Ouch, It ‘Stings’?

Bravo! Come on, repeat after me…you must. Some people seriously believe that the recent undercover operation by a website and television channel to expose some Indian MPs is the greatest thing that happened since the Mahabharata.

Sorry, I think that ‘Operation Duryodhana’ itself stinks.

This is what happened. 11 members of parliament were bribed to pose questions in the House. The website carried tape recorders and cameras to catch them red-handed and the TV channel aired what they thought was a complete travesty. These clippings were shown in Parliament on Monday. Newspaper reports were dramatic: “Parliament was stunned into shamed silence”. Really?

Do they feel no shame when they throw chappals and chairs at each other?

Has no ministry/government ever been shamed for taking kickbacks for giving a contract to an undeserving company?

This whole sting operation has in fact given political parties a halo – they have all got the offending MPs to resign. These parties are talking about ethics now. Everyone is an angel. Indian parliament has taken seraphic wings and is flying high. The ‘expose’ has done nothing except to buffer a few egos.

And who are those MPs who were paid Rs 15,000 to just over a lakh for asking questions? Are they important enough names?

These pretty-much-nobodies have suddenly got notorious fame. Calling them ‘The dirty eleven’ is giving them 70 mm publicity. I can lay a bet that even if they were not bribed and were told that they would be given some media coverage, they would have still done what they did.

Besides, what is wrong about asking questions in Parliament? I am ready to offer some money if as a citizen my voice will be heard by the powers-that-be.

According to a report, “The answers given in Parliament must be correct as any incorrect information can invite a privilege motion against the government or the concerned ministry. The Question Hour can also shape government policy as MPs sometimes seek commitments from ministers about the implementation of matters that they raise in queries.”

I think it is a good idea. And I would in fact thank those MPs for being brave enough to pose those questions. What were the queries about? Trade ties between India and Pakistan and other Saarc countries, steps the government is taking regarding small-scale industries to make timely payments to save them from defaulting on loans.

"Through the Question Hour the government is able to quickly feel the pulse of the nation and adapt its policies and actions accordingly," says the Parliament website.

Is this harmful? If the ‘stinging’ website claims that some of the questions were repeated and they passed the scrutiny of the House, then who is to be held responsible and asked to resign? In my opinion, it is the Speaker of the House.

Why do journalists and TV channels use easy targets? Politicians, film stars, gangsters are already in the public eye and no one assumes them to be aboveboard, anyway.

Would these brave-hearts do a sting operation on industrial houses? Many of the big businesses are run purely on their ability to bribe their way for licences, prime land, modifying export-import policies to suit them.

Would they do a sting operation on cultural organisations or
famous ‘respectable’ artistes who get special privileges?

Would they do a sting operation on nominated MPs from the ‘world of arts’ who use their position to further their personal causes?

Would they do a sting operation on NGOs that misuse foreign funds?

Would they do a sting operation on why and how certain states in the country have ‘cities’ owned and run by bosses of airlines and media channels?

Would they do a sting operation on media houses that take money from socialites to promote themselves?

Are these sting operations themselves unbiased? Who is sponsoring them? Why was there a wide gap between the MPs bribed? Who decided on how much needed to be paid to whom? Why are there six BJP MPs, three from the Bahujan Samaj Party, and only one each from the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal?

Isn’t it strange that senior politicians who have been corrupt and booked for scams are today talking about the “indefensible” acts?

The Sting Operation has only helped make scapegoats of a few unknowns to let the real sharks behave like saints. It has in fact become part of a whitewash job.

Apparently, the information provided during Question Hour is relied on by “corporate houses, NGOs and other institutions”. Got it? So I do not see why the political parties are getting defensive. Merely suspending a few MPs makes no sense; they should instead question the media channels.

They have every right to know why they are being put under a grinder for, other than the aberration of exchange of money, every citizen has a right to ask and understand what goes on in Parliament.

I am not one bit convinced about the motive or the method of this sting. Besides, why has it been termed ‘Operation Duryodhana’?

This is Dronacharya’s speech from the ‘Mahabharata’:

“Out spake Drona priest and warrior, and his words were few and high,
Clouded was Duryodhan’s forehead, wrathful was Duryodhan’s eye:
"Thou hast heard the holy counsel which the righteous Krishna said,
Ancient Bhishma’s voice of warning thou hast in thy bosom weighed,
Peerless in their godlike wisdom are these chiefs in peace or strife,
Truest friends to thee, Duryodhan, pure and sinless in their life!”

We are not amused.

ChowKuote “Do Muslims have a monopoly on fighting for the most Ch….. causes?”

Imagine what an important discussion this would have been had it not used foul language or bracketed a whole community.

The Tamil Nadu government has installed condom vending machines at public places as part of a state-wide campaign to battle AIDS.

200 women from the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Chennai took out a rally against this “dangerous decision”. They believe, “Earlier, youngsters could have kept away from illicit relations out of fear of unwanted pregnancies. Now, with these machines at theatres and near college campuses, they will not be afraid anymore."

200 women from one organisation in one city do not constitute Muslims. Any person with a sensible bone in her/his body realises how silly these people sound. I mean, a Muslim man going to watch a film will suddenly run in desperation to ‘clothe’ himself and perform an ‘illicit’ act? Will colleges become stomping grounds for orgies?

I might like to tell these women about the incident a couple of years ago in Chennai where I attended a lecture by one of these Islamic scholars. I was accompanied by a young male Muslim friend. They asked me to sit with the “sisters” (they don’t say sistas!); I politely declined -- my friend insisted I had a naughty gleam in my eye when I said so -- and joined the men.

All the holy atmosphere and fire-breathing talk had quite the opposite effect on the ‘youngster’ with me. I still remember how desperately he gulped down two large mugs of frothing beer five minutes after we were out the place.

A ch…..oking cause, indeed.