Portrait of a government



Here is a quiz question. If you answer correctly, you get ten bonus points and get to participate in Kaun Banega Crorepati, if this game show is still running that is. Well, here's the question: Who is India's Home Minister?

If you have answered it correctly, you can go ahead and call the KBC helpline and that you're certain to get admitted. If not, never mind because you're one of the millions of educated Indians. The answer is Shivraj Patil, who quite mysteriously is turning out to be the quietest Home Minister India ever had. This is especially contrasting considering the vociferous Advani as the previous chair-holder. It is even more annoying when you think that he is sitting in a chair which people like Bismarck of India, Sardar Patel once adorned.

Here's why. One hasn't seen a single statement or action plan from Patil during and the aftermath of serial bomb blasts across India last week. One hasn't again heard anything when the agitation has spread violently across Jammu and Kashmir and now threatening to escalate into a full-scale nationwide riot. Perhaps he is in a Rip Van Winkle sort of slumber from which he would wake up a few years later to figure out that Kashmir has been split and many of the states in India are bombed to oblivion. He wouldn’t worry as he may not even have his portfolio then. This hyperbolical polemic perhaps is inappropriate. But the anger that caused it isn’t.

The brief reprise the Singh government had from the likes of yours truly due to successful progress with Nuclear Deal is fast erased by a gnawingly inactive state of affairs in every other department of governance exhibited. Kashmir had not seen such a worst crisis in 13 years. Neither has the economy. Terrorists playfully dangle bombs on the trees and shove them behind street hoardings, where men usually huddle to urinate discreetly. Wands of currencies are brandished like a sword in the middle of Parliament's hall as the bewildered public gawk at the degenerate demonstration of our glorious democracy. Kashmir has fallen hook, line and sinker to the fanatics of both the sects whilst threatening to take the state to partition days. If the camera-shy, indolent home minister has a least bit of respect left in him, he should resign. Or if the most educated prime minister has any, he must ask Patil to go.

Clinton once called Kashmir the most dangerous region in the world. Our government has proved him right. Kashmir is falling out of our hands. If delayed, much of India will.

Image sourced from: The Telegraph