Kolkata in the 60s!

West Bengal is under a complete lockdown today, and I have nothing to fall back, save my laptop and a few childhood memories.

We lived opposite Kalighat park; the vicinity was more Tamil than Bengali. In the two or three adjoining streets there could have been about 50 to 60 Tamil families and one Malayalee family. The population included a few Tamil returnees from Burma, identified as Burma Mami or Rangoon Mama. Most of us studied in National High Schools, which reluctantly charged fees from students and often had to waive fees to those who could not afford. The roads from our area, through Prince Ghulam Md. Road, Bipin Pal Road were like a procession, children heading to our school.

Evenings were always noisy and chaotic all assembling on the streets with traffic sparse. Pittu, cricket, football, chor police and a few games imported from the villages of Tamil Nadu all featured. One elder would help a gang of a dozen to cross the main road and the tram tracks to reach Kalighat Park during the vacations. The park was all for us, one end occupied by Boys’ Training Association, which was famous for holding basketball tournaments in the evenings.

Cars were a dream and owned by very few. Only two Tamils those I remember owned cars, which they would never forget to bring to any social function, their drivers struggling with the handle to start an unwilling engine.

I recall on the way back from school was frequently past Lake market. It required less than two rupees to fill a large bag of vegetables, aubergines- 5 paise a kilo, or beans eight paise, more or less. Traders had flexible pricing, the morning hours more expensive and the close-to-noon times the cheapest. The hawkers would dispose of any unsold vegetables and walk back to Ballygunge station to catch the local trains back to their villages like Baruipur.

Sadananda Road was a busy thoroughfare chosen for two things that changed the profile of the area. One, during the planning stages of Metro Rail, a traffic diversion trial was made, letting one-way traffic from Syamaprasad Mukherjee Road into Sadananda Road. Not that there were many vehicles, but it posed a risk and was struck down as a playground. The next assault was letting the Minibuses run through Sadananda Road. The owners or drivers were mostly belonged to the ruling clan, reflected by their frenzied speed and utter disregard for safety.

We lived on the ground floor, often visited by fruit vendors, vegetable vendors, women who would give a few steel utensils for old silk sarees with much silver on borders, tender mango the size of the smallest potatoes. Each one knew everyone; the world was personal; my mother, the negotiator, often feeding them and enquiring about each one’s family welfare.

August has ten more lockdown days, and I hope to scratch my head for more to come.

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Hairy masala!

I too am confronted with a void of thoughts, when I rush to my memories on Facebook. Ten long years or more and the high frequency of posts have created a sizeable collection to fall back. Used to writing, to conjure up a subject in such times of blockage becomes difficult. Today was one such day.

Be that as it may, I must turn to my pate. God was kind, and I always had bountiful hair. Just there was one catch. I turned to hair colour unable to bear a very few silver strands, uniquely symbolic to my ancestry. Like an addict, I could never stay away from dyeing my hair after that.

There was a hair-clipper, which was lying unloved for long years, and it was dying to prove its merit. My wife was confident, seeing such instruments frequently in use in the parlours. One buzzing noise and I saw a handful of my wavy black(!) hair at my feet. The horror of horrors, my head resembled the parting of the seas at the command of Moses in the movie ‘Ten Commandments.’ The style would have no takers, and I could be mistaken outside as a thief punished like in the olden days. The decision was fast and did not require a high IQ. In a few minutes, I was bald!

Though a pretentious Brahmin, I had to shower after a haircut, be it in a hair cutting salon or at home. The sharp showers on a bald head sounded a wobbly Richard Clayderman’s. Caressing my head gave a feeling that I was touching someone else’s. The sprouts appeared within the next days, which would have made Carborundum Universal, the abrasive specialists hide in shame. My pet dog, as usual, snuggled near my head, to scarily jump in the middle of the night and woke all up.

It took only a few more days, the density of hair was back as usual 2200 hair strands per square inch. There was one catch, though! Grey could be a misstatement; white could be an understatement, the hair was whiter than I have ever seen on anybody’s head, the hair luminescent and glowing. I stepped out after the lockdown for the first time, thankfully with a mask on with only my security guard throwing up the hot tea he was drinking.

