Pants on fire

It has become the norm for people in the news to claim they have been misquoted or, at the least, quoted out of context. After news agency Press Trust of India quoted the minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, V. Narayanaswamy, as saying the government was “actively considering" a recommendation on making the Comptroller and Auditor General a multi-member body, the minister promptly resorted to this defence. At which point, the agency produced audio proof to back its story. It is unlikely that the good minister will be rapped on his knuckles by his boss, but it is time someone started tracking and cracking down on such dissimulation. Like politicians, companies are frequent (and repeat) offenders, irrespective of whether the issue involves insider trading, a product launch, a CEO exit, or an M&A deal. The stock exchanges (and the regulator) do not seem to mind, but maybe that will change if the person holding the highest office in the land decides to reprimand his aide.