Steeling the show

Beni Prasad Verma is elated at being elevated to Cabinet rank, but is unwilling to get involved in his ministry. All questions at Wednesday’s press conference were referred to the senior bureaucrats accompanying him and C S Verma, chairman of government-owned steelmaker SAIL. Eventually, irritated by the barrage of questions, he said, “I believe in politics. I don’t in believe in running ministries as that is meant for these people,” he said pointing to the bureaucrats. In politics, he said, his focus would be Uttar Pradesh. No coincidence, Assembly elections are due there in 2012.