How would the poor security guard know the constant battle within me to appear a bit intellectual in a pandemically intellectual state of West Bengal? I tried all tricks from photography to poems, from novels to political commentaries. No, these were not enough, I couldn’t be in formals or semi-formals. I bought a few Fab India kurtas, and the uncomfortable string tightened pyjamas and loathed every time I had to use a public urinal.

No, that wasn’t enough either! I had to sport a ‘jhola bag,’ a fabric and shoulder hung one, which must feature a book, preferably a Tagore or Mamata Didi’s collection of poems! A leaking pen, to prove that the ink has not dried. The bonus, an unkempt hair and unshaven cheeks. The ultimate is silvery hair, as you can walk up boldly to the front row at any function and take a seat reserved for someone else. Bhodrolok Bengali will rarely ask you to move over.

But, damn, it is still difficult to pierce through the ‘aantel’ brigade. A few weeks and I could as well try a tuft as a last resort in addition to a pair of Kholapuri chappals!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
Pic: Ray and Soumitra, some of the intellectuals of contemporary Bengal

Ram Mandir, Ayodhya!

‘Bhoomi Puja,’ the religious stone laying ceremony to commence the construction of the Ram Mandir has been announced on 5th August 2020.  The day had to be approved as an auspicious one by the Hindu seers according to Vedic calendar, which suited BJP immensely as it is the 40th founding day of their party as well. Many wonders if this is the time for the building of religious places amid the Covid pandemic ravaging the country

The design of the temple is finalized after a significant alteration from the original plan, changing from three to five gopuras and increasing the height from 128 ft to 161 feet. The cost of construction of the temple could be Rs.300 crores while developing the surrounding land, around Rs.1000 crores. The fund is insignificant compared to the 182-meter Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel, which cost Rs.3000 crores. Public and corporate funding is expected to meet the temple costs. The temple also would cost lesser than a new Rama statue, the tallest in the world, to be constructed in the State of Uttar Pradesh 251 meters tall at the cost of Rs. 2,500 crores. Whether this too was necessary at this time could be a valid question.

5th August for BJP is too significant to miss. The last 5th August witnessed in the revoking of the special status of J & K, assimilating the region with Indian Union. Most of the stones, pillars and slabs, are already sculpted and ready to be fitted. The estimated time of 36 to 42 months for the completion of the temple could be end 2023 or the beginning of 2024, the time when India will go for general elections a few months soon after. Some view this as a clever political move by the BJP, VHP and the RSS.

The demolition of the mosque standing at the Ram Mandir was a significant turning point in the political fortunes of BJP. India was priding itself secular, ignoring the historical part of the prevail of alien structures, mosques and churches atop razed Hindu temples.  Somnath in Gujarat was one such example of a rebuild. Despite PM Nehru’s advice to the contrary, President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the temple. Therefore, PM Modi, who has no qualms about his Hindutva ideologies, attending the ceremony is no surprise.

The temple was mired in a story of agonizing delay in the courts for 70 years. The demolition of the Babri Masjid cost 2000 lives. After an acrimonious battle, Hindus got a right to build the temple at Ayodhya, believed to be the birthplace of Rama. Fear of God and visiting religious places make people a bit more disciplined towards society. If I walk around the many temples of South India and wonder in awe at its architectural and cultural marvels, it is because someone had thought of building them a thousand years ago. We virtually stopped building big temples in the many intervening centuries. Building a temple,or any other religious structures are no offence per se.

The NDA-2 government of Modi is under stress from the unexpected Covid pandemic, The Chinese belligerence at the borders, a bad economy and the resultant joblessness. A repeat of Balakot, which a few feels of significantly helping Modi during his 2019 elections may not be easy and is fraught with international ramifications. The nation is slowly changing to a welfare state, the youths subsidized with MNREGA or such other barely sustainable funds, which would significantly impact infrastructure development activities.

Ram embraced Nishadraj the boatman, an untouchable, as his brother and fought with an army of monkeys.  Mandir too could be a structure for forging unity, understanding and religious tolerance, rather than hatred and division amongst our citizens.

Lastly, the government must not think that a Mandir alone can win its 2024 elections. India shining ads failed earlier. Jobs and hunger must be addressed with equal alacrity!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

China, Iran, Pakistan Nexus!

The world was battling Covid, India besides busy restraining the Chinese aggression in Ladakh. The US was contented in sending their warships to the South China seas, chest-thumping and giving soundbites from the White House of their military might. The undaunted Chinese were quietly busy elsewhere on their path of strengthening their forces with its other friendly countries.

