Vinod Rai can’t wait to read Manmohan Singh's autobiography

As Comptroller-Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai was once a feisty crusader against the excesses of elected governments, in particular that of UPA 2. He may no longer be with the CAG but, at a reading and Q&A session for his autobiographical book — Not Just an Accountant: The Diary of the Nation’s Conscience Keeper, in Mumbai last week, he wielded his combative wit with flair.

When asked for his thoughts on former PM Dr Manmohan Singh’s plan to pen his memoirs, Rai harkened back to all those letters he had addressed to Singh asking for an explanation for the 2G scam.

“Perhaps, in his book, I might now get a response,” he remarked dryly. Complimenting Singh’s decision to write his version, Rai also added, “To borrow a phrase from Arnab Goswami — the nation needs to know.”

The entire evening was peppered with displays of his deadpan humour. For instance, when a questioner asked if a well-known business family was indeed ruling the country, as was often speculated in public, he replied, “I haven’t audited the said business group, so I wouldn’t know if they had set aside funds for governing the country.” Among other things, the former CAG chief is proving himself to be quite the raconteur.