Let’s just say that Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister, isn’t the most popular politician in India. He’s been implicated in a number of huge corruption scandals. And, yesterday, he got slapped (ek tight lafa, so the slang goes). It wasn’t the first time that an Indian politician has been on the receiving end of enraged behaviour. Amongst other incidents, a journalist threw a shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram, during a press conference in 2008.
Yesterday’s slap was courtesy of an apparently mentally unstable man who was fed up with the rising prices of food, and of course corruption. “Sab chor hain…cheer doonga…” (all of them are thieves, I’ll rip them apart), he shouted as he was escorted away by security guards post slap. When asked why he’d slapped the Minister, he responded “Aur kyaa karoon, jab dekho… ghotala, ghotala” (what else should I do?, when you look, corruption, corruption).
The slap was very well received by the common man all across India. I must admit, I laughed over the lafa. Harvinder Singh, who delivered it, has been hailed a hero. And, to add to the comedy, non-violent protester Anna Hazare remarked, “Ekhi mara, kyaa?” (Only one hit, or what?)
Hazare and Pawar have been at loggerheads for nearly two decades now, for reasons including corruption, land grabbing, and the use of power in politics. Anna’s question was seen as a clear indication of his animosity towards the Union Minister, although he quickly backpedaled and went about clarifying his statement to mean that he wanted to know if anything else had happened to Pawar.
Meanwhile in Pune and western Maharastra, where Pawar is the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, the political fallout started. Although Pawar played down the slap, adopting a forgive and forget attitude, his party workers where in no such mood. They went on a rampage, starting various forms of agitation. In Mumbai, protesters blocked roads during peak commuting hours, attacked buses, forced malls and shops to shut, and staged a rail stoppage.
Over 250 party workers were detained by police for disrupting 52 areas across the city. And the news dominated Twitter. “One slap in Delhi closes streets in Mumbai”.
But all entertainment aside, this situation is an unfortunate one. Many people have been saying, what does a slap solve? The battle should be taken to the ballot. Why don’t enraged citizens direct their anger towards getting these corrupt politicians removed from office by voting them out?
Why indeed?
And, what about when people’s anger flows over into other situations?
The slap was indicative of many people’s frustrations in India these days, and the helplessness they feel. An example of this is Mumbai’s commuters. They’re a perpetually angry bunch, ready to explode upon provocation. Earlier this month they thrashed a railway ticket inspector and halted trains on the Western line. Last month, it was auto rickshaws that raised commuters’ ire. Next month, no doubt it will be something else.
Nevertheless, I’m wondering what would happen if someone slapped Julia Gillard, Australia’s ineffective Prime Minister!
© 2011, Diary of a White Indian Housewife. All rights reserved. Do not copy and reproduce text or images without permission.
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I think the whole World is on the verge of revolution. This is maybe what the Mayas saw for end 2011-beginning 2012. The end of the Kali era.
@helene You mean kaliyug right? Kaliyug technically has a lot more years before it fades.
Er… oops yes sorry
Overhere we can’t slap politicians because we can’t reach them and the pie throwing Gloupier has been very quiet lately… but people are also very angry and nervous
@Helene
Your country’s first man – Nicolas Sarkozy was attacked, a couple of months back, somewhere close to Toulouse.
The Mayas probably got bored counting. They had to take a break at some point.
I dont know what lafa means but I must admit, I thought it was funny when I heard about the slap. I laughed when I saw the video. Pretty crude but yea.
Us cricket fans have more than one reason to dislike that dude. He’s the President of the International Cricket Council in case you don’t know. Can’t he ruin one thing at a time.
Anyway, what’s even sadder is how his supporters caused such a nuisance. Why on earth should the commuters in Mumbai suffer because of one stupid guy’s action. At least, there’s some logic if they had directed their wrath at the slapper.
lol Funny question at the end. I’m quite sure there won’t be any chaos in the streets of Australia if something like this had happened there.
Mumbai slang for slap.
I didn’t know that he was president of the International Cricket Council too. Does that mean there might be a bit of match fixing going on?
There is craziness everywhere! I’m not sure what would happen in Australia (probably not much at all), but something needs to be done about that Prime Minister. She’s ruining the country with her poor decision making.
Yea he is busy running cricket administration while the country reels under inflation and unemployment. They should not allow a politician to hold another post too…that besides from actually making them do some work
Amen!
lol Good to know you laughed over the lafa too
Haha, you never know! That guy should be kept far away from the players!
Really? But she must have a lot of popularity considering she won the election just some months back. I thought that carbon taxing or something was interesting. I dont know the details of that plan though. So not sure if it was balanced.
The political situation isn’t the best in Australia right now. The Labor party isn’t known for its good governance. When it was elected, people thought it had potential — and just for the record, Julia was never formally elected. It was Kevin Rudd, who was elected as the head of the party and became Prime Minister. However, there was widespread dissatisfaction with him and he had to step aside when he lost the support of his party. Julia Gillard, who was Deputy Prime Minister, then became Prime Minister. One of the biggest challenges she’s facing is how to deal with the refugee issue — there was uproar over it when I was back in Australia a few months ago. I haven’t been following the carbon tax issue much.
I don’t think MMS runs the country. Recall sonia going to the US for cancer surgery and anna stepping up his campaign and there was no one in congress who knew what to do until sonia returned. Either sonia hasn’t shared authority or congress people are not capable.
ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/dynastic-secrecy-protected-by-india%E2%80%99s-tame-media/
No Head of the country (Singh or Gillard or Obama) runs the Government on their own. All the decisions they make are outcomes of the strong recommendations of experts who work at the backstage.
This incident reminds me of the Iraqi journalist throwing a shoe at President George W Bush when he visited Iraq, he was jailed but hailed a hero too. Funnily enough he had a shoe thrown at him when he gave a press conference on being released from jail
Talk about payback!
Oh and Sharell, I’m surprised you referred to Anna as non-violent. If I’m not wrong, you’re not averse to drinking. According to him, you’d have to be flogged so that you drop the habit. That’s what he said in the news a few days back. And guys have been flogged for drinking in the village which he controls. That doesn’t look too non-violent to me! =:P
Well, I did suggest that his fasting was equivalent to emotional black mail.
http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2011/08/the-role-of-the-hunger-strike-in-india/
But what the heck!!? He is really showing his true colours these days.
Hm Sharell I hadn’t understood you meant wine fasting
Well, you know, the common perception in India is that wine isn’t really proper alcohol anyway.
Oi! Where’s the reply button in your entry regarding the political situation in Australia?! lol. Anyway, oh but wasn’t she elected in a federal election in 2010? She first become the party’s leader and the PM. And then she held and won the election in 2010. I checked Wikipedia to confirm. I could be wrong though. I dont know too much about the Australian political happenings. Hmm refugees. It’s always complicated.
Yea, that was a good article. I didn’t necessarily think it was emotional blackmailing until I read that. It made a lot of sense. Gandhi fasted cause we didnt quite have full rights with regards to who ruled the country and made the laws. So it was ok. The situation has changed now, so it’s best if people don’t do it these days.
@ Emerlander, oh gosh, you’re right there was an election! That shows how little I follow politics (I actually removed myself from the electoral role when I came to India so I would never have to vote again). But Julia wasn’t elected outright — the government is a minority one, which means that it didn’t get enough votes to win the election outright and is only in power because it got the support of independent members of parliament. This means that its decision making power is severely hampered (thank goodness), as the government does not hold the majority of seats in the Parliament.
“Gandhi fasted cause we didnt quite have full rights with regards to who ruled the country and made the laws. So it was ok. The situation has changed now, so it’s best if people don’t do it these days.”
‘Gandhi’ can not be ‘standard’ for the ‘What, when and how’ should be done to tackle all the problems India is facing.Just because Gandhi did it in a different era , with or without success , doesn’t mean those acts and tactics have lost relevance in modern times.
And the results are enough proof.After the Anti-Corruption agitation of Anna people have become more aware.He along with Arvind Kejriwal fought for RTI Act also and they succeeded.So its certainly ‘not best’ if people don’t resort to those non-violent and peaceful protest.Its the outcome of those protest that people have now become so aware and vocal about corruption.State government has actually passed the ‘Lok-Ayukt’ bill and is going to be made a law.Delhi became the First state to implement a Citizen’s Charter which makes it mandatory for public servants to finish official work in a given timeline failing which they have to pay a fine from their salary.
These are all concrete results and outcome of such protest.Do you think had Anna not goneon the Anshan and continued his protest against corruption , were these things possible even in imagination? NO !
Anna is doing good work and it should continue.
Anna Hazare! Omg! When will it end?? It seems that only Hazare and his band of chamchas ( and their followers) are the only patriots, people with high moral integrity and sooner or later they would even draft laws like publicly flogging us lesser mortals who do enjoy a glass of wine occassionally..god save india!
I suggest she should be left with Hazare for a day, she would be surely transformed one way or another 
Sharell why you want Ms Gillard to be slapped?
Ha! Now that is a fabulous idea! 8)
Oh, and here are a few reasons why she should be slapped, or at least hit with an egg.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/a-year-of-frustration-for-gillard-as-voters-refuse-to-forgive-and-forget-20110622-1gfky.html
Such is the irony of India that on one hand people crib so much about corruption and when someone try to do something against it and bring the attention of whole nation to the issue then people start mocking them and their supporters.
Like every other human being Anna also has his shortcomings and sometimes he becomes a bit more aggressive in his response.And his comment on ‘Flog the Drinkers’ was twisted by Media.He was talking about some specific case of those people who had wasted all of their energy and money on alcohol only and their family wasn’t even able to get two meals in a day.Its because of Anna’s strict stance on the issue , whole village is like a dry-state.And interesting thing is that those Drinkers are very grateful to Anna that he changed their lives.
On the other hand Anna should keep in mind that most of his following and support comes from the Young India most of whom enjoy a drink or two once in while so he must be careful about what and when to say what in which manner.
Anyway Democracy all over the India is nothing but a refined version of Monarchy where a bunch of people have so much power that its almost impossible for the judiciary to contain their misdeeds.And that is why people like Anna come in to the scene to balance the act.
Sharell November 25, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Oh, and here are a few reasons why she should be slapped, or at least hit with an egg.
@Sharell – Now you are turning Indian!
and ain’t that the truth, Truth!
@Vidyut, true. But ‘Team Anna’ as they’re called project him as a modern day Gandhi. He wears Gandhi cap, Gandhi’s photo is behind him, “he will bring India second independence!” You cant miss the similarities. He’s called a Gandhian. He also fasts like Gandhi.
