"Oh my god! He knows who Hugo Chavez is? Wow, that just makes him so well-read."
"He took off his shoes before entering someone's house! He offered his chair to a sixty-year old!"
"He reads books! And he buys them from Khan Market!"
This piece in the Outlook about the boy India is apparently in love with is nothing short of brilliant and flattering. The qualities listed above make this 39 year-old ready for the country's top office. One wonders if the author has met any average Indian boy or girl brought up in an urban, middle or upper middle class home. Please do read for a good laugh and perhaps, risk suffering from a complex!
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20090601&fname=Cover+Story&sid=5
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Cleaning Up
The New York Times had an article a few days back on Pakistani kids hitting the streets of Lahore trying to clean it up. Part of NYT's fetish for Pakistan of the last few months, it does stray from the focus on security. It speaks of a bunch of kids, all of whom sport sunglasses as the photographs show you, going out on hot Sundays and picking up trash in the market places. Apparently, they were sick of their parents and friends complaining about the government's ineptitude.
“The reason the Taliban is ruling Swat,” he said referring to a valley north of Islamabad where Islamic extremists took control this year, “is because they are organized. We need to organize, too.”
So says a Mr. Shahram Azhar. Big targets if they aim to organize from a trash collection society to an organized force that can rival the Taliban in relatively backward areas.
Preposterous as it sounds, there is some basis to the argument. A self-help society in a pure form (commie style) can provide a big boost to confidence and pride in your environment. One thing is supposed to lead to another till you're country of sample population is highly developed, evolved and goes by the name of Scandinavia.
Of course, it is almost impossible to make it work thanks to the cooperative dilemma. Everyone passes the responsibility on and assumes someone else will take care of it. Or the taxes that they pay mean the government will eventually hire some untouchable to clean the streets. Or everyone else is doing it so why can't I? It is a bit of a myth that education and wealth solves the issue because I've seen men step out of 7 series BMWs to relieve themselves (I am assuming they got the car thanks to some level of sophistication but if you know Delhi, you know it stands on very weak grounds). I've seen bottles of water hurled through the air by my own friends, who's education I can vouch for. So I believe it is part of the 'chalta hai' or 'anything goes' attitude that is so infuriating.
I tried a variant of the Pakistani kids' solution to see if any change can be affected. Having lunch at the home of a fellow blogger, one of his guests revealed his efforts to improve the community. He cleans up after people who litter, trying to guilt them into being ideal citizens. Inspired by this concept and his example, I decided to do the same. On a trip to Jaipur, I asked a shopkeeper where his trash-can was so I could throw away a bottle. He took it from me and chucked it into the street. I went and picked it up, pocketed it and told him it wasn't his trash-can. The bloody fool, if not disgruntled was far from gruntled. Nonetheless, to spite me, he threw another piece of trash into the street. I probably should have picked it up too but I walked away.
For every one person I've convinced to do the right thing, there are at least 4 others who behave like that idiot. A 20% strike rate isn't bad but then there's no guarantee that such behaviour continues on. Added to that, my sample size is small and so not too many judgements can be made but it still seems that there is no incentive to act clean. I've seen a cop try to fine someone for littering but let him go with a warning. Of course, they do the same for traffic misdemeanours when they don't posture for a bribe.
I guess one of the key issues is that people don't count the streets, the neighbourhoods as their own. Greater responsibility and ownership may prove more effective than education. The other key challenge is to remain motivated and to sustain enthusiasm for any such project. It is extremely difficult and though I wish the Pakistani kids the best of luck on it, I fear like most rich, urban kids they'll find something else to do on a Sunday afternoon.
