No work makes M M Joshi8217;s deputy sulk

Santosh Gangwar, who was a minister of Petroleum earlier, and is now Minister of State for Science and Technology isn8217;t too thrilled with a relatively low-profile portfolio. 8220;I have not been given independent charge yet,8221; said Gangwar. As of now, he8217;s expected to monitor 8220;plan schemes and projects,8221; prepare replies to all unstarred questions in Parliament, and look into issues of 8220;staff welfare,8221; including fixing pay and service conditions for all officers below Group A.

Cabinet Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said that as per norms, Gangwar will be consulted 8220;like the Secretaries8221; when it comes to policydecisions. But work isn8217;t the first thing on Gangwar8217;s mind these days. It8217;s office accommodation.

The minister8217;s flat on Baba Kharak Singh Marg has been turned into a makeshift office accommodating about 10 staff members. 8220;I asked the director-general of CSIR to accommodate me in their headquarters in Rafi Marg, so let us see what happens,8221; he smiles. 8220;There is space in Technology Bhawan in New Mehrauli Road but tell me how can I work from there?8221; he says, throwing up his hands.

But the office he wants at the CSIR complex has a bit of a problem: it8217;s meant for8211;and is already occupied by8211;Murli Manohar Joshi. So if Gangwar insists on moving there, officials say some scientists could then be asked to move out.

Joshi says Gangwar8217;s accommodation should be sorted out by the three secretaries in the department and Gangwar himself. And that he has no hand in it. Gangwar puts up a brave face: 8220;I do not fight with anyone, it is all fine by me. They gave me this ministry and even then I did notcomplain.8221;