Public bidding - whose money is it, any way?
This blog might have come a bit late, but still...
Bribe (as defined by Wikipedia) : Bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the receiver's conduct. It may be any money, good, right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or any promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.
However when it was "campaign-time" in Tamil Nadu, the whole definition was changed to mean a *freebie* without much ado. The political parties were shouting their guts out to garner votes, in a totally different way. The usual "Vote for us, and we'll improve your locality", "Vote for us, and we'll provide you with employment" were completely replaced by things as cheap and desperate as "Vote for us, and we'll give you colour TV...free cable connection...et al"!!!!!!!!!!!
The pre-election scenario was reduced, and sadly, to an auction-bid - the only difference being, the situation changing from many people placing their bids in front of a single judge, to a couple of people placing their bids in front of a mass of 6.5 crores!!!
So obviously, when the bid to *give* away colour TVs was proposed, the lady from the opposition called right, when she decided to attack the "thaaikulam" (female masses) sentimentally - "Oru ponnoda mansu innuru ponnukku dhaan theriyum" (Only a girl will know what's there in another girl's mind). And so, what better than the "thaali" sentiment?! Yes, amma went one step ahead by promising to *give* a 4 gm gold "thaali" to unaffordable brides! (Christ, give me a break!)
These were followed by:
1. 2 acres of free farm land
2. Rice @ Rs 2/Kg
3. Free 10 Kgs of rice
4. Ration shops coming and delivering at your door-step
and so many others...an endless list of shocking promises!
If this ain't bribery, then I just cannot image what it might be. Or, is this legal cos it is done in public without concealing anything? Or because, it is someone else's money that these politicians are using to bribe? Or just the fact they are politicians enables them to bribe legally, and with rights?
And yes, it is "our" money - the money that we are paying as taxes - that is being sold out as *freebies*. I'm kind of amazed that the Election Commission didn't bat an eyelid, or try to do something to end the atrocity. The most surprising thing was that the entire episode was carried out in such a "matter-of-fact" attitude that we people hardly spent time to even think about its atrocious nature!
The various cine stars campaigning for the two giant parties stabilizied these debatable issues, this time, with some humour! Excerpts from actor-director Bhagyaraj's campaign for the DMK:
"Namba Vaiko vandhu 'Ivanga freeya colour TV kudupaanga, cable TV kudupaanga. Aana adhukellaam electricty bill yaaru kattardhu?' nnu kettaaru. Enna pa idhu?! Nambalaala kalyaanum mattum dhaan pa panni vekka mudiyum. Maththadhelaam, ahem ahem...eppidi?"
He finished the sentence with a cheeky smile (Oh ya, what wits!!).
And then came our TR, oops Vijaya TR, with one of his best pieces - "Vaiko! Avan oru psycho"!! Hilarious to say the least!
Where are our politications taking us? Can there be something done about this? Something???...ANYTHING??!
However all said and done, hats off to these politicians for completely erasing the word *bribery* from our dictionary. After all, that's what we wanted...right?
Bribe (as defined by Wikipedia) : Bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the receiver's conduct. It may be any money, good, right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or any promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.
However when it was "campaign-time" in Tamil Nadu, the whole definition was changed to mean a *freebie* without much ado. The political parties were shouting their guts out to garner votes, in a totally different way. The usual "Vote for us, and we'll improve your locality", "Vote for us, and we'll provide you with employment" were completely replaced by things as cheap and desperate as "Vote for us, and we'll give you colour TV...free cable connection...et al"!!!!!!!!!!!
The pre-election scenario was reduced, and sadly, to an auction-bid - the only difference being, the situation changing from many people placing their bids in front of a single judge, to a couple of people placing their bids in front of a mass of 6.5 crores!!!
So obviously, when the bid to *give* away colour TVs was proposed, the lady from the opposition called right, when she decided to attack the "thaaikulam" (female masses) sentimentally - "Oru ponnoda mansu innuru ponnukku dhaan theriyum" (Only a girl will know what's there in another girl's mind). And so, what better than the "thaali" sentiment?! Yes, amma went one step ahead by promising to *give* a 4 gm gold "thaali" to unaffordable brides! (Christ, give me a break!)
These were followed by:
1. 2 acres of free farm land
2. Rice @ Rs 2/Kg
3. Free 10 Kgs of rice
4. Ration shops coming and delivering at your door-step
and so many others...an endless list of shocking promises!
If this ain't bribery, then I just cannot image what it might be. Or, is this legal cos it is done in public without concealing anything? Or because, it is someone else's money that these politicians are using to bribe? Or just the fact they are politicians enables them to bribe legally, and with rights?
And yes, it is "our" money - the money that we are paying as taxes - that is being sold out as *freebies*. I'm kind of amazed that the Election Commission didn't bat an eyelid, or try to do something to end the atrocity. The most surprising thing was that the entire episode was carried out in such a "matter-of-fact" attitude that we people hardly spent time to even think about its atrocious nature!
The various cine stars campaigning for the two giant parties stabilizied these debatable issues, this time, with some humour! Excerpts from actor-director Bhagyaraj's campaign for the DMK:
"Namba Vaiko vandhu 'Ivanga freeya colour TV kudupaanga, cable TV kudupaanga. Aana adhukellaam electricty bill yaaru kattardhu?' nnu kettaaru. Enna pa idhu?! Nambalaala kalyaanum mattum dhaan pa panni vekka mudiyum. Maththadhelaam, ahem ahem...eppidi?"
He finished the sentence with a cheeky smile (Oh ya, what wits!!).
And then came our TR, oops Vijaya TR, with one of his best pieces - "Vaiko! Avan oru psycho"!! Hilarious to say the least!
Where are our politications taking us? Can there be something done about this? Something???...ANYTHING??!
However all said and done, hats off to these politicians for completely erasing the word *bribery* from our dictionary. After all, that's what we wanted...right?
posted by thegaad at 1:27 PM
5 Comments:
very true ! Indian politics is getting worse by the day (the student community Lok Paritran might be a saving grace though). One incontrovertible good thing in the US government is the PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. They put so much thought and reasoning behind the election of either the republicans or the democrats. Indian politics is very similar in a way though... whether you want colour tv or washing machine !
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
yes that is true...But The comman man (most of them) have double standards.
Say for example A is a woman who strongly opposes reservation and such but the minute the Govt. comes out with 1/3 reservation for women in all central Govt. Colleges...all her fight about "No to Reservation" comes to a conspicous stop.suddenly reservation is not too bad.
In the same lines Think about this election campaign.Its sad but true...
i have to confess that Bribery in US can never even think upto the levels of Indian bribery. It beats itself at every new events especially elections and natural calamaties. may be we are killing ourselves by thinking of it or hoping for reforms. @shiv looks like its a mass frustation ur not alone. for a while i thought what can be the solution but i think its above my capacity of thought process lol.
Very pretty design! Keep up the good work. Thanks.
»
Post a Comment
<< Home