Yet another “expose”. Yet another
bizarre and brazen attempt at being accuser, investigator, prosecuter and judge
all rolled into one. Watching Kejriwal, the Joker in the political pack (henceforth
abbreviated to just Joker) “perform” yesterday, I wondered if we even needed
any of the institutions of governance the Constitution provides for. I also
wondered if the Lokpal that Joker proposed was just something that he created
keeping himself in mind. And when he went about brandishing “Jokepal”, was he
referring to himself?
There are new rules of the game
now. “Connecting the dots” appears to be the only way judgments are being
pronounced these days. Being a politician’s relative is a crime. Politicians are
guilty until they can prove themselves to be innocent. The rules that apply to
politicians don’t apply to activists. Politicians cannot have a sense of humor;
only activists can. All this is part of the Joker’s “vision”. And he wants us
to vote for the party.
Not me for sure. Joker is out to
wreck this country. Until now, it was only the TV channels that stood accused
of populist sensationalism. Now we have an upstart political party doing the
same. Till date, I haven’t heard ONE positive statement of intent from Joker.
Whatever little I have heard about economic policies put Joker even Left of
Mamata Banerjee, who herself is further Left of the Left parties. So we are
talking about a party that is as Left as the Maoists perhaps. In fact, someone
on TV last night mentioned the words “Urban Maoists” to describe Joker and his
party. Another panelist called his core economic philosophy to be
“anti-business”. Thanks, but I am happy without this bull in a China shop. I am
happy if this “munna” could also be “muted” like poor Ranbir was in “Barfi”.
How long will media tolerate this
attack on the way we do politics in this country? Agreed, the existing system
is rotten. Agreed, there is rampant corruption. But is it anyone’s point that
by changing the current lot of politicians and substituting them with these activists,
we will lick the problem? Can Joker achieve anything without proposing specific
changes to the electoral funding system? Have we heard anything about that at
all? Are we supposed to assume that genetically, Joker and his followers are
superior to the “mongrels” who occupy positions of power today? That somehow,
miraculously, they will survive the temptations of power? And even if they do
so, how will they manage the political requirement of raising funds without accepting
monies from people who seek illicit returns? For the ultimate need for
politicians to take bribes is to fund their elections.
Coming specifically to the
charges levied yesterday by Joker….the charges against Gadkari are far more
serious than the charges against Vadra for at least two reasons. First, Vadra
and DLF are both outside the ambit of the Prevention of Corruption Act as they
are both not public figures. If they have violated any rules of the country,
the appropriate authorities will investigate them. Gadkari, on the other hand
is the President of the BJP and a very important public figure. He can be investigated under the Prevention
of Corruption Act. Secondly, the only
accusation against the Haryana government is that it speeded up the mutation
process (big deal) and that it allowed change in land usage (done almost with
every land deal). It’s not as if Government land was given away to a
politician. In Gadkari’s case, that’s the main charge. Apparently, he has
usurped 100 acres of village land which the state had acquired.
But honestly, I don’t care much
for these charges against Gadkari either. These are just charges. And Joker is
just another politician. Two politicians accuse each other of corruption all
the time. If there is any substance in Joker’s charges, then let him file cases
against Gadkari. Let courts decide if there is any merit at all. And if that
happens, I will salute Joker…..till then he continues to get my scorn.
And what’s this about Joker being
so thin skinned that he runs to the media at every jab that is taken at him.
What happened to his sense of humor? If Salman said that Joker has to come back
from Farukhabad, what’s the big deal. There are many times when people say to
each other “I’ll see you” or even “I’ll get you man”. That’s not a threat to
kill. And anyone who saw the video clip would have realized it was a statement
made to supporters to pep them up. If Joker has to take offence to every such
statement, then he’d better quit politics.
The real truth is that its
time we pull the plug on Joker. He can join any Hindi GEC (Star, Sony types)
and produce some good entertaining shows. But to give him any more credence
that that is a waste of time. He’s best ignored….
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