The past catches up

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was initially hesitant about heading the drafting committee for the Lok Pal Bill. But now that it’s fait accompli, he decided to extend a hand of friendship to the five civil society members and Anna Hazare after the first meeting of the committee on Saturday. He shook hands with everyone and told Hazare, “Do you remember, we held long meetings earlier as well?” Hazare’s recollections were hazy so Mukherjee reminded him, “It was when I was the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission I had formed a small discussion group with the NGOs. You were a part of the group and came to Yojana Bhawan quite a few times.”