Blowing cold

Guess what half a dozen ministers were doing one afternoon this week? Discussing whether a “cold wave” should be declared a natural calamity or not. Discussions also revolved around how low the temperature should be for it to qualify as a cold wave. On a more serious note, these discussions are taking place because Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are still shivering from the effects of the cold wave that swept the country earlier this year, with thousands of farmers losing their crops. The prime minister even constituted a group of ministers headed by the finance minister to address the cold wave issue. Of course, the meetings are taking place with ministers being buffeted by cold waves — from the air conditioners blasting away in North Block.