Written down method

The sudden ban on cotton exports and the subsequent disagreement between the textiles and agriculture ministries have more to do with a lack of communication between Textiles Minister Anand Sharma, whose ministry imposed the ban, and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who has opposed it. As Textiles Secretary Kiran Dhingra explained, Sharma and Pawar could not meet to discuss this sensitive topic because both were out of the country in turns. It turns out that Sharma did try to inform Pawar of the decision. Through what means? In this era of email, mobile phones and text messaging Sharma chose to leave a handwritten note on the decision for Pawar before he started his overseas tour. So Pawar only got to see the note after he returned from his trip by which time the decision was fait accompli. It is worth wondering why two senior Cabinet ministers in the United Progressive Alliance cannot interact and share their views by other, faster means.