Price of a Parliamentary seat
The dollar costs Rs.177 and is galloping fast and could reach about Rs.200 by Christmas. For the poor man this will be a bleak Christmas. To the politicians that is nothing. He is given a car permit which fetches Rs.75 million and perks which takes him/her to the Seventh Heaven while a poor tea estate labourer works in the frost laden mist with the possibility of being bitten by snakes and leeches getting only Rs.500 a day is refused a salary increased to Rs.1000.
This is a land of bribery, horse trading and corruption. Even the highest in the land has encouraged bribery as legal. The buying price of a seat in Parliament now is Rs. 500 million and the winning number is 113. It could be auctioned for crossovers even for Rs. 1 billion when Parliament assembles on November 14; the best enticement for disgraceful frogs and high jumpers. The amazing thing is from where all this money is coming from and how it disappears from the country without the knowledge of the Central Bank.
The country is now two weeks without a Government, devastated by torrential rains, floods, landslides and thousands of families huddled up in temples and schools with no Government to attend to their woes. The share market is in the doldrums and on the verge of collapse. Foreign investors are siphoning out their investments in this uncertain political mess. Misinformation is now rampant with eminent legal pundits publishing their two cents worth articles in daily newspapers. The President is now most powerful; he can sack or take in anyone he likes to rule the country as Prime Minister. The various Bribery Commissions that were in force are now defunct and are closing down. What a waste of public funds?
D day is November 14. Hope there will be no bloodshed in that august assembly. People are advised to stay indoors and watch the drama on TV. Collect a week’s supply of food. If you stray out you have the chance of getting hit by a stray bullet in the fray. So watch your step.
A Disillusioned Citizen