Down the Memory Lane continues.....

They arranged for the food and water of men deployed on duty as it was hot summer weather in the coal belt where temperature could be very high.

After travelling around 15 kilometers the caravan stopped and out came Sri Mani Shankar Aiyar, who has accompanied the Prime Minister. He informed me that the PM wanted to visit a tribal hamlet by name Bodunuru (if my memory serves me right). When I told him that this was not on the itinerary and neither there was a motorable road nor any men were deployed for security, he showed his unhappiness. I also told him the area was infested with Naxalites who move with weapons in that area and therefore it might not be in the interest of PM’s safety to take an unscheduled detour.
I also informed him that the hamlet could no longer be there as tribal population keeps shifting.

The persuasion of the then chief of SPG and Joint Director of IB was not heeded to. The bulletproof vehicle broke down after travelling for 3 kilometers. The PM shifted to another vehicle and with great difficulty, we reached the hamlet. A number of other vehicles, which were part of entourage, could not make it.

We found only three huts and no adult person was there except an old lady in one of the huts, who was pounding rice. She could hardly see as her eyesight was extremely poor. She fell on the feet of Sri NT Rama Rao, he being in saffron clothes and perhaps taking him some kind of holy person. It was hilarious for everyone around when State PCC Chief tried to pull her and directed her to touch the feet of PM. She would have none of it. The PM stopped him from cajoling her.

To be continued....