Selective red carpet

The traditional venue for the review meetings between the finance minister and the public sector banks is Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, but this year the government-owned auditorium was booked for another event. Since the austerity drive ruled out a five-star hotel as an alternative venue, the meeting was held at the State Bank of India office in the capital instead. The largest state-run bank made sure that it welcomed its owner in grand style, literally rolling out a red carpet, flanked by large banners with the finance minister's picture. So much so that bank staff made sure that only the finance minister walked on the red carpet first and no one else - others were unceremoniously asked to walk on either side of it.