Haryana minister misses oath-taking due to traffic jam

Chandigarh, Nov 7 : A traffic jam on the busy Ambala-Chandigarh highway Saturday held up a minister of state in Haryana from reaching the Raj Bhawan to take oath of office.

Sukhbir Kataria, an independent legislator from Gurgaon, could not reach the venue in time (11 a.m.) and was administered the oath later.

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia Saturday administered the oath of office to six cabinet ministers and three ministers of state, of the government headed by Chief Minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda.

Heavy security cover deployed in and around Raj Bhawan for the smooth conduct of this ceremony almost kept another minister from reaching the venue.

The car of Ajay Singh Yadav, who was inducted as a cabinet minister, was stopped outside as security personnel were not familiar with him. There was an exchange of heated arguments between Yadav and securitymen and it was only after the intervention of senior officials that he was allowed in.

Former lieutenant governor of Goa Chandravati, who was invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony, left the venue as she could not find a proper place to sit.

--IANS