The Italian-Forged Iron Lady: The Politics of Power Without Responsibility

 **28 June 2006**

The Italian-forged Iron Lady, perhaps very true to the predominant characters of her race from that part of the world, involving a fair share of cleverness, technically precise hard work, and artistic shrewdness in dealings, is up to various unprecedented political games and gimmicks.

A fair heir to the legacy of the Iron Lady.

First, she has managed to contrive a mechanism, thanks to which we have a very soft Prime Minister—many say a mere rubber stamp—and a lady at the real helm of affairs: a grossly unconstitutional and undemocratic instance of all powers without responsibility.

Secondly, she, as the chairperson of the coalition, has managed to run the government without any dissensions, haggles, bickerings.

Very firmly in the saddle, I must say, and safely also.

The communists, the imperious turncoats of Indian politics, now in their newly defined role as defending pawns, protect the queen in the game at a great loss—loss of credibility and a dent to their ideology.

But then they defend it with a bettered shield: "Against the Hindu rightists, we have to do it!"

Like an infirm weakling, the docile puppet on the throne sits like the woman's face of this petticoat government.

Now the lady, on a political rampage, settling every score against her, covering Hindu accent and demeanour, is well on her way to get, as the most undeserving, least-statured, mere imitation of the Prime Minister, a rubber stamp of the august family.

If she comes true to her designs, then it will be the blackest day in our political history: a faithful servant becoming the first Head of the State in an imperious way.

She has managed a few insulting jibes at the technocrat President, undisputedly the people's voice at present, through some of her grossly impudent, loudmouthed accomplices.

What type of democracy is this when the people's choice is thrown into the dustbin with such insulting remarks?

What democracy is this when the candidate with the least capability, credibility, ability and popularity is almost sure to emerge as the winner?

But the numbers are with the Italian-forged Iron Lady, bloated out of size for her real worth.

She now commits the mistake of taking the mandates of her politically contriving art as the people's mandate.

What she does, however, is irreparable damage to the constitutionally lofty, almost wholly impartial stature of the First Citizen.

So the clever lady is just about to accomplish her dear task of securing one more rubber stamp at the top echelons.

The vindictive lady now walks with stealthily arrogant authority, mocking dexterity, and all this at the cost of the blind faith of an impoverished vote bank, the coterie stonewalling her from all sides.

Meanwhile, applaud!