The other news

The newspapers have been reporting on 2 national issues a lot lately, 'the' flu and the feud between the Ambani brothers. While the flu has been hogging all the lime, green and litmus light on the front page, the latter has been causing occassional ripples in the quiet backwaters of the editorials. While reports on the former mainly tell us of2 numbers escalating daily(deaths and positive cases), the latter too talk about 2 numbers, albeit constant for the time being.

Let me dwell in to the numbers for a bit. The flu had infected upwards of 1,77,000 and claimed 1.260 deaths globally before announcing its grand entry in India. I need not tell you how the numbers stand in front of other, more pressing and resistant diseases. On the other hand, Anil is raising hell over an extra $2 which Mukesh is demanding. It might be mentioned that NTPC too shall be required to pay that extra $2 to Mukesh. Precisely the things the editorial-writing-intellectuals will discuss while the country is going to the pigs. I'll rephrase: Should they not be talking more about it, rather than the occassional ple.a to the media to not hype up the issue in the midst of the very newspapers whose headlines scream out a higher number everyday?

The irony is not lost on me, but neither is common sense. Although I might as well be the next in this line but what are the odds ( A supposed-to-be-responsible-but-loosely-wagging-tounge claimed 1/3 but I don't believe him). What should be of greater or at least equal concern is the Ambani feud. The judgement is bound to affect me.

The Ambanis have always been been known to make hay by stealing others' sunshine and that's what big brother does, claiming that the new quoted prices are closer to global prices. He has found a sympathatic ally in Mr. Deora, the concerned minister and the late Dhirubhai's friend. The point to note is that NTPC is itself fighting a case over the same issue with RIL, its parent ministry is all too happy to dole out the extra 2 dollars. Now Anil will still have his formerly hot wife but NTPC will shove deep down in to my pocket, denying me something worth the extra money it took. So please people try to form a public opinion on this. It might claim more lives than the flu. You know about the effect of inflated gas prices on, oh yes, inflation.

Now since this is my blog and I wish to keep writing, I will. This case is being keenly watched by invetors. They want to see if India can be trusted as a land with strong laws running everything more than body fluids running down street lamps/walls/trees or contracts interpretation is subject to change along with ministers. I am no lawyer but I am sure there were clauses against losses in the gas contract and since they are not evoked have a good reason to believe it still being profitable for Mukesh. In that scenario I don't see why should there be even a case unless the contract was signed on a Telgi supplied stamp paper.

Before this week I thought of our health minister as a brave and intelligent man to have issued statements regarding birth control which might have sparked a backlash considering that he's a muslim. My opinion has now changed due to the bracketed statement above. Mr. Deora, well I never really thought about him and don't think I will.

Bizzare Bihanis

My dad, though, stumped me with the 'other perspective'. He says, "Mukesh sabzi sasti bech raha hai, kahin to balance sheet barabar karega na."

Update: The govt. released a statement which I could not fully comprehend but I think it meant that it's steering clear of the feud. Who makes a better bid in the court however, remains to be seen.