Better brief

A senior minister in the Narendra Modi-led government recently called journalists for an impromptu briefing. Since his is a key ministry, a posse of mediapersons quickly reached the spot. But after a wait in the conference room for half an hour, the journalists were informed the minister had called them to his chamber. The television crew, though, was not allowed inside. The minister was seen reprimanding his information officer (IO) for also calling the audio-visual medium, at a time when Parliament was in session. He might face a "privilege motion" for talking on record, the minister averred. Realising the media was watching, he softened a little and told the IO that he, being a "seasoned" official, should have known better.