It's
question time in politics
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "What do you
think Satellite's favourite subject in school was?"
"I'm not so sure about that," Bindu's father Percy said,
"but I know it is certainly not Economics…"
"It
is not Mathematics either…" Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa she must be thinking that two equals ten because
she gave away ten terrorists in return for the release of two homeguards…"
"If
it is not Mathematics, it cannot be History too for she keeps forgetting
the recent past and the promises she has made…" Percy
observed.
"Then, I think her favourite subject must be Geography…"
Bindu suggested.
"How would you know that?"
"Why,
thaaththa, she has questioned students at a meeting asking them
how many countries there are in the world…"
"And did the students know the answer?" Percy asked.
"No, thaaththa," Bindu said, "apparently no one knew
the answer; even the teachers and the Secretary to the Education
Ministry were unaware of the correct number…"
"And
what did Satellite say?"
"She proudly declared that there were a hundred and ninety
six countries in the world…"
"So," Percy said, "now that Satellite has this habit
of asking questions, people may be scared to attend meetings with
her…"
"Just imagine Satellite suddenly asking Mahinda, 'how many
times have you tried to stop Anura's nomination for the nest presidential
elections?'…" Bindu predicted.
"Or
asking Wimal, 'how many of your demands do I have to give in to,
for you stop criticising me in public?'…"
"And she may well ask Ranil, 'what more should I do for your
Opposition to wake up?'…" Bindu suggested.
"But, Bindu," Percy cautioned, "asking such questions
can be risky too…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"
"Why, Bindu what would happen if others suddenly start asking
questions from Satellite?"
"And what would those questions be?" Bindu wanted to know.
"How
many ministers and Deputy Ministers have you now got, Wimal may
want to know" Percy suggested.
"How many months more will you carry on for without holding
Presidential elections, Ranil might ask…" Bindu said.
"How many more people will you allow to be killed by the Tigers,
both Douglas and Karuna would ask…"
"And how many factions did you divide the Sihala Urumaya in
to, Tilak might ask…"
"And
what more would you offer me if you want my continued support, Arumugam
may be interested in finding out…"
"But more difficult will be the questions that the average
voter might ask her…" Bindu said.
"Yes," Percy agreed, " they might ask her how many
times she increased the price of gas, petrol and milk food and even
I have lost count now…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "Satellite never loses
count…"
"How
can you say that, Bindu?" Percy asked.
"She knew that there were exactly a hundred and ninety six
countries in the world…" Bindu argued.
"Ah," said Percy, "there is a reason why she knew
that so well…"
"What
is that, thaaththa?" Bindu queried.
"Why, she may be presiding over the creation of the hundred
and ninety seventh country in the world…" Percy said.
Bindu didn't want to ask another question to find out where that
country was. |