Russian role in the event of a China India event could be extremely important. Russia has so far supported India in our Galwan stand but has stopped short of commenting on the Chinese misadventures. India promptly agreed to procure 21 MiG-29 and upgrade of the existing fleet of MiG-29 costing Rs 7,418 crore, while purchasing 12 new Su-30 MKI from HAL at the cost of Rs 10,730 crore. The basic fact is Russia and China are both Communists and cannot forsake their political ideologies for whatever reasons and for long. China required more strength and cannot rely on a largely neutral Russia in the event of an Indo-China war. The other compelling reason is to contain the growing US influence in the South China seas.

China thus turned to Iran, a country under severe stress and extremely aggrieved from the killing of its top military general Soleimani in Baghdad Airport by US drones on the 3rd January 2020. Iran is under economic sanctions by the US, and thus its sale of crude has come to nought. China is ever energy-hungry, and thus Iran would serve a great purpose now and in the future. Iran is believed to be a nuclear power too.

China thus agreed to invest US$ 400 Billion in Iran’s infrastructure, while Iran agreed to become a part of China’s OBOR initiative. China will buy Iran’s petroleum products at special prices. This is as bad news as Covid for India and will severely impact India’s plan of utilising the Chabahar port facilities it is building in Iran. The US also threatened India into submission by forcing the cancellation of cheaper Iranian oil imports by India. We are thus leaning towards the US more than ever before. Could the US be trusted, when you need them, direly is a question, which cannot be answered right now, as the sustainability of the US is based on ensuring their self-interests alone.

It may not be best for India to be complacent and rely only on the US, as I will bet more on smaller but militarily strong nations like Israel and Vietnam. If China surrounds us, we have to do likewise, keeping them occupied with their local problems. If China pinches us hard on Kashmir, we have to do likewise in Xinjiang. If they hurt us in Arunachal, we have to hit them in Baluchistan, cutting the access to both Gwadar and Chabahar ports. Survival is now for the fittest and the mightiest. Our diplomacy must focus on containment of China, deadlier than Covid.

If China queers its pitch at our borders, it could be when the US goes for polls later this year. My personal opinion is any change in the Presidentship of the US right now may not augur better for India.

So would be in India too, in the foreseeable future!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The drama of Covid!

Everyone stumbles on writer’s blocks, and I am no exception. However, I keep collecting the blocks and try building on them, as a child would do with Lego blocks. The results never matter as the wind blows them away soon as soon as I finish writing.

Covid is amongst us; in a stage, none can predict. Some say the community spread has begun, and some others maintain that it is yet to begin and will peak after another two months. I had an eyewitness account of a neighbour’s travails. There were suddenly some frenzied activities in the middle of the night, usually from the normally quiet house, moving an elderly lady in an ambulance. Anyone could be sick, and not necessarily all patients need to be Covid affected. I slept off.

The next morning, I am confronted by two masked KMC health department, who say that there is a Covid patient in our building and that rest ‘actions’ as per ‘protocol’ must be followed. Non-intrusive nature is one of the sufferings of urban living, often one resident not knowing the other in the same building. Residents thinking that a proverbial ‘giant-sized latex sheath covers our building,’ came to terms, the Secretary issuing a plethora of orders, barring entry and exit of all. I stay stunned at my cancelled appointments for the day and return to spend the rest of the day explaining the case with every punctuation to my ever worrisome and inquisitive wife.

Soon the dreadful thing happened. A few arrive in a vehicle adorning the scary PPEs, carrying sanitization equipment et al.  They engulfed our building in a cloud of distasteful mist, bursting the ego and self-confidence of each one of the resident in the building, who believed that Covid is for others and not for themselves, I included!

Soon the wail of a siren died at our gate, as all heads from the many balconies of our building showed up like the cuckoos from the clocks. The PPE clad men did not clumsily clamour out of their ambulance like the sanitizing staff but would take the swabs of suspected spread cases from the special holes provided in the vehicle. Each one from the affected flat walked down to give the tests as the dwellers from the nearby slum turn up with alacrity. The process took a while due to several dwellers even as the news spread faster than the assassination of Indira Gandhi’s, 35 years ago.

The worst now unfolded. The men ‘para dadas’ in local parlance, set forth conditions more critical than the Covid advisories of either WHO or the predictably unpredictable State Health department.

