Munda can’t find time for Bill Gates

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda seems to be so busy that he cannot spare seven days for a trip to Seattle. The Chief Minister today announced that his trip to Seattle to attend a two-day world leaders’ conference organised by Microsoft Inc. has been cancelled.

‘‘I will not be able to make it,’’ said Munda when asked why the trip was cancelled. The Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary, U.K. Sangma, said, ‘‘It’s an old story now. The Seattle programme stands cancelled.’’ The Chief Minister could not ‘‘spare time’’ for the event, he added.

It was learnt Microsoft had invited Munda to the conference but did not say it would cover the cost of flying, lodging and food for the three-member team.

Sangma, however, said money was not a problem. ‘‘The fact is he could not spare time — seven days at a stretch.”