Activists doing their thing is awesome. It’s a must in any society. But they shouldnt be dictating the government. Whether we like it or not, the PM and the MPs are in power because the people have elected them. Who are these guys to demand that the government should do whatever they want. If they wanna make laws, they should stand in election and get to power.
It’s outrageous to say they’re above the Parliament. Suppose some other activist goes on fast to demand something which is the opposite of the Lok Pal. Who should the government listen to?
Sharell, why isn’t there a reply button in some posts here. I’ll reply here. Yea, the coalition form of government isn’t good at all. Probably an American style Presidential rule could suit a country like Australia better. Anyway, I hope the current does a decent job.
@Emerlander — we have to get rid of the Queen of England first. We still haven’t even managed to get that far!
Haha yea! I guess it’s weird to have a Queen when you don’t even consider her to be yours.
Did you hear on NDTV what Anna actually said about drinking? he said they used to tell him few times to avoid drinking, then make him swear in the temple that he will not drink. The last option was to tie him to the pole which would act as humilation and perhaps give some light beating.
Almost all of these drunkards would be illiterate rural guys. There is no other way to convince them.
The problem is this: The man you are tying to the pole for drinking has not done any crime and he is a free adult. You have no right to tell him that you are morally superior to him and you have the authority to dictate his life according to your standards. He is not an animal who can be tied to a pole and beaten, no matter what he does to his body.
The Anna story was with reference to the men with the following profile – mostly Illiterate, married, unemployed (because of Alcohol), wife works and man spends her money on Booz.
Ever heard of Alcohol rehabilitation? thats how it works in Rural India! Finito!
When and If government’s official programs for Alcohol Rehabilitation fails society has to step in.In such extreme case where the wife of children of a man are on the verge of starvation , individual freedom TO DRINK should have no legal , social or moral support.Nobody can use his right of freedom just to drink excessively only to make life of his family miserable.
We should have the ability to distinguish people on their frequency and amount of drinking and its effects on the life of their family.There is difference between a social drinker and a habitual drinker who has spoiled his life.Addiction to any bad habit should not be supported invoking the right of freedom.
Consumption of alcohol excessively is not only morally wrong but also medically wrong.Its creates serious health problem.Should anyone be allowed to end his life that way ? Then what is the harm in allowing banned drugs and other substances ? Why should only alcohol be allowed to use? The problem is that response of most governments in the world is hypocritical.One one hand they run Alcohol-Rehabilitation Programs and on other hand they give license to produce and sell it.Everybody knows it very well that if Alcohol is totally banned from the Planet Earth , the world would definitely a better place to live in.But No world leader has the guts to implement it as big Liquor companies add a big amount of much tax-money in government revenues , which is earned mostly by the weakness of Humankind to resist drinking.
I disagree with Truth and wholeheartedly agree with Lie. Hmm that sounds weird.
Anyway, my point is that there are civilized ways to do it. For example, there could be some rule where such men shouldn’t be sold alcohol. Or men have to meet certain criteria (such as the well-being of their family) to be eligible to drink. Those who violate can be fined or ordered to do public service for a specified period.
Another important thing is that ONLY those who have the Constitutional authority to frame laws can make such laws. Whether right or wrong, at least it’s not against the Constitution and if it’s draconian, the people will elect someone else to fix it. But I’ll never accept some self appointed guy’s order.
I dont drink and am totally against it. But if Anna comes up to me and says he’ll flog me if I drink… I’ll drink right in front of him just to dare him.
@Emerlander
You are expressing your hopes of what an ideal indian society should be. On the ground, it is not the laws that are the problem – its the enforcement. Also, to actually follow a law properly, one needs to understand its rationale and make peace with the restrictions in brings on the individual. You think an illiterate person can go through an itemized checklist like the one you proposed, and then judge for himself whether he is on the right side? And, finally, the local arrack makers – you think they are going to miss out their measly bucks (for which they pay no tax) for some laminated law book? The rural people, mostly, do not buy stuff that is tracked – by tax, mfg no etc etc. They dont get a receipt. How are you going to prove anything? Smell test? That just means another avenue opened up for the hawaldar for some side money. Think your ideas through.
@seeya, yea that’s the major problem. But then again, if enforcement is the issue, the problem will still persist with or without flogging. Surely, deciding to flog all those who drink isn’t gonna solve the enforcement issue.
“Also, to actually follow a law properly, one needs to understand its rationale and make peace with the restrictions in brings on the individual.”
The particular problem will still persist even if they’re flogged.
“You think an illiterate person can go through an itemized checklist like the one you proposed, and then judge for himself whether he is on the right side?”
When I gave an example law, I thought the bar should be given that task. It’s only a rough idea. If they need to drink that badly, they’ll learn.
“the local arrack makers – you think they are going to miss out their measly bucks (for which they pay no tax) for some laminated law book?”
True. But then again, it also shows that they will continue to sell even if their customers get flogged.
“How are you going to prove anything? Smell test?”
That’s a problem. But the problem will persist even if you start flogging people.
Ultimately, my point is that flogging is not gonna solve anything. It’s outrageous. It’s even more outrageous when self appointed police carry out that Talibanistic act.
@seeya, if you want an outright ban on alcohol.. well, I wouldnt lose my sleep if such a law comes into force. I think it’s banned in Gujarat. I probably wouldnt ban it but I wouldnt be upset if a CM does it. At least a CM has the authority to frame laws. And it also means people overall support it by electing him again.