The reports of all come negative as all heaved a sigh of relief, not necessarily because of a good health feeling for all, but that normal life, going out to workplace and shops can resume unhindered for the others. Untouchables become touchable once again!

The Express Astro forecast today states, ‘your most helpful planets indicate that you’re about to reach a major turning point.’ Even before I finish my read, my wife from the kitchen calls, as I turn my head even without finishing my reading, there it is stuck! How true the predictions could be!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Pic: courtesy Outlook Gallery

New churning in Raj politics!

Sachin Pilot was hurriedly sacked as the Deputy Chief Minister and the chief of the Pradesh Congress Committee Chief by Ashok Gehlot, the CM of Rajasthan.

The CM may have had all the powers to reassign, rescind the appointments of his Cabinet colleagues, but the CM may have erred in removing Sachin Pilot from the post of PCC Rajasthan Chief, which may have to follow some norms. Issuing a whip for the Congress Legislature Party when the Assembly is not in the session itself is debatable and may not be valid.

The entry of an ever-ambitious BJP’s former RajCM, Vijay Raje into the scene has changed the complexity of Raj politics. Finding Gehlot an easier adversary than the youthful Sachin, she is reportedly supporting Gehlot. It was Sachin Pilot’s intensive campaign, which vanquished Vijay Raje in the last Assembly polls. The move to support Gehlot may be a clever ploy by the BJP High command to cause confusion and an air of unpredictability amongst the fence-sitting Congress legislators

The Raj HC would be hearing the petition of Pilot, contesting his dismissals for dissension shown. His removal as a CM may be unchallengeable, while removal as the PCC chief non-maintainable.

Several Congress leaders, including Kapil Sibal, Manu Singhvi and Sashi Tharoor are shocked at the ‘letting go’ of young leaders from their party and have boldly spoken against it.

My opinion is, Pilot is merely forced to the wall, to justify his joining BJP eventually. His paltry 18 MLAs may not last long in his grip if he delays his ‘back to power’ position.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Pic: Old memories

What is next for Sachin Pilot?

Round one has gone in favour of the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, the majority of the Congress MLAs rallying around him. Sachin Pilot has a handful of legislators, about 17 or 18, including two ministers from Gehlot’s cabinet. A smaller alliance partner with 2 MLAs Bhartiya Tribal Party has also snapped its ties with Congress. Sachin has dismissed the claims by Gehlot, stating true numbers will be revealed on the floor of the house.

Sachin, by no means, has the numbers to claim a majority or stake for the government right now. However, if his claim of thirty MLAs in his support is true, it is enough to pull down the Gehlot government. That may well be the beginning of the problem, rather than the end.

BJP has been passive players, not visible in the scene as yet, unlike their aggressive stand in Karnataka or Madhya Pradesh, where governments run by the opposition were toppled. It is not adding to their goodwill if people opt for Congress or non-BJP governments in the elections, and later deceit and defection makes a few black sheep switch sides, to reverse the mandate of the people. This is not a good democracy.

Gehlot may not be in immediate danger, but the lure of enormous cash rewards, position under any new alliance for those who were neglected, or, above all the fear of enforcement raids could veer away the decisive numbers in short to medium term.

Sachin has two options on the face of his humiliating termination from his posts as a Deputy Chief Minister and the President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee. One, He can form his party. Two, he can go the Scindia way, joining the BJP. Option one is fraught with the danger of being pushed into oblivion and soon forgotten. Running parties require huge funds, and he may not have deep pockets.

The option two seems more practical, with his friend Jyotiraditya Scindia already well ensconced in BJP. Scindia’s supporters have found sufficient plum placements in the latest MP cabinet expansion, CM Shivraj Singh maturely yielding space to Scindia.

In case Sachin opts for option two, the BJP, for securing one more state under their control may agree to offer the CM’s post to Sachin, though such chances seem to be bleak right now. He can, however, play a crucial role in ensuring berths for his supporters. Sachin has worked hard in the current Rajasthan win during the Assembly elections. Congress party may not have had the requisite numbers, but for the intensive campaign by Sachin, which no one will deny.

The ominous Covid worry seems distant, as an important state from the country is in its theatrics. But time is the essence for a kill in any battle, and no one wants to miss it. I ignore adding the role of Gandhis, the reason being if Rahul or Priyanka had enough confidence, they would have driven to Jaipur to sit and resolve the dispute between their party leaders.

