Time bound

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s schedule is not just hectic but also erratic — by his own admission. Recently, industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) had to reschedule its annual general meeting to suit the schedule of the United Progressive Alliance’s chief trouble-shooter and Mukherjee duly noted this. Apologising for the adjustments CII had had to make in its schedule, he explained ruefully and tellingly, “Sometimes, I get information about an emergency meeting very late.” Given the frequency with which UPA has been lurching from one crisis to the next, it is safe to say Mukherjee is unlikely to get notice of future emergency meetings any earlier.