@Emerlander
I just disagreed with your remedy to the problem, thats all. I did not agree with flogging. But I do know that there is a problem, with dead-beat husbands drinking away their wives hard earned money (in poor families). Theirs is a question of survival, not civility. If I have to look the other way while the flogging happens, assuming that solves the problem, I will do that.
It would be naive of me to think that the legislature is going to enact civil attitude in the society. That is the job of education. Thats why I think the solution to this problem has a particular order attached to it:
1. Education
2. Assured survival (so that people struggle for excellence, not for their daily bread).
3. Laws
Only the lawful sale of alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat. But then, just as anywhere in India, who really gives a damn about lawful matters?
@Seeya, oh ok. I just typed the solution that popped up in my mind while writing the reply. I agree, there isn’t a simple solution to the problem. But whatever qualifies a drunkard to be punished, a civil punishment has to be given instead of mad flogging. It’ll work just fine.
I agree with your point that education can fight alcohol better than any legislation. A balanced combination of them would be good. I would hesitate to ban it completely if I were the power. But I’d try to discourage people from becoming drunkards through education and some laws. Flogging wont be a part of that strategy though.
“But whatever qualifies a drunkard to be punished, a civil punishment has to be given instead of mad flogging. It’ll work just fine.”
Civil Punishment for a drunkard: Requesting him to drink Milk !
If its a punishment its never going to be civil? And that is what punishment are for.To give uncivilized response to their uncivilized deeds.If you behave bad , civility is not guaranteed.
The problem of India is that even before criminal is arrested , Human Right Activist come in to action in his defense and I am still to find out what happens to the right of those humans who were the victims of those criminals who are being supported by Human rights activist.
Hahaha many have tried it, to make driinking as a sin or illegal.
Look at Islam – says drinking is sin. Does that stop few muslims from drinking. Are they commiting sin?
America, with greatest infrastructure of law ennforcement tried hands with prohibition – look at the history books as to what happened.
Our own Gujrat has Prohibitiion from time unknown, but that does not prevent IIm guys or other gujratis from drinking!
even Indian ethos define drinking as something bad.
Any act of making supply for demand like “drinks” illegal, will result in creation of illegal supply chain for fulfilling the demand for drinks.
Why the hell, something that makes man feel better, relaxed and a wonderful social ritual a sinful act?
Is drinking really a problem?
Or is it the culture of drunkardness – images propogated by the movies – which clearly specifies the purpose of drinking. The drinking culture propogated to the masses is that you should drink so much that you loose yourself, and lie on the road, unmindful if your genitals are for the display of the public.
Instead of controlling drinking by making it illegal or sinful, there should be rather an attempt to propogate the image and culture of drinking. A drinking culture that creates positive image of being in moderation and as a elite social act with tilt towards connessiour.
Only then we would make something refined and classy , rather than making ultra strong toddy.
My evolution has been that of experimentation – from the good son who does not mingle with bad boys who drink, to heavy drinking, smoking and even pot…finally quitting smoking and enjoying cocktails, Wines, Schnaps, Baileys irish cream, differnt liquors in addition to the usual single malt whisky, spiced, coconut rum….and with the exploration to find the right way of drinking them. Like using nose, not adding ice, discovering subtle flavors of spice added.
What really needs to be worked on the culture of drinking!
thats my take.
“Why the hell, something that makes man feel better, relaxed and a wonderful social ritual a sinful act?”
I myself drink sometimes but I feel that alcohol doesn’t make anyone feel better and relaxed.Its just an excuse of drinkers to justify their act.Medically alcohol can only harm you even if it is mildly consumed.
I feel that drinking is not a social ritual let alone being wonderful.Most of the time this ‘wonderful ritual’ has been the cause of most of the social and legal problems in society.
Though I have no problem in drinking and sometimes I think that it is making me relaxed or feel better but surely my life won’t be affected in any way if it is totally banned.
I absolutely agree that except wine others might be harmful to one’s health.
But drinking is an adult choice, and banning does not help, as demand still exists. Only the supply chain for fulfilment of that demand becomes illegal. And the pitfall is that instead of government making money in the form of taxes, scruplous elements make alcoholic drinks, and sometimes deadly.
Any thing in moderation is good. I would like to quote from Harivansh Ray bhachan’s poem
“एक बरस में, एक बार ही जगती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बार ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपों की माला,
दुनियावालों, किन्तु, किसी दिन आ मदिरालय में देखो,
दिन को होली, रात दिवाली, रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला।।२६।
“
Moderator’s Note: Verbiage removed or changed (in italics) for being aggressive. Keep commenting!
It has been my observation that persons who abuse alcohol (& other substances) usually do so because of other issues- most likely they don’t want to deal with what they have to deal with.
Flogging? I don’t agree with it, we have work to do here in India! Put those law breaking drunkards in bright orange haz-mat suits & have them pick up garbage & clean up urine soaked areas!
Public service as punishment.
“Mentally unstable man”? I’m not sure about that. CNN IBN hoonchu Rajdeep “sar-dard” desai was yelling the same words to describe that incident. And when hazare made a satirical comment, he shouted on about his lack of “gandhian” credentials and what not.
But yes, what can one slap change anything? The real fight is at the ballot. And with hundreds of different regional parties to vote for, this only gets worst and worst.