Some still think the Congress party could spring back in 2024. They reflect the stock-market syndrome, may the world go to hell, Covid or war, the indices keep rising for no reason.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The unseen hand!

Sonia Gandhi was reigning as an unchallenged leader of India in her capacity of UPA Chairperson in 2004 and managed a win again in 2009, allying with Centre-Left forces. She led the party coalition and the National Advisory Council.

Sonia, due to failing health, stepped down as the president of the Congress party in 2017. She nominated her son, Rahul Gandhi, as the president of the party. Rahul could never meet his grandmother’s charisma, nor his mother’s manipulative skills. He was always a reluctant politician, pushed into the deep sea of Politics.

Rahul led the 2014 and 2019 polls, but his party became insignificant in size and lost even the ‘leader of the opposition’ status in the parliament.  A characteristically dismissive and brooding Rahul threw in his towel, quitting the Presidentship of the party. The Congress party after a considerable journey in the dark wilderness fell back on Sonia Gandhi to save the situation and take over as the party chief.

Efforts to prop up the third Gandhi, Sonia’s daughter Priyanka Vadra, making her in charge of a part of Uttar Pradesh during the elections did not bear fruit. She has a millstone around her neck, her husband Robert Vadra, which will never let her grow beyond local politics level.

Under these circumstances, Sonia relented, albeit agreeing to take over as an interim president of the Indian National Congress on 10 August 2019, a term which expired two days ago. The party leaders now met and find no other face worthy of leading them other than the disinclined Rahul Gandhi and are egging him to take over yet again as their chief. The only thing commendable about Rahul was his quitting as the party president, taking the responsibility of the poll debacle and resolutely disregarding return as the president of the INC by his sycophant coterie.

Bringing Rahul could gladden the hearts of the BJP more than it would for Congressmen. The move will further reveal that the Congress party might survive only as long as the ‘family’ desires, and also at a void of quality leaders who could take over a family-free party. The move will not augur well for Indian democracy, which direly requires a worthy and strong opposition, to ensure good governance by any elected government.

Sonia Gandhi has had her resourceful innings right from Rajiv Gandhi’s prime ministerial days. Rahul too has had his bit of limelight, tearing up ordinance papers calling it a ‘nonsense’ shaming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the latter while abroad on an official visit in 2013. His winking in the parliament after hugging the Prime Minister or crying hoarse over Rafalè until severely reprimanded by the Supreme Court shows his consistent immaturity.

Congress leaders must introspect and prove their utility as their time is running out. More eligible will join Scindia’s route. Staying relevant as a political alternative is possible only by coming out of Gandhi family’s shadows right now.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

The failing system!

The evolved humanity has laid down some principles of its own on killing other humans. It is limited to punishment for heinous criminal acts meted out by the appropriate judicial authorities, or treason, sedition etc. of a grave nature endangering a society. Sometimes leaders also face the hangman’s noose for genocides and murders.

The argumentative humans debated on human rights, even over extreme criminal acts of rape and gruesome murders like Nirbhaya’s, or the serial killings of Nithari. The cases drag on for years, if not decades, making law a mockery. It is evident in cases where the criminals are party leaders, like in the case of Kuldip Singh Sengar, who raped and later killed his victim in Unnao.

The role of the police comes in whenever a crime is committed. The policemen have to rush to the spot of crime, file a FIR, secure evidence, send the body for a truthful post-mortem and ensure a fair play throughout.

The utility of thugs and criminals in India during elections is historical. The services of shady elements are sought for silencing opponents or for extortion. The nexus between the politicians and the criminals have been long established, even judiciary fuming at the unholy alliances. The gangs allying to ruling parties are duly rewarded territorial control and the police partnering them in the criminal activities.

The police face the embarrassment of overgrown criminals who have to be silenced. Encounters then come handy, for escaping revelations of unpalatable truth in the courts and before the media.

In the recent memory, the Telangana cops finished off rapists and murderers in a cold blood.  Now we see the dreaded criminal Vikas Dubey killed in another encounter in full public glare. The system promoting the criminals has not been touched at all, despite alleged five-thousand encounter killings in the last three years in Uttar Pradesh alone.

Ordinary folks live in fear over the reprisals of the criminals soon after staged search visits and raids of the police. Insiders in the police forces are often informers and on the payroll of the criminals and mafia.

