Late, media advisor misses flight with PM

Harish Khare, media advisor to the prime minister, who was supposed to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tirupati on Wednesday got left behind because he failed to reach the airport on time. HT reports.

Harish Khare, media advisor to the prime minister, who was supposed to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tirupati on Wednesday got left behind because he failed to reach the airport on time.

HT Image

Minutes before the doors of the PM’s special Indian Air Force aircraft were to shut for takeoff, PMO (Prime Minister's Office) officials realised Khare was missing. Frantic phone calls revealed Khare was stuck in a traffic jam.

Given the protocol and security involved, those travelling with the PM are always seated well before the prime minister arrives. Keeping the PM waiting is unthinkable. Upset PMO officials thus decided to leave Khare behind, sources said.

Khare did not respond to telephone calls and SMSes from HT.

At Tirupati, Singh laid the foundation stone for an international airport, and another for the construction of an NTPC-BHEL power plant.