New Delhi: The External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Friday (July 1) watched the Jokovic-Tsonga semifinal at Wimbledon, while he was in London on a five-day official visit.
The meeting with his British counterpart had concluded on Thursday and Krishna - known to be a tennis fan - didn't waste much time to head to SW19.
While he was at Center Court, the diplomat who was part of the official delegation was on a flight back to India.
Official business had concluded, but Krishna stayed back to watch Wimbledon as part of the official tour and stayed at the prestigious Bentley Hotel - part of the Waldorf Astoria Group - in London on Government expense.
Curiously, MEA sources confirm Krishna's meeting had not been scheduled till mid-June. In mid-June, India suddenly proposed to the British government June 29 and June 30 as dates for the two ministers to meet.
The hurriedly put together Hague-Krishna meeting raised eyebrows within the ministry for a second reason. Nirupama Rao had met her British counterpart in London just two days before the proposed meet and MEA sources concede that usually a political visit does not immediately follow scheduled foreign office consultations.
CNN-IBN learns that doubts about the visit were privately raised within both PMO and MEA but South Block didn't officially red flag a meeting that appears to have been tailor-made for the minister to watch tennis. Ironically, the PM had spoken of cutting down of foreign visits a few weeks ago as part of an austerity drive. Proposed visits by other ministers like Vayalar Ravi were cancelled. Why then was Krishna allowed to go ahead for what seems to have been a junket of sorts?
After the media scrutiny, Krishna, in his defence said, "Exchequer paid for the first two days and then, I think, I paid for the next two days of my stay".
But CNN-IBN learns the bills were paid by the minister only on Monday - after the question was raised before the MEA.
CNN-IBN asked the MEA if the ministry considered it proper for the minister to overstay on taxpayer expense?
And whether the MEA was aware of the PM's advice to avoid unnecessary foreign travel?
But MEA sources said the external affairs minister is the target of friendly fire within the ministry ahead of the cabinet reshuffle, with a section of the ministry gunning for him. While that may be true, Mr Krishna has given his critics the ammunition to fire at him at just the wrong time.
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