just like the Crown Prince did when he joined the greens. After all, you too had your stint with the greens in the seventies, didn't you?

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