Thank you for your absence

Many of the top industrialists and diplomats invited to the two-day global investors meet organised in Chhattisgarh, did not attend the event that concluded last week in Naya Raipur, the state’s new capital. The problem was that neither Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) Chairman Badridhar Diwan nor his staff appeared to be aware of this. This became evident as soon as Diwan proposed the vote of thanks at the conclusion of the first day of the meet. He started reading the name of industrialists and diplomats — including the UAE Ambassador — who did not, in fact, attend the meet. As one delegate commented, “Diwan sahib thanked people for not attending!” The chairman was given the list by the CSIDC officials and he simply read it without verifying the names.