Empty hope

With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in charge of the finance ministry, the usual hectic activity in North Block has given way to a calm and peaceful atmosphere with few visitors signing in to meet officials. A senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office pointed out that, ideally, this was the way things should be. The policies and functioning of the ministry should be so transparent and stable that industry, and businessmen in particular, should not be tempted to visit the minister or the officials for favours. Most businessmen would agree with him — and rue the fact that this isn’t the reality.