New Delhi, July 19 (Inditop.com) The event was on climate change, but seeing US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton answering queries mainly related to terrorism and on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, an irritated Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh took the platform abruptly and brought the discussion back to the green agenda.
Clinton Sunday visited the ITC Green Centre in Gurgaon to discuss issues on climate change with Indian government officials and experts. However, when it came to taking media queries, Clinton ended up talking more about terrorism than the environment.
After shaking his head disapprovingly time and again, an impatient Ramesh, dressed in a white kurta-pyjama, finally took the platform after Clinton stepped aside and reiterated the focus of the day – that India was serious about climate change.
“You people just want masala (spice) for your stories. What questions were you asking,” Ramesh said later, as he handed over copies of his speech personally to reporters.
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All for Clinton – reporters’ long, painful wait
The surging enthusiasm among the scores of media professionals gathered to cover the climate change event in Gurgaon hardly remained so for long.
Standing for around five long hours, and even more, at the ITC Green Centre for Clinton to arrive, it literally became a challenge to remain upright for many.
Not only were the reporters not provided any sitting space or chairs, they also didn’t have enough standing space.
Squeezing themselves between scores of TV camera tripods, a lot of women scribes – for lack of any other choice – simply squatted on the ground waiting for Clinton to arrive.
For security reasons, the media was asked to come one and a half hours earlier. They had to report by 11.25 a.m. while the programme was to begin at 12.55 p.m.
Not wanting to take a chance, most of the media reached the venue at 11 a.m. However, it was not before 1.20 p.m that Clinton arrived. By the time they could finally leave it was past 4.30 p.m.
“We were hungry! Had we gone for the refreshments, we would have lost our space to stand here! Somebody should think about media professionals too!” said an exasperated reporter.
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Muddy day for the poor sniffer dog
A black sniffer dog appeared reluctant to enter a muddy paddy field at the National Agricultural Science Centre as security officials tried to fulfil all security arrangements ahead of Clinton’s visit.
The dog hesitatingly walked on the side of the muddy paddy field, while sniffing at the small bushes, then lifted his fore paws in the air before dragging them on the grass to rub off the sticky mud.
“An elite dog has a tough day on the muddy fields,” said a security official smiling.
