Recently inducted in PM Narendra Modi’s team Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha is on his first vist to his hometown Hazaribagh after taking oath of office. Sinha narrated a humorous story on his induction into the Cabinet before an informal gathering in Munka Baagicha, Hazaribagh, during his felicitation ceremony. Thanking the people gathered on the occasion he said that all credit went to them for everything which happened in his life during last 6-7 months. He also promised to give my best in the days to come as an MP and a minister.
Excerpts of his tale of becoming a minister:
After getting your support and love in May, I went to Delhi as the MP of Hazaribagh for the first time. In Delhi I have many friends and most of them congratulated me. One of my close friends asked me that whether I have bought a prince coat or not. When I said no he suggested me to purchase it as early as possible because according to him I was going to be inducted in the central cabinet and at that time I should wear the prince coat.
I purchased a prince coat and started waiting for invitation from PMO but it didn’t come. After some days I came to know that my friends had fooled me and in that conspiracy my life partner was also included. This time when the news of expansion of central cabinet spread and my name started coming in the news channels and other media as a probable then they came to me and again started talking about my dress during the swearing in ceremony. I told them that you all have made me fool once and I am not going to believe you again on this issue.
On Saturday, November 8, I went to take part in the meeting of a parliamentary committee of finance where some members questioned me that why I have come there because as per their information I was going to be inducted in cabinet. I still not believed on the talks but after the meeting when I was returning to my home a phone call came having a message that please keep your mobile free for next sometimes because a phone from PMO will come to you.
It was the moment when first time a belief initiated in my mind that I am going to be included in the ministry. I started waiting anxiously for the phone of PMO. In the meantime my mobile rang and when I responded I came to know that it was from a denizen of Hazaribagh. After finishing the talk in few seconds I again started waiting and again the mobile rang. This time it was my wife Punita Kumar and in irritation I said that you too have got this time to disturb me and cut the phone. Finally the phone came and a query, ‘Namastey Jayant Ji, kaise hain aap (Hello Mr Jayant. How are youIJ), after my reply I heard the sentence., ‘Kal subah main ek chai party rakhi hain jisme app aamantrit hain or dopahar me Rashtrapati Bhawan me samaroh hai, main chahta hoon aap wahan awasya upasthit rahen’ (Tomorrow morning I have organised a tea party and there is a programme at the President’s House in the afternoon. I want you to be present there). It was the voice of that personality (Modi) whom entire country and persons abroad also recognize.