Walk the talk like Mamata Banerjee

That most people cannot keep up with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was painfully evident this week in London when she found most of her delegation — politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists — disappearing during the course of her daily morning perambulations. While in other circumstances, insinuations may be made about her ability to keep her flock together, there, it was obviously a clear case of out-of-shape delegates being unable to follow the scorching pace she set despite being shod in utterly unsuitable footwear for London’s pavements and weather. As many of them cried off her brisk-paced morning strolls altogether or peeled off part of the way, citing fatigue, the chief minister should consider decreeing that at least her party colleagues must get into the habit of extended morning constitutionals once they return to the second city of the former Empire from the first city.

Indeed, while the spry Banerjee was not one of those who participated in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-spearheaded Yoga Day exertions, her devotion to physical fitness is commendable. Unfortunately, a majority of our VIPs — of all kinds — are about as prone to energetic perambulation as they are to giving up their LPG or canteen subsidies. Maybe the Give It Up campaign should target transport next.