Ashwani shies away from media

Law Minister Ashwani Kumar has always been known to be media-friendly, often courting the press. As AICC Vichar Vibhag Chairman, when the Congress was in the Opposition, he was known to be media-savvy. Things have changed quite drastically after the Supreme Court hauled the government over the coals on the coalgate. At Parliament House and in the Law Ministry office in Shastri Bhavan, Ashwani Kumar makes a point to steer clear of the media, but very politely and with a broad smile, despite the fact that the media has been caustic in their comments, not even appreciating his job profile as Law Minister. Grapevine has it that it would be rather naïve to be dismissive of Ashwani Kumar, for the simple reason that he has been Supreme Court lawyer, before climbing up the political ladder. Ashwani Kumar knows his law and is knowledgeable about the CBI Manual and the rules governing the administration. The Law Minister has too many baiters within the Union Cabinet, rather than in the Opposition, which was his real undoing. Ashwani Kumar is among the handful of Union Ministers, who are considered closest to the BJP, which explains why the BJP was fighting shy of attacking the Law Minister and, instead, choosing to target the Prime Minister.