Generally I steer clear of politics. Not being politically minded and not having studied my civics( Pol science- as it is called these days) in my youth - at all- it is a source of constant mystery to me how that body functions. But today I'm compelled to speak. Not about politics but about politicians.
We are constantly told by our khadi clad figures that we are an absymally poor country always in need of funds from other more powerful nations- Australia, US or what -have-you.
And these ministers who are elected to their posts are Jan- sevaks ( servants of the people who have elected them to their thrones). And yet yesterday my eyes popped out at the photograph in the front page of the HT of the 75 foot long birthday cake of our erstwhile minister and father of the reigning Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Mulayam Singh Yadav. Yes. The guy who said "Boys will be boys" and not rapists when they rape women. That's the one.
WOW!! Make that a double WOW!! Man what celebrations! They put any of our Bollywood star celebrations to shame. Carriages from England, flowers from Netherlands, 75 foot long cake- can anything beat this? Did you say we are poor? Hey! I bet even the Queen Of England can't afford this show of extravagance. How much money does Mulayam Singh or his son have? Even the erstwhile royals cannot afford this kind of extravagance. And Mulayam Singh does not belong to a royal family. As far as we know he wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. So where is this money flowing like champagne coming from? Is it out of our pockets?
Mayawati made a spate of statues in some park and invited- justly- a lot of flak about the misuse of public funds but this kind of beats it hollow. And even if they have that kind of cash(amassed over the years- politics being so lucrative) to spend why not organize a dinner for orphans or the starving millions that feature so prominently in our ads and do some jan- seva? That's why they've been elected right? That's why they've got the votes. So that they can serve the public. Not have extravaganzas like this.
The next time any politician mentions our poor country show him the photo of the 75 foot long cake. What is the use of asking for black money in Swiss accounts when such politicians exist? Next time use your vote with discretion. Or Mulayam might just set a trend among political families where sons succeed their fathers. And have birthday celebrations like this.
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