Despite the heavy security, Balan by-passed the checkpoints and walked straight up the stairs and into the Prime Minister’s office. Apart from the head of the Indian secret service itself, he was the only close aide within Banerjee’s team who was allowed to dispense with the usual formalities.
“Balan, you made good time,” exclaimed Banerjee, looking up from behind his desk as he entered. “You’ve just missed my heartfelt appeal for democracy and common sense to prevail,” he said, laughing at his own irony.
Standing in a semi-circle around him, his subservient advisors smiled sycophantically at their leader’s reference to his recent press conference. He dispatched them all with an impatient wave of his hand.
“I saw the CNN woman leaving,” Balan remarked
The Prime Minister then explained
