Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde (left) with Education Minister Smriti Irani
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Beti Bachao Andolan" in Haryana on Thursday to save the girl child and improve the country's horrific child sex ratio, it meant a short road trip for his cabinet members and their big boss who couldn't use a helicopter because of bad weather.
PM Modi's fiery speech was widely reported; NDTV has learnt of a behind-the-scenes impromptu off-site for his cabinet colleagues.
On the way back to Delhi, they felt peckish and so one of then suggested they take a break at the famous highway dhaba of Murthal.
So while the PM and his VVIP motorcade sped ahead, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Health Minister JP Nadda, Education Minister Smriti Irani and Pankaja Munde, a minister in the Maharashtra government, said they were ready to order.
The arrival of the ministers took the other regulars at the dhaba by surprise and prompted owner Amrik Singh to rush in and take over; the mantris urged him to relax. But the VVIP rota meant special attention - Singh said he personally handled their order of
aalu parathas,
meethi lassi and
jalebis.
Why didn't the PM join? "He would have loved to but he was already on his way back to Delhi," said an aide who did not want to be named.