The successful case study for them already exists. In Malcolm Gladwell's otherwise horribly pissing off book The Tipping Point, the broken windows example is very encouraging. It relates how New York City was turned from one of the scariest shitholes in the world to the slightly less scary, sometimes shithole metropolis love now. Graffitti on subway cars was cleaned off every night even as offenders would draw it back in the morning. It required immense levels of patience to repeat the 'good act' daily - one that I did not manage against the Jaipuri shop keeper. The payoff for NYC was something clean that people took more pride in and put some effort into keeping clean. Gladwell hypothesizes that it also led a massive reduction in crime rates.
The trite statements are easy to make in this case as the reporter of the NYT article did. Read on to Page 2 and the revelation - it is difficult to be cornier in life. Early days I think to say such things and a good way to make a fool of yourself. But here's hoping they continue and more people around South Asia follow their example. Any visible difference would be fabulous. Who knows, one might even topple the Taliban using it.
“The reason the Taliban is ruling Swat,” he said referring to a valley north of Islamabad where Islamic extremists took control this year, “is because they are organized. We need to organize, too.”
So says a Mr. Shahram Azhar. Big targets if they aim to organize from a trash collection society to an organized force that can rival the Taliban in relatively backward areas.
Preposterous as it sounds, there is some basis to the argument. A self-help society in a pure form (commie style) can provide a big boost to confidence and pride in your environment. One thing is supposed to lead to another till you're country of sample population is highly developed, evolved and goes by the name of Scandinavia.
Of course, it is almost impossible to make it work thanks to the cooperative dilemma. Everyone passes the responsibility on and assumes someone else will take care of it. Or the taxes that they pay mean the government will eventually hire some untouchable to clean the streets. Or everyone else is doing it so why can't I? It is a bit of a myth that education and wealth solves the issue because I've seen men step out of 7 series BMWs to relieve themselves (I am assuming they got the car thanks to some level of sophistication but if you know Delhi, you know it stands on very weak grounds). I've seen bottles of water hurled through the air by my own friends, who's education I can vouch for. So I believe it is part of the 'chalta hai' or 'anything goes' attitude that is so infuriating.
I tried a variant of the Pakistani kids' solution to see if any change can be affected. Having lunch at the home of a fellow blogger, one of his guests revealed his efforts to improve the community. He cleans up after people who litter, trying to guilt them into being ideal citizens. Inspired by this concept and his example, I decided to do the same. On a trip to Jaipur, I asked a shopkeeper where his trash-can was so I could throw away a bottle. He took it from me and chucked it into the street. I went and picked it up, pocketed it and told him it wasn't his trash-can. The bloody fool, if not disgruntled was far from gruntled. Nonetheless, to spite me, he threw another piece of trash into the street. I probably should have picked it up too but I walked away.
For every one person I've convinced to do the right thing, there are at least 4 others who behave like that idiot. A 20% strike rate isn't bad but then there's no guarantee that such behaviour continues on. Added to that, my sample size is small and so not too many judgements can be made but it still seems that there is no incentive to act clean. I've seen a cop try to fine someone for littering but let him go with a warning. Of course, they do the same for traffic misdemeanours when they don't posture for a bribe.
I guess one of the key issues is that people don't count the streets, the neighbourhoods as their own. Greater responsibility and ownership may prove more effective than education. The other key challenge is to remain motivated and to sustain enthusiasm for any such project. It is extremely difficult and though I wish the Pakistani kids the best of luck on it, I fear like most rich, urban kids they'll find something else to do on a Sunday afternoon.
The successful case study for them already exists. In Malcolm Gladwell's otherwise horribly pissing off book The Tipping Point, the broken windows example is very encouraging. It relates how New York City was turned from one of the scariest shitholes in the world to the slightly less scary, sometimes shithole metropolis love now. Graffitti on subway cars was cleaned off every night even as offenders would draw it back in the morning. It required immense levels of patience to repeat the 'good act' daily - one that I did not manage against the Jaipuri shop keeper. The payoff for NYC was something clean that people took more pride in and put some effort into keeping clean. Gladwell hypothesizes that it also led a massive reduction in crime rates.
The trite statements are easy to make in this case as the reporter of the NYT article did. Read on to Page 2 and the revelation - it is difficult to be cornier in life. Early days I think to say such things and a good way to make a fool of yourself. But here's hoping they continue and more people around South Asia follow their example. Any visible difference would be fabulous. Who knows, one might even topple the Taliban using it.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Are we all socialists? Are we just confused?
Are we really this confused and unsure?
An Atlantic correspondent asks whether twenty-something year olds today are in fact socialists. As he points out, these are the same people who supported the Iraq War which was launched by a party and president who fought hard against big government.
An Atlantic correspondent asks whether twenty-something year olds today are in fact socialists. As he points out, these are the same people who supported the Iraq War which was launched by a party and president who fought hard against big government.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Dance of democracy?
The people have spoken with a decisive voice. The people have voted for good governance. The people have voted for change. The people have proved how vibrant India's democracy is. Since last Saturday, the Indian media and following it the international media have lauded the electoral process in the world's largest democracy.
Ever since a surprised electorate was informed by an even more surprised media that the Congress-led UPA was voted back to power with significant numbers (much to the party and coalition's own shock), all the reasons why Manmohan Singh, his cabinet and the country's grand old party were doing a terrible job at governance have been forgotten.
No one is asking the tough questions post elections as they all celebrate somebody, anybody's victory. Did the nation really come together to bring the Congress back to power as a positive affirmation of the manner in which it had conducted India's affairs in the last five years? I think for many voters it may have been a case of voting for the only viable alternative.
Whatever happened to the UPA's absolute inability to ensure domestic security with multiple bombs going off in cities all across the country, with the Naxalite movement expanding its reach everyday and with militants being able to cross in to India with just that much ease? With the Communists out of the way, the UPA is expected to usher in sweeping free-market reforms. Has everyone forgotten the UPA chairperson commending her mother-in-law for nationalizing Indian banks and saving the country as it steps in to the 21st century? Where is all the talk about a failed industrial and SEZ policy that will not create the number of new jobs as required? Suddenly all the detractors of mammoth policies like NREGA are hailing it as a revolution - will we no longer inquire about where majority of the funds set aside for such schemes disappear to? In the run up to the elections, while the media stalked the Gandhi siblings and made them heroes, there were many who complained of the inability of the Congress party and the country to find next generation leaders outside of political families. Now, the Gandhi son is being hailed as a messiah. All that talk of nepotism has been forgotten once again.
The sudden change in tone and rhetoric of the media and of political commentators is simply remarkable. Unfortunately, it makes a mockery of the historic electoral process the Indian population recently participated in. And it reduces the nation's challenges and necessary policy-making to a defensive activity, rather than elevating the debate around it to a more concrete and wholesome process.
And for those who thought we would never see these people throw their weight around national politics - welcome Lalu, Mayawati and Mulayam Singh to the UPA of 2009.
Ever since a surprised electorate was informed by an even more surprised media that the Congress-led UPA was voted back to power with significant numbers (much to the party and coalition's own shock), all the reasons why Manmohan Singh, his cabinet and the country's grand old party were doing a terrible job at governance have been forgotten.
No one is asking the tough questions post elections as they all celebrate somebody, anybody's victory. Did the nation really come together to bring the Congress back to power as a positive affirmation of the manner in which it had conducted India's affairs in the last five years? I think for many voters it may have been a case of voting for the only viable alternative.
Whatever happened to the UPA's absolute inability to ensure domestic security with multiple bombs going off in cities all across the country, with the Naxalite movement expanding its reach everyday and with militants being able to cross in to India with just that much ease? With the Communists out of the way, the UPA is expected to usher in sweeping free-market reforms. Has everyone forgotten the UPA chairperson commending her mother-in-law for nationalizing Indian banks and saving the country as it steps in to the 21st century? Where is all the talk about a failed industrial and SEZ policy that will not create the number of new jobs as required? Suddenly all the detractors of mammoth policies like NREGA are hailing it as a revolution - will we no longer inquire about where majority of the funds set aside for such schemes disappear to? In the run up to the elections, while the media stalked the Gandhi siblings and made them heroes, there were many who complained of the inability of the Congress party and the country to find next generation leaders outside of political families. Now, the Gandhi son is being hailed as a messiah. All that talk of nepotism has been forgotten once again.
The sudden change in tone and rhetoric of the media and of political commentators is simply remarkable. Unfortunately, it makes a mockery of the historic electoral process the Indian population recently participated in. And it reduces the nation's challenges and necessary policy-making to a defensive activity, rather than elevating the debate around it to a more concrete and wholesome process.
And for those who thought we would never see these people throw their weight around national politics - welcome Lalu, Mayawati and Mulayam Singh to the UPA of 2009.
Kissinger & Obama (Gods) meet in Valhalla to Discuss Hades
OK, so I'm mixing up mythology a little but I'm sure you get the picture. Clearly some big men are concerned about this.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
CONGRESS WINS INDIAN ELECTIONS 2009!! - For Real this Time
All the phases of voting, the nail-biting tension (for some I'm sure) and truckloads of suspense have resulted in the Congress winning and winning decisively. Congress has won more seats than any single party since they did the same feat back in 1991. It speaks to the fragmentation of India and the shift towards multi-party coalition politics with weakened governments in the last 18 years.
Has the Indian voter realized this process wasn't working too well? I don't think so, I think they felt the UPA were the lesser of all evils and have voted accordingly.
I was a fan of such politics for quite a while, thinking it to be true democracy where everyone has a voice in some form or the other. Pragmatically speaking though it means decisions are slowed and are constantly under attack with blackmailing threats from minority allies that they will back out. The mandate that Congress has gained over the last month means that they will be able to push more policies through. Best of all there is going to be no need to pay heed to the Left. The CPI (M) has been blown to smithereens in West Bengal by Mamta Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress, considered by many to be a mad woman (an euphemism). The Left had reared its head highest during the ratification of the 1-2-3 Act aka the Indo-US Nuclear Pact. India was not going to bow down to an imperialist capitalist nation according to them. Well sucks for you now, Left.
Extremely gratifying is the erosion of power of Mayawati and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. Congress gained a heck of a lot under the organization, leadership and campaigning of a certain Rahul Gandhi. The man has been vindicated I feel. He has done brilliantly to bring Congress to such a position of power in a state where they have had virtually no presence in recent times. Moreover, the opposition he was up against in Mayawati is not to be smirked at. Going from strength to strength in recent times she was more than just a dark horse for the seat of Prime Minister. That itself was based on her ability to gain upwards of 50 seats and then lining up anti-UPA allies.
We now know that was optimistic but it didn't seem so for the longest time. Her appeal to the Dalit community had grown to encompass anyone poor including Muslims, long a vote bank for the 'secular' Congress. Running Muslim celebrity candidates such as Mohammad Azharuddin and fabulous campaigning by Rahul's best mate, Omar Abdullah, are some simple reasons to point to that the Muslim vote was regained. They were also no doubt aided by the antics of Varun Gandhi and my Mayawati's unbridled lust for central power, distracting her from her home state.
Rahul should be commended for his role in the overall victory and UP's contribution to it. He has said that he does not want to be a cabinet minister and that has its plusses and minuses. He probably should continue in his organizational role as it has done wonders as all can see. Abandoning it now may lead it to unravel overnight. As a cabinet minister though, he will gain the experience for the role he has been earmarked since birth - Prime Minister. He will also have an opportunity to prove he can handle the responsibility and can create a track record to be judged on. Manmohan Singh has asked him to join the cabinet and I feel certain he will this time round.
The question is what portfolio will he get? Surely, it will be something more minor to start with and a subsequent reshuffle landing him a more prominent role as Home Minister or something similar. Very, very interesting.
On the subject of Prime Minister himself, Manmohan is due to be the first back-to-back term PM in India since Nehru. Incredible, if true. To be fair, I'm sure Congress and its allies would prefer either Sonia or Rahul to be PM because it is a dynastic party. Manmohan is a regent who may be redundant. As long as his biggest fans remain Sonia and Rahul, Manmohan will be PM.
The BJP are deserved losers. Much of their campaign was negatively aimed at Manmohan. He is a weak leader, they said. A puppet with no voice of his own. But what was their strong leadership going to provide? Greater communalism than already exists? Alienating what is still nominally the world's strongest power? More hostility towards Pakistan? I don't see their economic policies appealing to anyone but urban businessmen. Not that Congress is much better saying we achieved 6% during a global recession so we rock. Going down to 6% (4.5% according to the IMF) from 9%+ is akin to recession, they must know that.
I still feel though that even though Congress is a hodge podge of everything, it is better than being the uber-nationalistic BJP. The BJP has a major need to re-invent itself much like the Republican Party in the US. Modi is the immediate future and has become a beacon of development. Personally, the spectre of Godhra still hangs over him. They are also counting the costs of defending Varun Gandhi's anti-Muslim statements. Though he won his seat, how many others were lost in the process? A Gandhi-Gandhi future? I don't think so.
The final reckoning should show a strong government without the need to dilly-dally or hold massive referendums on policy making. Stability is key for development and growth and most importantly for inspiring confidence in every walk of life. The people have spoken.
Has the Indian voter realized this process wasn't working too well? I don't think so, I think they felt the UPA were the lesser of all evils and have voted accordingly.
I was a fan of such politics for quite a while, thinking it to be true democracy where everyone has a voice in some form or the other. Pragmatically speaking though it means decisions are slowed and are constantly under attack with blackmailing threats from minority allies that they will back out. The mandate that Congress has gained over the last month means that they will be able to push more policies through. Best of all there is going to be no need to pay heed to the Left. The CPI (M) has been blown to smithereens in West Bengal by Mamta Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress, considered by many to be a mad woman (an euphemism). The Left had reared its head highest during the ratification of the 1-2-3 Act aka the Indo-US Nuclear Pact. India was not going to bow down to an imperialist capitalist nation according to them. Well sucks for you now, Left.
Extremely gratifying is the erosion of power of Mayawati and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. Congress gained a heck of a lot under the organization, leadership and campaigning of a certain Rahul Gandhi. The man has been vindicated I feel. He has done brilliantly to bring Congress to such a position of power in a state where they have had virtually no presence in recent times. Moreover, the opposition he was up against in Mayawati is not to be smirked at. Going from strength to strength in recent times she was more than just a dark horse for the seat of Prime Minister. That itself was based on her ability to gain upwards of 50 seats and then lining up anti-UPA allies.
We now know that was optimistic but it didn't seem so for the longest time. Her appeal to the Dalit community had grown to encompass anyone poor including Muslims, long a vote bank for the 'secular' Congress. Running Muslim celebrity candidates such as Mohammad Azharuddin and fabulous campaigning by Rahul's best mate, Omar Abdullah, are some simple reasons to point to that the Muslim vote was regained. They were also no doubt aided by the antics of Varun Gandhi and my Mayawati's unbridled lust for central power, distracting her from her home state.
Rahul should be commended for his role in the overall victory and UP's contribution to it. He has said that he does not want to be a cabinet minister and that has its plusses and minuses. He probably should continue in his organizational role as it has done wonders as all can see. Abandoning it now may lead it to unravel overnight. As a cabinet minister though, he will gain the experience for the role he has been earmarked since birth - Prime Minister. He will also have an opportunity to prove he can handle the responsibility and can create a track record to be judged on. Manmohan Singh has asked him to join the cabinet and I feel certain he will this time round.
The question is what portfolio will he get? Surely, it will be something more minor to start with and a subsequent reshuffle landing him a more prominent role as Home Minister or something similar. Very, very interesting.
