Quote, unquote, no quote

"Please don't quote me" has been a standard request of bureaucrats talking off the record to journalists since time immemorial. But the frequency with which officials under the Narendra Modi government make this request has risen phenomenally in the last three months or so. The flow of information, however, has not increased proportionally. Since their current boss doesn't appreciate free interaction with the media, bureaucrats resort to this disclaimer even for the most inane and innocuous replies such as, "The matter is still under consideration" or "We will take an appropriate decision". Fear of the incumbent at 7, Race Course Road is so intense that they insist on attributing even this meagre information to a government source without identifying their ministry.