Neighbours and his family members claimed he was unstable, but who knows!
It’s understandable. The family might be using those labels to avoid any legal proceedings against him.
Anyone who fights the system is automatically labelled crazy. There is also one exceptional indian movie made on this very same subject where the climax ends with the protagonist being sent to the mental institution for fighting crime.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prahaar:_The_Final_Attack
He might be short tempered but I doubt he was unstable. I think its a ploy to lessen the punishment.
He had slapped another minister few weeks ago. How did he manage to escape by then and again get so close to another minister?
Sharell ,
“But all entertainment aside, this situation is an unfortunate one. Many people have been saying, what does a slap solve? The battle should be taken to the ballot. Why don’t enraged citizens direct their anger towards getting these corrupt politicians removed from office by voting them out?”
Exactly ! We know that Sharad Pawar is not the most honest politician around or that the corrupt politician should be dealt with leniency but ‘Slapping or Beating’ politicians is not going to solve the any problem but would definitely create a situation where unwanted and anti-social elements can take advantage.
I have , on my FB Page , messaged that not a physical one , but every Indian should Slap the Politicians with their VOTE.
Anna Hazare is a funny man but when Mr Prashant Bhushan was beaten his reaction was totally different.Nobody should glorify anything which is against the law of land.That can happen to anyone , anywhere.
I’m honestly astonished how he’s still around and in power, and I hate to think about the reasons why. Is the system so ineffective that these guys get to remain as long as they want — they seem to be able to keep reinventing themselves and coming back and coming back, even if they are disciplined and removed from their position.
The reason he like every other seemingly corrupt or incompetent politician is still in power is because once they get into power, the entire term is spent doing exactly that – Politics and not work. This politics is meant to make sure during his tenure that there is just enough work done to make sure the vote bank is pleased. Once that is done they are guaranteed back into power and the cycle continues again
@Sharell
A slap might not solve the problem, but it can be a effective psychological tool. The reason why these politicians stay in power, is because of money. Why do you think the politicians of India stock up millions of bucks?!?!..because they use part of that to rent poor & ignorant people to support/vote ‘em, organize bandh/strike/procession, etc stuff and also maintain a list of people with criminal background and use ‘em to slay whoever opposes ‘em. Most of the politicians are criminals…There will be a day when they are gonna repent their past.
Sharell ,
“I’m honestly astonished how he’s still around and in power.”
I will tell you why. Some part of the answer is actually hidden in your original post which I will cite later.
In last general Election only 56.69 % people of all eligible voters took part in the Electoral Process and most these people come from the lower socio-economic status.The turnout of these people is because of their liking for one or other leaders.They are not voting for a change but to show their love and loyalty for their beloved leaders.Of this 56.69 % Congress got the largest percentage of votes with 37 % and BJP came second with 24% of votes and please note that this percentage is not the percentage of all eligible votes but its the percentage of votes which were actually cast by people.
Remaining 43.31 % people are those who are in fact ‘upset’ with government but can’t go out in the sun to cast their vote as they think that ‘To Vote’ is an activity suited for the Cattle-Class , a term used infamously by Mr Shashi Tharoor for the common citizens of India.
So these 43.31% people are actually responsible for the current state of affairs in India.They are not only giving away their right to choose their leaders but also letting other 56.69 % people to impose their choice of leaders on whole of India.
Now I come to another part of the answer which is actually present in your post.
“Meanwhile in Pune and western Maharastra, where Pawar is the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, the political fallout started. Although Pawar played down the slap, adopting a forgive and forget attitude, his party workers where in no such mood. They went on a rampage, starting various forms of agitation. In Mumbai, protesters blocked roads during peak commuting hours, attacked buses, forced malls and shops to shut, and staged a rail stoppage.”
That is another reason why Corrupt People like Sharad Powar will remain in Power.These same people who got so angry at just a slap won’t do anything about the Farmers killed in Pune , Farmers doing suicide in Vidarbha , but a Slap on the face of their beloved leader and all hell breaks loose.Any sane person would know that Slapping is infinitesimal times less violent than shooting and killing farmers.As this unfortunate incidence happened in Delhi , some Maharashtra leaders are also making it an issue of Maratha Pride.And workers of their parties once again hurled abuses and have actually beaten poor auto-drivers from the UP/Bihar.
I have tried my best to find out an honest reason and answer for the sorry state of affairs in Indian political spectrum where most politicians have actually lost respect and trust they used to enjoy.They have only themselves to blame for such a decline in their reputation.There was a time when ‘people of India’(not only part workers) compared their political leaders to Gods and gave them utmost respect.
Thank you for such an in depth and insightful answer, Vidyut. But my gosh, what a mess. There just doesn’t seem like there’s any easy way forward.
I just feel completely exasperated.
Now, this something that really bothers me and it comes back to what I think is ailing India in a huge way — people’s mentalities. It’s just so different to where I come from, where voting is compulsory for everyone aged over 18. It’s actually viewed as something empowering, and is a peaceful process. I was totally shocked when I experienced an election for the first time in India. It was in Kolkata and the whole city closed down for a few days, in case there was violence. I couldn’t believe it.
