Oh,
oh here they come: Tigers dissect govt. team
The top Tigers who had been nominated to attend talks in Geneva
had been summoned by Velu who appeared to be in an angry mood.
"I am really worried now," Velu said.
"Why
is that, Thambi?" Bala wanted to know.
"They have announced their team for the talks," Velu explained.
"But", Thamilselvam protested, "even their people
are worried about their own team"
"Ah,
that is what you think," Velu declared.
"Why, Thambi, unlike in the previous talks there are no professors
of law or constitutional experts," Bala pointed out.
"And
that is exactly what I am worried about," Velu said.
"But," Thamilselvam said, "if they are attending
tuition classes before attending the talks, they can't be that brilliant."
"Which is why I am worried," Velu said, "I think
they have their own reasons for being in the team."
"I
don't quite understand, Thambi." Bala was puzzled.
"Take that Nimal Siripala for instance," Velu said, "he
is the Minister of Health and forever the doctors are on strike
and when he resolves that, the nurses go on strike and yet they
send him to Geneva."
"Doctors
and nurses strike because of their salary issues," Thamilselvam
suggested.
"Yes," Velu said, "and what does Nimal Siripala do?
He says he will transfer doctors to the North and East as a punishment."
"What's wrong with that, Thambi?" Bala asked, "we
will have more doctors to treat our injured when we start the war."
"But
my worry is that this Nimal Siripala might want to be our Health
Minister because he is already trying to become popular over here,"
Velu explained.
"Now that would indeed be a disaster," Thamilselvam agreed,
"because then our doctors and nurses will then go on strike
everyday."
"What's
wrong with Jeyaraj, Thambi?" Bala asked, "he is not the
most brilliant lawyer around."
"And they say that he was picked only because he knows our
language," Thamilselvam pointed out.
"He is another difficult customer," Velu said. "See
what he did with their gas prices."
"Why,
thambi, he couldn't even control the price of gas despite promising
to do so and threatening all the gas companies," Bala said.
"So why should we be worried about him?"
"I think he knew all along that he will not be able to control
the gas prices yet he talked as if he could chase the gas companies
away," Velu said.
"So, what's wrong with dealing with such an inefficient minister?"
Thamilselvam queried. "It should be very easy for us to hoodwink
him."
"Don't
you see his talent?" Velu asked. "He talks big, makes
many promises, does exactly the opposite and instead of resigning
still continues to be a minister."
"So,
what you are saying is we really cannot believe him because he might
promise us something and do just the opposite," Bala said.
"And, just like the gas consumers in the South, we too may
have to grin and bear it," Velu said.
"But,
Thambi," Bala was still curious, "why are you worried
about that Rohitha chap?"
"Ah, he is the man I fear the most," Velu said.
"And why is that?" both Bala and Thamilselvam asked, "we
thought he was the most harmless of them all."
"Remember
what he did to the Green party?"
"He crossed over from the Greens to the Blues," Thamilselvam
recalled, "but then, that is the fashion in the South these
days…"
"Yes," Velu said, "but on the day before the cross-over
he was asked about it and he said he would remain loyal to the Greens
forever."
"And
he crossed over to the Blues the next day, in the middle of the
Budget speech," Thamilselvam remembered.
"But why are you worried about that, Thambi?" Bala wanted
to know.
"Just imagine," Velu said, "what would happen if,
during the talks in Geneva, he says he wishes to cross-over and
join us?"
Bala and Thamilselvam stared at each other. "Thambi,"
they both asked, "shall we call off the talks?"
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