On the beaten track

Ending political interference in the public sector is a no-brainer, right? But not, manifestly, to successive Indian governments, and Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge isn't about to buck the trend. At an informal chat with reporters in Rail Bhavan, he was asked, "Do you think the Railways should be depoliticised like it is in China?" The answer was a blank stare and a mumble, "I don't know what you are talking about, I cannot answer this."