On the subject of Prime Minister himself, Manmohan is due to be the first back-to-back term PM in India since Nehru. Incredible, if true. To be fair, I'm sure Congress and its allies would prefer either Sonia or Rahul to be PM because it is a dynastic party. Manmohan is a regent who may be redundant. As long as his biggest fans remain Sonia and Rahul, Manmohan will be PM.
The BJP are deserved losers. Much of their campaign was negatively aimed at Manmohan. He is a weak leader, they said. A puppet with no voice of his own. But what was their strong leadership going to provide? Greater communalism than already exists? Alienating what is still nominally the world's strongest power? More hostility towards Pakistan? I don't see their economic policies appealing to anyone but urban businessmen. Not that Congress is much better saying we achieved 6% during a global recession so we rock. Going down to 6% (4.5% according to the IMF) from 9%+ is akin to recession, they must know that.
I still feel though that even though Congress is a hodge podge of everything, it is better than being the uber-nationalistic BJP. The BJP has a major need to re-invent itself much like the Republican Party in the US. Modi is the immediate future and has become a beacon of development. Personally, the spectre of Godhra still hangs over him. They are also counting the costs of defending Varun Gandhi's anti-Muslim statements. Though he won his seat, how many others were lost in the process? A Gandhi-Gandhi future? I don't think so.
The final reckoning should show a strong government without the need to dilly-dally or hold massive referendums on policy making. Stability is key for development and growth and most importantly for inspiring confidence in every walk of life. The people have spoken.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal - Eleven for Number Eleven
Three-peat. Three championships in three years. Such an impossibly difficult feat that in the last 25 years United are the only team to have managed it. Mourinho got back-to-back titles but Wenger has been unable to go past one at a time. The bedrock for this fantastic performance was laid when Vidic became a starter in the autumn of 2006 and Ronaldo started scoring prolifically. Those two are the reason these three titles can be mentioned.
The game itself was rather boring. United were lethargic, not at all cutting and looking for a glass of champagne and maybe a prawn sandwich or two. Tevez was given a start, no doubt to say goodbye to the home fans once and for all. When he did come off his waves signaled just that. I tip my hat to Carlito for being a fan's footballer. I think we will miss him but if he is replaced adequately either from within our without, then he shall be remembered fondly at best.
Arsenal were a little slow too but maintained possession fabulously. I think Diaby had his first decent game in recent memory. Nasri cut in well from the right flank but Arshavin was largely invisible except for one instance where he drew 4 defenders with him. United's midfield trio of Fletcher, Carrick and Giggs tried to get stuck in but it just led to a fragmented game. Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney tended to overplay when they did get into attack mode.
Nothing of note to mention other than that. A few incidents such as targeted tackling on Evra, no doubt for his comments after the semi-final. United wanted to start celebrating and Arsenal wanted to start their summer holiday. That's the sort of game it was. A few close freekicks did fill me with tension but Carrick fulfilled his defensive duties well.
Mission accomplished well in this game. O'Shea will need to be on his game against Barcelona and not leave Vidic isolated as he did today. Were Van Persie a better header of the ball, this point would be mentioned a lot more. It does feel though that Barcelona are going from strength to strength while United are ending at an ambling pace. Doesn't bode well for the final.
The game itself was rather boring. United were lethargic, not at all cutting and looking for a glass of champagne and maybe a prawn sandwich or two. Tevez was given a start, no doubt to say goodbye to the home fans once and for all. When he did come off his waves signaled just that. I tip my hat to Carlito for being a fan's footballer. I think we will miss him but if he is replaced adequately either from within our without, then he shall be remembered fondly at best.
Arsenal were a little slow too but maintained possession fabulously. I think Diaby had his first decent game in recent memory. Nasri cut in well from the right flank but Arshavin was largely invisible except for one instance where he drew 4 defenders with him. United's midfield trio of Fletcher, Carrick and Giggs tried to get stuck in but it just led to a fragmented game. Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney tended to overplay when they did get into attack mode.