As you’d know, we had elections in Tamil Nadu some months back. The ruling party’s men had been behaving like mini kings and doing some atrocious things. We all know the main opposition isn’t any better. She’s more focused in turning the erasing the legacy (if you can call it that) of the previous government. She’s turning the secretariat complex into a hospital because he built it. That’s hundreds of crores down the drain. Now she wants to turn a very good library into a hospital since the previous government built it. School books for the students were delayed by many weeks because of another political issue. The main opposition party leader beat up his own candidate in full view of the public while campaigning. Why? White introducing the candidate to the people, he said the said some other name instead of the correct one. The poor candidate merely told him his name and that the name he had said was incorrect. Ugh.
So who do you think I should have voted for? Just because they’re holding an election doesn’t mean we have to vote. It’s my Constitutional right to not vote for crooks and I’m exercising it.
Sorry I havent stated something clearly. When I said the ‘main opposition’ first, I meant the ‘then main opposition party which is currently in power’ (AIADMK). When I said main opposition again, I meant the current main opposition (DMDK). Siriki, the party which was in power before the election lost so badly that they didnt get enough power to become the main opposition (It’s DMK). Sorry, it could be pretty confusing for you. :p
He was CM of Maharashtra at the age of 32. This man has something in him to get going at the highest level. I am not supporting his corruption but way back he was the true revolutionary and visinory leader of Maharashtra, thats why people admire him a lot. And mind well no can challange him at his constituency baramani not even sonia gandhi.
He is a true Indian politiation ,know how to do corruption without leaving any proof behind. Mr raja /kalmadi must learn some tips from him.
I read a comment of a reader on the TOI and though of sharing here.That comments sums up well how British were able to rule us and their Indian avatar are able to loot us till today.
“Slapping a marathi leader in north india i.e. at delhi that too by a bhaiya is insult to marathi leaders and maharashtra. Because Marathas have their own status and are richest in all walks of life. Naturally, i take it serious and appeal to all marathi leaders and their parties to raise their voice against north indians and teach them lesson and make strong law and to stop their coming to mumbai at any cost. For this, all political parties and marathi leaders be united but of course shiv sena and maharashtra nav nirman sena can play a leading role to support pawar saheb.”
-Shankar (Mulund )
Tell me all you idealists, what does one do at the ballot when everyone is corrupt? Not vote at all?
I personally don’t like to expend much of my energy trying to figure out who is really bad and who is really really bad. I feel that energy is better spent figuring our how to get that cute girl next door
I like your motto.
I dont vote but always discuss political happens with my dad. From now on I’m gonna just spend my energy in admiring how beautiful my girl is. Ohh yeah!
Hmm I should reread before posting. All those grammatical mistakes. Ugh. Embarrassing.
I was curious about how could declare the person mentally unstable?
Do you have any proof? or ideology?
Apart from that Indian public like that only, they get distracted very quickly.
When it comes to deliver, we get nothing. Lack of smart negotiator.
I didn’t declare him mentally unstable!!!
I said:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apparently
Definition:
As I mentioned in another comment, his family and neighbours said to the media that he was unstable.
I don’t know the truth, hence the word “apparently”. If I was to declare him unstable, I would have omitted that word.
Here is a link to a relevant article about claims of his mental instability: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Pawar-attacker-mentally-unstable/articleshow/10862821.cms
But, like I said, who really knows what the reality is.
I just wanted know your glance on my words and have apparently understood you.
Thanks for the data provided, though personally I don’t trust any of it.
Like you said, who knows whats THE truth.
Keep Smiling Sharrell.
There are many good politicians too .But they get dumped with in there party.one such minister was sashi tharoor who revealed currption in IPL.
I did write about one honest government official in Kerala: http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2010/09/why-its-so-easy-to-become-corrupt-in-india/
Interesting story!
yea its interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIhQm6gcUCw
is very funny if u know the recent trends.
Haha that’s funny
Some one did throw an egg at Julia Gillard. Unfortunately he missed
Damn!! Can someone please try again!!!
Why don’t you start a campaign on FB for that.
P.S.: I was trying to be trendy you know.
Hilarious! The twitterverse was exploding with great commentary over this tight slap. Mumbai dramatics never end
It even made me get interested in Twitter for a bit!
I personally don’t like twitter as a medium to express our self but it is certainly a very useful and handy tool.It pushes people to the boundary and inspire them to be innovative , precise and artful.I wonder if ‘Twitter’ was available in the time of ‘Kabir’ and ‘Rahim’ , they would have been the undisputed king of Twitter.
It is high time we common people take some action. Terorists kill people with impudence and all the politicians issue a statement and offer money. The governance is so ineffective.
My Blood boils . I am praying we have politicians like Lal Bahadur shastri who genuinely care for the people and not fill their own coffers
Not quite so ineffective now Sharell. With the appointment this week of a Lib/Nat as Speaker, Julia Gillard now has a buffer of two seats in the Parliament and will be able to get on with her legislative programme much more smoothly and efficiently.
I saw this in FB. Couldn’t help but post it here.
AFTER THAT SLAP – Sharad Pawar changed from :/ to
=P
Nevertheless, I’m wondering what would happen if someone slapped Julia Gillard, Australia’s ineffective Prime Minister!
What will happen?
I don’t think that Slapping a minister or Anna hazare could help with the system. There is an essential difference between a system created by nature and the one created by man.
Nature experiments to check what works best for the environment.Its ruthless and anhilates all that does not work and lets the most workable system work. It build checks and controls, if the system is out of the balance, the nature presses self destruct button.
This is in direct contrast with an made systems. He clings on the very first thing that works, institutionalizes it by means of something written, unchangeable like religious book or constitution.man does not like branching of systems and its co existance like nature does to find what works.
This is the dilema of democratic system, particularly Indian democracy.There are many big loopholes in the whole system, and unfortunately the political class that people want to change is accountable for making the change!
In Tamilnadu, the choice is limited between two political parties – the present chief minister had a track record or unsurmountable wealth accumulation and the cases are going on the supreme court. The ex – chief minister whose family is trying to make that state as its pilical fiefdom.
Now what choice does the common man has? How should he make decision,
- Should he choose the best person to represent his constituency, the person who represents a political party and does not hail from there.
- Should he instead look for the political leadership that would be making the political deicions in the future.
Its a crazy that 60% people vote in a multi party system. Less than effective 30-40% of population selects the government for 60-70% of people, who are against or apathetic to them.
This is a clear problem with system. Why is that we did not looked into our indigenous political systems? I recently learnt of the political system that existed with Tamil kings, which was highly intolerant of corruption.
Village had rotation system , where a member of family was choosen as represntative. He or his family would not be able to represent again and the next time it would go to another family. If anyone was found guilty of mis appropriating funds, he and his family would be banned forever. The crime was considered more serious than murder, and dealt with as such.
Why do you think a Politician would work for a social or economic groowth? Does the system reward it? No
The system needs numbers and that means the political class would focus on getting numbers, keep them uneducated, keep them on threshold and just focus on numbers. If it means giving ration cards to bangladeshi immigrants, so be it!
For a small job in a call center, there is an interview, there is a criteria for elligibility. Its strange that there is no elligibility criteria for the political class that runs a country!
You really can’t blame people, when a man made system defines the boundry, restrains any positive change by claiming that a man made constitution is supreme. Its does not have metrics to measure and continuosly improve.
Why do you think Julia Gillard is ineffective? She’s lots of things, but clearly NOT ineffective
Of course, she’s extremely ineffective (ineffective = incompetent, inadequate http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ineffective) . Her policies are ruining the country. That is not the sign of an effective prime minister . One opinion piece has said she’s regressing Australia back to the 1970s which was a period of very bad governance.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/gillards-great-leap-backwards-to-the-trashy-1970s/story-e6frgd0x-1226171067564
oh. my. god. I’ve never really taken the Australian seriously, but this article is soooo ridiculous and bigoted, my expectations from them have dropped even lower. I preferred the piece from SMH you linked before.
Firstly, Gough Whitlam was THE greatest pm. Without Whitlam’s reforms that these idiots dismiss so easily, we’d still have the “White Australia” policy, we’d still be stealing Aboriginal children from their parents to “civilise” them, women would still be legally entitled to a lower wage than men. Whitlam introduced free university education and got us out of the Vietnam War.
The whole world was suffering the oil shock at the time, so it’s not like economic issues were unique to Australia. Granted, that in his enthusiasm to fix draconian policies in place at the time, Whitlam did somewhat fail to balance it with sustainable economic adjustments. This wasn’t entirely his fault, most people at the time were influenced by post-Keynesianism and what he did economically was not far out of line with the rest of the world. Then, I don’t understand why they pretend union “problems” are unique to Gillard’s government? As if there weren’t plenty under the preceding Howard admin. And I totally disagree with the statement that the only reason our economy’s looking good is wholly because of natural resources: timely and well-aimed fiscal stimulus played just as big a role.
And finally, the part that made me angriest: about the carbon tax. We pay hundreds of taxes every year. this one is just $23 per TONNE of carbon produced, and lower income earners are offset by the government. Is that going to sink our economy? Really?
Ok then, why don’t we just sit back and do nothing until the planet collapses from the strain we’re putting it through.
Julia Gillard is succesfully pushing lots of policies through the government. That isn’t the sign of an inefficient pm. That said, I don’t actually like her, at all. I disagree with some of her ideas (particularly the refugee issue) she’s a backstabbing cow, and she has about as much charisma as a piece of wood.
oh my bad, stolen generations were stopped before Whitlam. And I do agree with one point in this article, about our over-reliance on mining.
Oh no, you don’t like the Australian?!
In my mind, Liberal governments are much better at prudently managing the country, particularly as far as economics goes. Labor has made some disastrous decisions in the past. But I haven’t kept up with all the goings-on since I’ve been away, so can’t debate about it. 
Here’s a fantastic alternative to a slap: A guy who let some snakes loose in an office full of corrupt babus!
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/man-unleashes-snakes-upon-corrupt-government-office-154184?pfrom=home-otherstories
So.. Is anyone going to beat the crap out Rahul?
Pawar ko ek nahi das dhena chahiye. Har din ek chor politician ko marna chahiye.
Aur bharat ko inse chudawo.
Das… nahin… bees! I agree, a slap a day. Great idea.
I should add… Kapil Sibal seems like the next deserving fellow?
You will soon receive a mail from your website hosting company/government, asking not to use “names” with your posts! :p
Kapil Sibbal thinks that he is present day avatar of me , Chanakya , and foolishly consider himself a politician.But he forget that there can never be another Chanakya.If and when all of his political powers , which has been bestowed on him for being sycophant of Gandhi family, are taken back his political careers will vanish.He don’t have any following among masses or classes.He is just another shrewd advocate who happened to be successful in his profession because of India’s lackluster and non-transparent judicial process and corrupt judges.
