Caste shadow on national icons

All political parties, including the RJD and the BJP, were vying to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas. “The sad part is rather than speaking about the saint’s endeavour to build bridges between castes, the political parties prefer to play up the caste divide,” said a politician. he use of icons to whip up the caste passions has been blatant. Mahatma Gandhi’s portraits are used in caste meetings of Baniyas and the name of Bihar’s first chief minister Sri Krishna Singh is attached to meetings of Bhumihars. Even the portrait and name of famous poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar is used to whip up caste passions in the state. Rana Pratap Singh is omnipresent in caste meetings of Rajputs while the name of the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad, is used in meetings of Kayasthas. The name of Chanakya is evoked for meetings of Brahmins. “Virtually every icon of India has been divided into castes,” said the seasoned politician, stressing that use of their names for political means has become more blatant after the1990s,” he said.

Cow count

The RJD chief, Lalu Prasad, just cannot stop from speaking about cows and milk production. He revealed at a public meeting recently that he had 160 cows and sold milk to a star hotel in Patna. He had the crowd amazed when he declared he sold cow dung worth Rs 5 lakh every year. “Perhaps Laluji should be given the task of increasing the milk production of the country, especially when the economic survey indicates it is dropping,” said a Lalu admirer. His political adversaries had less charitable remarks to make, though. “The cows have always come in the aid of Laluji. In the disproportionate assets case, Lalu and his wife claimed a cow given to Rabri by her parents during their marriage had multiplied and they are now owners of hundreds of cows,” said a JD (U) leader, pointing out that there was an audit objection to 16 air-conditioners being installed in the dairy operating at 1 Aney Marg when Lalu and Rabri were in power in Bihar.

Assets boon

The state government’s diktat to its officers and employees up to grade III to declare their assets is proving to be a boon for income tax lawyers. “In February, I was flooded with enquiries from government employees on how to fill up property statement without raising suspicion,” said an income tax lawyer. ost employees are stressing that an independent income should be shown in the name of their wives. In most of the cases, tuition is becoming the source of income for homemakers. The semi-literate wives are being shown aking moolah through tailoring. “Most employees have transferred their ill-gotten wealth o their wives,” said he lawyer.

Poll result mystery

The RJD chief, Lalu Prasad, said liquor would flow across the state during the panchayat polls. He said narcotics and liquor would be used to win over votes. “On the day of polls, caste passions will also be whipped up,” he said. After the defeat in the Assembly polls, Lalu had declared that the victory of the NDA was a mystery and he would unravel it. “Apart, from the electronic voting machines, he has identified liquor and ganja as factors behind the mysterious victory,” said a JD (U) leader with a smirk.