CM keeps Singapore Deputy PM waiting for over 2 hours

Politics butts protocol to backfoot
Deccan Herald

A head of State had to wait close to an hour for a function as Karnataka’s political machinery was in full churn for the Legislative Council by-election to wrest two precious seats.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan who was the guest of honour for the opening ceremony of the new wing ‘Inventor’ at International Tech Park in Bangalore on Saturday, waited and waited for the host and Chief Minister Dharam Singh to arrive. Mr Singh was apparently busy with the by-election at Vidhana Soudha.

The embarrassment doubled considering the immaculate time and business sense that Singaporeans are famed for. Dr Tan had arrived for the opening ceremony good 15-20 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.

Though the organisers went on religiously announcing that the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramiah and Industries Minister P G R Sindhia were on the way to the venue, only Mr Singh turned up along with his official entourage, that too an hour late.

Mr Singh profusely apologised for arriving late. “I’m extremely sorry for coming late. Today, we have council elections at Vidhana Soudha. I’m a voter and I had to be there. In fact, I have taken the permission of my party’s state unit president (B Janardhan Poojary) to rush here. I regret for the delay as it caused Singapore Deputy Prime Minister wait for me,” he said.

But, the apology did not cut much ice with the business leaders and other executives who were present at the function. As one of the senior IT executives remarked, “No wonder, the perception of Indian politicians is not good abroad. Arriving so late for the function is nothing short of being discourteous to your guests.”