When Home Ministry became a tourist spot

NEW DELHI: The prestigious North Block housing the Home Ministry briefly became a tourist spot on Tuesday as people from the constituency of Union Minister of State for Home Manikrao Gavit made a visit to his office.

The wireless sets of the Central Industrial Security Force started buzzing with information this evening that Gavit was coming with three jeep-loads of people from his constituency of Nandurbar in northern Maharashtra.

Immediately, barricades in the parking lot meant for senior officials of the Home Ministry and Union ministers were thrown open for Gavit and more than two dozen of his constituents.

As Gavit stepped out of his car, reporters and TV cameramen waiting for Union Home Secretary V K Duggal started focussing on the minister, which was enough to make him nervous.

As he climbed to his office on the first floor, instructions were passed to CISF personnel to allow the people into the minister's chamber.

Gavit, an eight-time MP from Nandurbar, served tea to his visitors. He showed them around his office and described his daily schedule to them.

"He brought us from Nandurbar to show his office and the ministry of home affairs," said an enthusiastic supporter of the minister.