The Fifth Column

20th October 1996

What more hardships?

"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedara asked "why did they suddenly lift the censorship?"

"So they could charge Prabhakaran in court........" Percy, Bindu's father responded.

"Why thaaththa", Bindu asked, "why should they do that?"

"Why, the censorship covered all military related news......"

"And?"

"And, therefore, charging Prabhakaran in court must definitely be classified as military related news......"

"Then, what would have happened?"

"So, if the censorship was on, they wouldn't have been able to announce it......"

"Then they might impose the censorship again after making that announcement", Bindu suggested.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why thaaththa, they have increased the price of gas by ten percent?....."

"What has that got to do with the censorship?"

"Why thaaththa, it would have been better to hide that under the censorship too...."

"Ah, yes" Percy said; "No wonder that our professor G.L. is saying that the Budget will be without any hardships to the people....."

"Why do you say that?"

"Why the price of bread was raised, the price of petrol was raised and now the price of gas has been raised. So what more hardships are there for him to impose?"

"Then, it will be a welfare Budget?"

"Yes, he may even give us a hundred rupee pay hike after charging us several hundred rupees more for bread, petrol and gas...."

"But thaaththa, that is what a successful politician should do...." Bindu said.

"Whether they are successful or not must be seen at the next election....." Percy argued.

"But thaaththa" Bindu said, "even at the next elections we will have to choose between the lesser of the two evils......"

Percy didn't disagree.

What more

hardships?

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