Divine powers

Anybody who is connected to the finance ministry knows the importance of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s powerful advisor Omita Paul. The opinion of this secretary-rank officer means so much to the officials in North Block that one official equated her with Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom. “Just like we do Saraswati Vandana before starting something, we look to her for guidance and direction before any initiative,” joked an official.