Wait for the sweetener

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Wait for the sweetener
pawar breakfasts with manmohan

 

What does one do when even a Cabinet Minister has to wait to meet the Prime Minister of India for three days for talks to take a decision on a crucial issue? This happened to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who in April had to sit on the sidelines waiting for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give him some time. Pawar had to take the concurrence of the Prime Minister on the issue of sugar decontrol. It was a crucial decision concerning the economic health of sugar mill owners and farmers. Pawar is the undisputed leader from western Maharashtra, where the sugar lobby controls the politics. And so, it was a crucial decision, personally and politically. If sources are to be believed, he kept on calling the PMO seeking an appointment but every time the answer was, the PM is busy and we will revert once he is available. But, no one responded. Finally, Sharad personally called the Prime Minister and Dr Manmohan Singh invited him for breakfast, a meal where he reportedly feels the most relaxed. During their meeting, Pawar briefed the Prime Minister about sugar decontrol. The rest is history because the very next day sugar
was decontrolled and one could see the smile on the face of Pawar and sugar mills owners. Whether the farmers will be able to get their payments following the decontrol, however, remains a question, the answer to which is not known. g