Going to jail..!

Politicians, especially when they sit in the opposition love going to jail. “One visit to the jail,” said a senior leader of an opposition party offers me a good chance of being re-elected!” You can see this is quite true, looking at the number of elected politicians who have criminal records. Somehow the Indian voter feels once a contestant has seen the four walls of a prison cell, he is fit to see those of Parliament or any of the other Houses across the nation.
“Who are you going to vote for?” I asked a voter as he made his way to the polling booth with his son, “Have you studied what each party offers? Elimination of poverty? Cheaper housing? Food?”
“No!” said the voter, “I am studying their jail records! This man has done six months in jail!”
“Papa,” shouted his son, reading from an election pamphlet, “Candidate number three did two years!”
“So he gets our votes!” said the father joyously.
“Why?” I asked, “Why do you vote for jailbirds?”
“How many months Gandhi and Nehru spent behind bars? Didn’t it get India her freedom? Those iron bars make leaders!”
I walked away from the jubilant duo a little shaken and bought a newspaper, “Arrest me!” shouted a local leader who had defied the Supreme Court and organised Dahi-Handi which had pyramids over twenty feet including using children!
“Will you be arresting him?” I asked a member of the ruling party.
“What? Do you think we are fools? You know what will happen once he goes to jail? People will run to the poll booths in hordes to vote for him!”
“Arrest me!” cry Rahul and Sonia, shrilly, “Arrest us! Please arrest us!”
But nobody hears their pleas, as they and everybody in the political fray try breaking all the rules in the book to spend a few nights in jail.
“It must be terrible for the jail wardens and prison personal not to have any work to do!” I said, “What with you keeping everybody out of jail!”
“The jails are full and overflowing!” said the ruling party member happily.
“But if you are keeping everybody out of jail, how can it be full?” I asked confused.
“You will see,” said the member as he beckoned a police officer to handcuff me.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Helping to fill the jails with people like you,” said the member, “People who ask too many questions, who speak against us! Seditious thoughts!”
“But why?” I asked shaking with fear.
“So the jails will be full and there won’t be room for our opposition to get in..!”

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Going to jail..!

Politicians, especially when they sit in the opposition love going to jail. One visit to the jail, said a senior leader of an opposition party offers me a good chance of being re-elected! You can see this is quite true, looking at the number of elected politicians who have criminal records. Somehow the Indian voter feels once a contestant has seen the four walls of a prison cell, he is fit to see those of Parliament or any of the other Houses across the nation. Who are you going to vote for? I asked a voter as he made his way to the polling booth with his son, Have you studied what each party offers? Elimination of poverty? Cheaper housing? Food? No! said the voter, I am studying their jail records! This man has done six months in jail! Papa, shouted his son, reading from an election pamphlet, Candidate number three did two years! So he gets our votes! said the father joyously. Why? I asked, Why do you vote for jailbirds? How many months Gandhi and Nehru spent behind bars? Didnt it get India her freedom? Those iron bars make leaders! I walked away from the jubilant duo a little shaken and bought a newspaper, Arrest me! shouted a local leader who had defied the Supreme Court and organised Dahi-Handi which had pyramids over twenty feet including using children! Will you be arresting him? I asked a member of the ruling party. What? Do you think we are fools? You know what will happen once he goes to jail? People will run to the poll booths in hordes to vote for him! Arrest me! cry Rahul and Sonia, shrilly, Arrest us! Please arrest us! But nobody hears their pleas, as they and everybody in the political fray try breaking all the rules in the book to spend a few nights in jail. It must be terrible for the jail wardens and prison personal not to have any work to do! I said, What with you keeping everybody out of jail! The jails are full and overflowing! said the ruling party member happily. But if you are keeping everybody out of jail, how can it be full? I asked confused. You will see, said the member as he beckoned a police officer to handcuff me. What are you doing? I asked. Helping to fill the jails with people like you, said the member, People who ask too many questions, who speak against us! Seditious thoughts! But why? I asked shaking with fear. So the jails will be full and there wont be room for our opposition to get in..! [email protected]