Defence Minister's car conks out, colleague comes to rescue

It was a situation not seen often when Defence Minister A K Antony's bullet-proof vehicle broke down in Parliament House complex today.
After the Ambassador car maintained by the Army was towed away by the traffic crane, his staff scurried around in vain for a replacement before he had to hitch a ride on his colleague Jairam Ramesh's beaconless car to office.
The vehicle broke down after it dropped Antony at Parliament House in time for his statement in the Lok Sabha on the Sindhurakshak submarine tragedy.
Later, after adjournment of the House, the Defence Minister wanted to proceed to his office in South Block and his staff frantically searched for a vehicle to ferry him.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had arrived there at the same time. A request to him led to his immediate positive response and subsequently the Defence Minister was driven in beaconless car to his office.
Ramesh travels without security in a Maruti SX4 car without beacon.