He need not a slap but a full thrashing.I want him to be humiliated in public.Remember he along with P.C.Chidambaram ordered to beat people at midnight in Ramleel-Maidan and even women and children were not spared.And what was their fault.They were just peacefully protesting against corruption and black money.
And these politicians are making hue and cry for a harmless slap but become blind and deaf when common man dies.
If I was at the helm of affairs and had support of some one like Chandragupta , I would have sent them all to Jail forever.
has someone checked out really funny slapgate jokes……….
one of them goes as……. on meeting former icc president, harvinder singH remembered world cup slogan………………….”DE GHUMA KE”
another one is, .. ….. sharad pawar has insulted gandhi,…… usse dusra gaal bhi aage badhana chaiye tha………
wat did sarad pawar do 2 get slapped,……….. asked ”hum chloromint kyun khate hain ?
Hi Sharell and all,
Ludwig von Mises once so eloquently said that “The principle role of governments is the mis-allocation of wealth”. Whether it’s Julia Gillard (with her cringe-worthy ‘strayn’ accent) or Rudd or Howard, that is Labor or Liberal, they’re all the same in their intent and the outcomes are always the same. Of course there is no better political system than the democratic one, but it’s by no means flawless and it’s really the market that drives the economy, not the fundamental idiocies of it’s politicians. Indeed the market drives the economy, fashion, music, tv, MOOD..the lot, in my humble opinion.
Of course Ludwig von Miser also said “A lasting order cannot e estalished by bayonets”, as much as we’d like to take to our feral pigs of politicians with them.
I’m loving your blog too babe, it rocks. Indeed it seems that no one can debate quite like the Indian can. What fun!
But drinking is an adult choice, and banning does not help, as demand still exists. Only the supply chain for fulfillment of that demand becomes illegal.
I would really like 2 narrate a story on that
One fine evening I with my few friends were walking on streets of Patna ………. a beggar came 2 me asking 4 some money
I gave him a note of rs10, he said since u gave me 10 it would really be nice if u give me 4 more….. Although baffled I was at his demand I fulfilled his demand……….. just then a friend of mine shouted (he had a tube light moment) ” stop him, he will eat little and drink pauva(this combination is really popular among most drunkards in Bihar) (and if u r wondering how my friend knew about this, we asked him the same question, and yes his answer was as most of u folks are suspecting) so as we turned 2 look 4 him we saw him running hard and fast 2 save his pauva from being taken away by evil us,…. in the process he nearly got hit by a truck…………………….. now u really think that a person who is ready 2 beg and do tom cruise stunts 4 his share of alcohol can be talked like adult to leave his habits, well I don’t think so!!!!!!!!!!
For those who are wondering WTH is pauva, it’s a desi alcohol made ILLEGALLY by people who are illiterate they sometimes screw up the making process and end up making methanol instead of ethanol
And people who drink it get their share of fame in next morning daily…………..
Completely Agree !
In one line , drinking is a social-evil which is being justified by social-drinkers.But in reality , alcohol is the cause of most of the incidents related to Law-and-Order problems.
No amount of convincing can make this evil practice of drinking justified.I am talking about India.Drinking may/may not be part of some foreign culture and they may have adapted well to its effect.But India surely doesn’t need this evil things when we are already facing so many problems.
I want India to be a dry-country ! Its affecting poor families and making people like Vijay Mallya more rich.
A 71 year old leader from Maharashtra…who has respect from villages to UNESCO. The true leader who created IT parks in Pune from Hinjewadi to Magarpatta,and in process of developing ,Asia’s largest auto hub near Pune, created lakhs of jobs and changed life of common man and marginal farmers. Some say, he is corrupted. Let them say, I will support him throughout my life. He knows, how to Channelize money towards development. IPL is highly beneficial to Indian Cricket create wealth to build Stadiums ,make our cricket more rich and most important bring billion of foreign currency in India. He knows how to tackle problem.
Personally, if you’re wondering, and I suspect that you are not but I’ll tell you anyway, I am a teetotaller. I don’t drink. Not anymore.
However I do believe that we have the right as human beings to imbibe whatever we want. Whether it be a glass of scotch, a shot of heroin or a puff of dope. It is our human right to do whatever we like with our body.
Indeed I agree with Aayush, in that when there is a demand the supply will materialise. One need only look at the crazy effects caused by “the 6 o’clock swill” in Australias recent history. Or of course the complete failure of prohibition in the US to know that to ban something, particularly something that people find pleasureable, would be tantamount to fighting a losing battle.
Live and let live, I say.
However I do believe that we have the right as human beings to imbibe whatever we want. Whether it be a glass of scotch, a shot of heroin or a puff of dope. It is our human right to do whatever we like with our body.
texy, i am not saying people shold not be allowed to drink.
the problem is not that people drink, it is what they drink.
a glass of scotch wont kill you, but a glass of pauva will…….
just 2 weeks ago, 164 people died in 24 south pargana of kolkata because of poisonous alcohol. around 100 are in hospitals fighting for their lives.
now the family of those who died is going to suffer. they have kids and wife, how will they survive. people who drink pauva are mainly are below proverty line, so their extended family wont be of much help either.
Please excuse my hideous spelling mistakes *chuckle*