Change of Guard at Red Fort by Puneet Rajhans

Change of Guard at Red Fort

One concern among voting class is that the celebrations at Red Fort are too short to leave a long spell on audience. Lasting barely an hour it hardly has any recall value. Coming close to this is another concern expressed across political divide over the uninterrupted fall in ratings of the political class. ADding to the injury are the addresses from the ramparts of Red Fort (lacking substance and secrecy). These addresses are so open about the intent of the government that the opposition has no chance to confront them at any point of time. In attendance over the years at REd Fort have been a large number of turncoats and scapegoats and this has made the government of the day to do away with the customary solo address and give it a comprehensive makeover. The policy document with Baburao Godbole suggests that the opening act this time would be different and so would be the climax. Post the innumerable vists to samadhis and ashrams the head of the govt would be duly accosted by Leader of Opposition and leaders of other political groupings as his entourage enters Red Fort. Occupying chairs next to the place of address they would cruise on a debate that would leave the Channelwallahs to seek a new outing. Once settled the first salvo would be fired by LoP by observing that it took 63 years to realise the import of different leaders to hang out together at this historical place. THe riposte from Head of Govt: " Let bygones be bygones. Let us set aside the differences and take the NDM 1 bug head on. "Mr Prime MInister", the LoP intervening, "there can't be unity chimes here." But then the NDM bug is one where we have to stick together as it a clear case of a conspiracy hatched in vilayat. "The US and UK time and again issue travel advisories for its citizens to desist from travelling to India. DEspite such advisories the people in large numbers go to the subcontinent. The WEst leaders' grouse sprouts from the fact that once these India-travelled citizens return to their home countries the outsourcing business finds its best advertisers in them. Adding to the insult is the culture shock that they give their residents by engaging in acts of nepotism and favouritism without a break. Their role in taking the govt head on on not promoting illegal immigration is another illustration of their confinement in the subcontinent."
The LoP and PM were of the view that the Queen had a design to her decision to stay away from CWG. "AS Queen decided to stay away from the Commonwealth Games, she wanted to make it doubly sure that none from her country would be going to INdia. As NDM bug gives an outside chance to the establishments in the West from persuading people from travelling to India, the Obama administration's decision to put in place a high tax regime for IT guys is meant to clear the air that exchanges between the two sides can't go untamed. Thus his visit post CWG is also intended to carry the same message."
As the PM and LOP agreed on this outlook on NDM 1 bug, what was a concern for them was a continuous fall in the rating of the political class. "THe debates in the untamed TV theatres has made us a fall guy; we are blamed for long spells of ills that dog the society. Our side of the story never gets prime viewing. THis debate at Red Fort give us an oppportunity to dissect and digress from the old tradition and put across our views on a host of issues inclding the shameless TV debates and how it aims to write our political obit."
"THese debates leave you sleepless for days together. Since our discussions are being telecast live on Govt channel with other channels following suit; for once we would be heard and followed. What to talk about political obit, we have a new life to our political innings thanks to our tryst with Red Fort. It was well past two in the afternoon and the political leaders desired to have the next plan of action in place. AS decided in the Baburao Godbloe document, the PM was supposed to hand over the baton to LoP for the next one year (PM and LoP would be changing places for a year) with the belief that it would be returned next year. Once this formality was over, leaders of different hues took to the public address system (no address lasting more than five minutes)on how they plan to collaborate with the govt for the next one year. The tryst with the Red Fort not only gave a chance for the political leaders to give the TVwallahs their due; it ensured a longevity to their political innings as well. The govt channel has promised that the entire proceedings at Red Fort would be telecast again whenever there is an adjournment in the House giving them the eyeballs that no other exercise can provide.
As for the leaders, the Red Fort Date was no less than a sleep-induced pill; much needed in the journo-chasing-leaders times we live in. As the leaders began to exit, the newly crowned Leader of House was being pestered for such a short stint at the top. To which one of the aides countered by presuming that the Red Fort ritual may not be kept next year given the extraordinary times we would get in. Probably a looming threat from across the borders or another biting bug that would be located to India. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary situations." How could the aide think on those lines. Probably the slew of TV debates that made him post this train of thought.