Late evening meetings of groups of ministers and the Cabinet Committee on Prices are now de rigeur in Delhi. These gatherings are held, of course, to discuss such weighty variables as inflation, iron ore exports, and the national well-being. There?s nothing hard and fast about the odd hours, Eavesdropper hears, and it?s not always because ministers are too busy during the day. But it doesn?t hurt for the public at large to see them ?burn the midnight oil? in their bid to save the scene..
Sly high
In a recent interaction with civil aviation minister Praful Patel, scribes experienced a ripple of excitement over the prospect of booze being served on domestic flights, when the subject was broached. The consensus view was obvious: candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. It was the implementation that ran into a rough patch. In this era of biofuels, one scribe hit upon a crafty idea?use alcohol to fuel the plane, and the excess load (all planes overfuel, by the way) can be served to grateful passengers. In any case, the synergies between alcohol and flying had long been established by a certain Indian brand of more than ornithologist interest. The idea was relished all around. And then, the implications began to seep in. ?If alcohol is used as fuel,? quavered a voice, ?wouldn?t booze prices shoot up?? Came the reassuring response, ?But it would at least reduce the price of ATF.? The panic stricken voice, however, was not to be tranquilised, ?But who wants to drink ATF??
Elevation
If Bill Clinton?s aides in 1992 once scribbled a placard saying ?The economy, stupid!? to keep his campaign speech from wandering gleefully off-script, Eavesdropper hears Congressmen are busy making placards saying, ?Act surprised, dumbo!?, for the eventuality of an ?elevation? that nobody is supposed to have any clue about.
