Third time lucky

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a third attempt to launch the National Democratic Alliance's flagship Integrated Power Development Scheme by visiting his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. Twice - in July and in August - the launch had to be postponed due to rain. On both occasions, senior government officials, executives from the Power Grid Corporation of India and Power Finance Corporation Limited, among others, had flown to the venue and returned disappointed. So this time, there were suggestions in the local media that the PM visit a temple before flying down for the event, if only to break the jinx. In any case, people are known to visit temples on occasions such as birthdays and festivals and the PM's visit is scheduled for the day after his birthday.