Gujarat: Mantris, babus scramble for Modi-Trump event passes

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat secretariat is witnessing unprecedented scenes of ministers and bureaucrats getting in touch with the core group of officers, in-charge of executing plans for the big-ticket PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump Motera stadium inaugural event.
Sources in the government said even senior ministers have been calling up IAS officers to get passes for their family members and aides who are keen to attend the high profile event.
Confirming this, a top minister in the Rupani government said, “Family members, friends, MLAs and MPs have been relentlessly seeking entry passes for the ‘Namaste Trump’ event at Motera stadium, as a lot of excitement has been generated about the event. Surprisingly, there is no clarity about whom to approach for passes. Many top industrialists are also approaching us for VIP passes. All we can tell them as of now is to wait.”
The minister added that party leaders – both in the government and the organization – saw the event as an excellent opportunity to keep supporters in good humour by arranging passes for them. “It is unfortunate that ministers are not involved in the preparations even as a handful of officials in the government have been entrusted with the task of overseeing all preparations for Trump’s visit,” said the minister.
The minister admitted that it has become rather embarrassing for ministers to call and request bureaucrats for entry passes for their family members and supporters. “This has not happened in the past. Due importance was accorded to ministers and senior party leaders in all such grand events. We hope that the government will address this issue immediately as a wrong message is going through to party supporters that officers are more powerful than elected leaders in the Rupani government,” the minister complained.