Nothing of note to mention other than that. A few incidents such as targeted tackling on Evra, no doubt for his comments after the semi-final. United wanted to start celebrating and Arsenal wanted to start their summer holiday. That's the sort of game it was. A few close freekicks did fill me with tension but Carrick fulfilled his defensive duties well.
Mission accomplished well in this game. O'Shea will need to be on his game against Barcelona and not leave Vidic isolated as he did today. Were Van Persie a better header of the ball, this point would be mentioned a lot more. It does feel though that Barcelona are going from strength to strength while United are ending at an ambling pace. Doesn't bode well for the final.
CONGRESS WINS INDIAN ELECTIONS 2009!! - Maybe
The title is a little misleading. OK, very misleading as results are not out at the time of writing and pretty much everyone is claiming victory. BJP have one-upped Congress this time by claiming that they will win more seats this year with their allies than Congress won last time round. That is 219 vs. 218. Congress apparently is forecasting a slightly lower figure for themselves but as these were based off some news channel I glanced at, I wouldn't take them too seriously.
Of course such figures are based on the belief of these parties that they allies they covet will get in bed with them. It is an incestual orgy of the worst kind - filled with octogenarian men. Yuck, to borrow a phrase many girls use these days. Here is an example of a few hours of horse-trading or whore-bidding.
Ol' Chief Minister of Bihar jumped in head first by announcing that he will join whichever party that commits to granting Bihar 'special status' if their alliance comes to power. Karat's Wikipedia entry perhaps describes him best.
'Nitish's nickname is Munna. He is a teetotaller.'
It is essentially saying look you need a screw and this is my price and I swear I'll do you all night long if you pay me. Except ol' Munna is the leader of JD(U) which is supposedly part of the NDA, the BJP's alliance. So the analogy really changes from a plain old whore naming her rate, to a mistress who wants more diamonds and moving into the richer man's harem for them.
The old horny men aren't just the BJP and Congress but also the Left aka Communist Party of India. What is truly beautiful about the Left is that they have this carrot being offered to ol' Munna saying, 'Look man I love you, OK. If you back us we'll possibly think about maybe naming you as one of the candidates within our sizeable group who could be Prime Minister if we win. Are we cool?" The Left is kissing a little bit more ass saying Bihar deserves 'special status' without actually saying what that is. It could just be a tag before the name, i.e. 'Special - Bihar'. Or the promise of Bihar getting a different font from the other states on any Indian map or atlas published here onwards. I'm personally leaning towards the latter.
Tragically, it turns out Munna wanted more money for Bihar. All the better for your gaiye-bhainse you know. Congress has said, "Look I'm horny and I'll take any chick right now, no matter how ugly and how much she charges. Unless she's racist like BJP or Shiv Sena because that is so wrong." This of course is just a few days after the PM Manny Singh called Munna racist himself. Just to be on the safe side given all they're saying, they appended their statement quoted 4 lines above:
'He added that Congress had not blocked development in any state. "Congress has not differentiated with any state on the issue of development," he said.'
Also:
BJP is a little taken aback obviously because they thought they had some seats locked in. Of course, they've promised 'special status' and claim they are the only ones who will provide it. Its really sucking for them if Congress is also doing this whole 'promising' thing that's so hep these days. Munna though could be in the fantastic position of having everyone promise to give 'special status' and therefore commit to getting into bed with whoever wins. That really negates his purpose so I'm guessing some new demand is close. Pretty much everyone else should also demand 'special status' to extract some true value. What's the point of standing for elections if you can't sell yourself if you win a seat?
The advantage Munna has of course is that he is promoting a book, released by Lord Meghnad Desai. The title of the book should you care, Special Category Status: A Case for Bihar. Sounds familiar right? Others could do it too if they just plagiarize like Munna allegedly did from a rather pissed off researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Didn't sign the honour code, I guess.
