Ramesh's false carrot

Jairam Ramesh has succeeded in making the environment ministry a high-profile place. The parliamentary forum on environment, a low-key body with no teeth, got a dose of Ramesh recently. At a meeting, Ramesh suggested members should undertake foreign tours to understand the various aspects of environment. While many members got excited at the prospect, a few asked Ramesh if he would be able to get the finance ministry’s approval for these tours. In his usual style, Ramesh quipped, “Arre yaar, I was just trying to enthuse the members. I know foreign tours will never be permitted.”