Taj festival in 2 weeks, GoM yet to meet

Although the celebrations commemorating 350 years of the Taj Mahal is set to be launched on September 27, the Group of Ministers — constituted to kickstart the event — has not yet had a chance to meet. The GoM, comprising Union ministers of Tourism, Culture, Environment, the UP state Tourism minister, is headed by HRD Minister Arjun Singh.

While Arjun Singh is expected to return from Geneva on September 15, Tourism Minister Renuka Chowdhury leaves for Europe that day. Chowdhury will be away for a week, until September 22, visiting Milan, Paris and Barcelona, for her much touted roadshow.

Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy is also scheduled to leave the country for a week and is expected to return on September 20.

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Environment Minister A. Raja is perhaps the only minister who will be in town — spending his weeks as usual in Tamil Nadu.

It was a worried Prime Minister — alarmed at the slow pace of planning — who swung into action to set up the committee three weeks ago. Now, with barely a fortnight to go before the celebrations begin, the GoM will perhaps only meet next month.