Anything for NE

But for all his happiness at the compliments of a political rival, Mani Shankar Aiyar is not quite smiling about another of his charges. He is also Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The latest casualty among his various ideas is his plan to hold exhibitions on the India Gate lawns promoting the Northeast as a tourism destination for sarkari babus and encouraging them to use their Leave Travel Concession to visit the region. The idea recently fell flat, with the authorities (read the CPWD) refusing to grant the necessary permissions, citing a host of reasons, including security. Having floated the idea earlier this year, Aiyar had even got a one-day national conclave held in Delhi in a bid to sensitise the babus. Excited with the response, Aiyar was keen to use the India Gate lawns to hold exhibitions so that the bureaucracy could be acquainted with the region when babus ambled on the lawns during lunch hours. Aiyar’s ministry is now searching for another venue.