MoStly ignored

It would be difficult for anyone to remember the last time a Minister of State (MoS) in the finance ministry was heard speaking at a public platform on the economy and finance. But J D Seelam, who was appointed MoS last year, belied all expectations by speaking at great length at an event hosted by an association of stock exchanges last week. In his half-hour-long extempore speech, Seelam didn't restrict himself to the markets either but touched almost every key issue involving the finance ministry - fiscal deficit, tax collections, inflation, gross domestic product growth and also the government's efforts to control import of coals. The former bureaucrat also had some advice for the press: "Let's not say something is wrong unless it's conclusively proved." Despite this speech of unprecedented length by an MoS finance, it was Sebi chairman U K Sinha who grabbed the headlines.