The hottest debate yet again is if the encounter death, despite feeble and false picturization of a vehicle turned turtle facing a herd of cattle crossing wet roads, and the criminal snatching a gun, firing at the cops and fleeing and in turn killed in an encounter could all be hogwash. But then, if human rights activists and political opponents cry foul, many heave a sigh of relief at the killing of the criminal, regardless of the manner the summary execution took place.

The police force, who are supposed to be law-keepers, should not be lawbreakers and must turn the criminals over for facing the due process of law. One might say the law is an ass, but that is a wholly different story. The parading of Iswar Tyagi in Baghpat Bazar in UP in 2013 or the sodomization killing of a son-father duo merely for keeping their shop open beyond lockdown timings are a reflection of the sickness that has pervaded the police force. No matter what, the police cannot become defacto criminals while wearing uniforms.

Trying to capitalize on the encounter, Hussain Dalwai, a Congress leader, tries a time-tested caste angle, shedding crocodile tears over a Brahmin killing. He adds that Muslims and Brahmins are not safe in U.P., which is pathetic and reflects the lows of the party.

It is a time for introspection and accountability of the police force as well as to ensure a speedy justice system.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

In pic: The public mood!

 

 

 

 

The Galwan punch!

China could be facing an internal disquiet, their trade disputes with the US finishing off many Chinese manufactories, several thrown out of employment. Also, the protests in Hong Kong have not ended, and the new security laws have been enforced in the region, contrary to the Chinese assurances to the British government who ruled the now Special Administered Region of China.

The last year’s Chinese Doklam standoff with India considerably dented the bloated Chinese image, their president Xi’s in particular. Besides, the non-disclosure of critical information relating to the origin and the spread of Covid in China brought little appreciation from the world leaders. China had to redeem its image and that of its President the soonest.

The boldness with which India confronted on an eyeball-to-eyeball at Doklam may have shocked and surprised China, who are still living in a fantasy world of pre-1962. Most Chinese view India as poor and weak against their military might. The popular belief had to be upheld to avoid any serious doubts over the leadership’s efficiency.

Galwan, where the Chinese troops have been building their strength, became a focal point of confrontation. Whoever controls the region would be controlling the valley. Therefore, once again driven by a belief that India will not resolutely respond, the Chinese mounted an attack and took the lives of twenty army men. They might have believed that India will censor the loss of lives and bury it deep down, much like the Chinese normally do. India not only boldly announced the deaths but promptly gave a free hand to the army to respond in a befitting manner. Revelations of deaths of Chinese soldiers by the US intel find no mention in the Chinese media.

The world responded resolutely, the US releasing details severely embarrassing China, France, Japan and Australia warning China of any misadventure. The Chinese show of might in the South China seas are now neutralized with two US carriers patrolling in the region. China attempts to instigate Nepal in addition to Pakistan will not bear fruit either. I wrote soon after Nepalese PM Oli’s reckless and suicidal mission to include crucial Indian territories as their own and include it in their flag that his days will be numbered. Not that India has to intervene, but a brewing political and civil unrest will unseat him, which is happening right now.

The huge Chinese balloon has been pricked for good. The Chinese know now that confronting India could mean a confrontation with the largest economies turning China into another pariah and a pauper-state quickly.

In India, as usual, a section was jubilant as Nepal’s parliament changed the constitution and changed their flags to include Kalapani area. Nepal can never sustain a closure of the border with India. The communist influence will wane away soon. I wrote of internal and political strife that will bring the Chinese puppet Oli down. It could happen very shortly.

A few opposition leaders mocked the PM over his visit and meeting the injured soldiers at Ladakh. They doubted the presence of any hospital, believed that the injured soldiers were actors and paraded their party men, claiming that the Chinese have overtaken Ladakh. Someone laughably questioned as to how the Indian PM could have left Delhi at sea level to reach oxygen-scarce heights above 11000 feet without mandatory acclimatization and promptly deciding the whole thing as a hoax. Some others claimed that the Indian PM is cashing on boosting his image by going to Ladakh.

There cannot be a more pathetic display of non-application of mind. The envy at India’s square punch on China’s belligerent face is unacceptable for these people, simply because it has once again boosted India’s and Modi’s image worldwide. Sufferers!

Jai Hind

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix