JULY 21, 2019 • THE WEEK 11POWER POINT
SACHIDANANDA MURTHYILLUSTRATION BHASKARAN [email protected]I
mran Khan’s decision not to stay at a
fi ve-star hotel during his upcoming visit
to Washington is in line with his austerity
drive, which began last year when he shunned
the prime ministerial palace in Islamabad and
moved to a three-bedroom house. Imran plans
to stay at the offi cial residence of Pakistan’s
ambassador to the United States during the
three-day visit, which will also see his fi rst
meeting with President Donald Trump. Th e
Pakistan foreign offi ce, however, is in a funk
over the decision as the prime minister’s
retinue is a large one. Th e US Secret Service,
which handles the security liaison of visiting
heads of state and government, and the local
administration prefers Imran to
stay in a fi ve-star hotel with its
facilities, and, more importantly,
multiple entry and exit points.
Th e last Indian prime minister
who preferred such austerity was
V.P. Singh, who led the country
for less than a year. Before an
offi cial visit to the Soviet Union,
Singh, who had come from an
aristocratic family but embraced
socialist values, expressed his
desire to stay with the Indian ambassador in
Moscow. Th e external aff airs ministry was
not in favour as the accommodation was not
big enough. A solution emerged when Soviet
president Mikhail Gorbachev invited Singh to
stay in a grand apartment in the Kremlin, the
seat of government in Moscow.
Later, the MEA, the prime minister’s offi ce
and security agencies worked into the blue
book (the super secret book of instructions
on security and protocol requirements for
the president, vice president and the prime
minister) that VVIPs would stay in larger and
secure places, which also meant luxury. Th e
economic reforms under prime minister P.V.
Narasimha Rao and the improving foreign
exchange reserves helped avoid any pangs ofconscience. Th e multi-ministry advance party
which goes to foreign capitals to prepare for
the VVIP visits ensures that entire fl oors of a
big hotel are booked, with rooms for the family,
key aides, servants, security agents, cooks and
communication experts. Booking a suite in
the range of 0 3 lakh to 0 5 lakh a night for the
president and the prime minister has become
common practice. Th e MEA say India has
enough economic power to decline hospitality
off ered by foreign governments, howsoever
friendly they are.
When president Barack Obama invited
prime minister Manmohan Singh to be his
administration’s fi rst state guest, the White
House off ered to put up Singh
and his wife at Blair House
next door, which is meant for
visiting dignitaries. Th e PMO
was tempted by the off er, but
the Indian embassy pointed
out that the stay and expenses
were monitored by the US
congress and the media, the
prime minister could stay for
only two days and that only a
limited number of rooms would
be available. India politely declined and booked
Singh into a big hotel near the White House. Th e
tradition of independent accommodation has
also continued for Narendra Modi, who prefers
vegetarian meals prepared by his cook and has no
accompanying family members.
Interestingly, Indian offi cials who have handled
protocol issues regarding prime ministerial
visits say Imran will not be able to save much
as extensive work will have to be done in the
ambassador’s residence for a three-night
prime ministerial stay because of security,
communication and protocol needs. Moreover,
halls need to be hired if he chooses to receive
large delegations like members of the Pakistani
diaspora. But his image will get a boost for having
shunned luxury at a time of economic distress.Th e price of austerity