gfiles magazine

September 7, 2011

Khare, journo-turned-crony


HARISH Khare has been an excellent journalist, writer and thinker but his role changed the day he opted to be Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s media adviser. Insiders feel that his manner and attitude have altered since. It seems that Khare believes that, when journalists meet the PM, they should ask only prompted questions. But this is anathema for members of this tribe.
 
Khare recently invited three select journalists from newspapers to meet the Prime Minister – on condition that none of them would ask any questions regarding the Anna Hazare campaign. Themeeting began well but then one of the journalists could not resist seeking Manmohan’s views on the taboo subject. The PM replied unfalteringly and his statements became the lead of the next day’s papers. The meeting ended cordially but Khare was beside himself. The moment the journalists came out, he berated them for bringing up the topic he had expressly banned.
 
They were left bewildered and none too pleased with his transformation from being one of them to being a veritable palace crony.

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