There's going to be a lot more fun once the parties actually know who's won what and who's accordingly the best screw. I hope Congress wins simply because they seem to have a little bit more wisdom about them in basic matters of handling the country. For those who love the BJP because of the development they will bring, I can only say one thing:
They said the same about the Nazis.
P.S. - Munna a teetotaller? Really? In Bihar? How?
Of course such figures are based on the belief of these parties that they allies they covet will get in bed with them. It is an incestual orgy of the worst kind - filled with octogenarian men. Yuck, to borrow a phrase many girls use these days. Here is an example of a few hours of horse-trading or whore-bidding.
Ol' Chief Minister of Bihar jumped in head first by announcing that he will join whichever party that commits to granting Bihar 'special status' if their alliance comes to power. Karat's Wikipedia entry perhaps describes him best.
'Nitish's nickname is Munna. He is a teetotaller.'
It is essentially saying look you need a screw and this is my price and I swear I'll do you all night long if you pay me. Except ol' Munna is the leader of JD(U) which is supposedly part of the NDA, the BJP's alliance. So the analogy really changes from a plain old whore naming her rate, to a mistress who wants more diamonds and moving into the richer man's harem for them.
The old horny men aren't just the BJP and Congress but also the Left aka Communist Party of India. What is truly beautiful about the Left is that they have this carrot being offered to ol' Munna saying, 'Look man I love you, OK. If you back us we'll possibly think about maybe naming you as one of the candidates within our sizeable group who could be Prime Minister if we win. Are we cool?" The Left is kissing a little bit more ass saying Bihar deserves 'special status' without actually saying what that is. It could just be a tag before the name, i.e. 'Special - Bihar'. Or the promise of Bihar getting a different font from the other states on any Indian map or atlas published here onwards. I'm personally leaning towards the latter.
Tragically, it turns out Munna wanted more money for Bihar. All the better for your gaiye-bhainse you know. Congress has said, "Look I'm horny and I'll take any chick right now, no matter how ugly and how much she charges. Unless she's racist like BJP or Shiv Sena because that is so wrong." This of course is just a few days after the PM Manny Singh called Munna racist himself. Just to be on the safe side given all they're saying, they appended their statement quoted 4 lines above:
'He added that Congress had not blocked development in any state. "Congress has not differentiated with any state on the issue of development," he said.'
Also:
'"He (Nitish Kumar) needs to define and specify what he means by special status for Bihar. The UPA (the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance) has always taken into consideration demands when it has released funds for backward states," said Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh.'
Clutch answer. Of course we want you to develop just like we want everyone else to develop. Could be re-written as, "You're all equally special to me. How can you ask me to choose between you?"BJP is a little taken aback obviously because they thought they had some seats locked in. Of course, they've promised 'special status' and claim they are the only ones who will provide it. Its really sucking for them if Congress is also doing this whole 'promising' thing that's so hep these days. Munna though could be in the fantastic position of having everyone promise to give 'special status' and therefore commit to getting into bed with whoever wins. That really negates his purpose so I'm guessing some new demand is close. Pretty much everyone else should also demand 'special status' to extract some true value. What's the point of standing for elections if you can't sell yourself if you win a seat?
The advantage Munna has of course is that he is promoting a book, released by Lord Meghnad Desai. The title of the book should you care, Special Category Status: A Case for Bihar. Sounds familiar right? Others could do it too if they just plagiarize like Munna allegedly did from a rather pissed off researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Didn't sign the honour code, I guess.
There's going to be a lot more fun once the parties actually know who's won what and who's accordingly the best screw. I hope Congress wins simply because they seem to have a little bit more wisdom about them in basic matters of handling the country. For those who love the BJP because of the development they will bring, I can only say one thing:
They said the same about the Nazis.
P.S. - Munna a teetotaller? Really? In Bihar? How?
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