I am no big fan of any Aam Aadmi, I have always been a lazy lout all my life so sweeping or making sweeping changes is not my cup of tea. I recently read that there is a paid lunch campaign for AAP in Bangalore. The cost of the dinner INR 20,000/-. Just out of plain curiosity, I decided to venture there to see how lavish a lunch of 20K would be.
I reached the venue at 12:00 noon, on time. The venue was the huge quadrangle traffic junction at MG Road and Brigade Road. Kejriwal known for his disruptions and chaos has chosen a perfect venue, I deduced. The streets on all the four sides were choc-a-bloc with cars. Many car owners had left their cars mid street and gone off for a snack at some Darshini or for a pint at some pub in the neighbourhood. As I entered the huge shamiana, I was asked to make my payment. Payment had to be made in cash. Kejriwal is just a common man, how would he have any bank account? On making the payment, I was given a cap sporting "Main Arvind Kejriwal Hoon" and a badge and a receipt. Wow!!! so much for transparency!!!
At the reception, on showing the receipt, a bottle of ink was opened by a demure beautiful lady and roughly applied on my face. Since Yogendra Yadav was smeared by ink at a rally in Delhi, AAP has chosen this method of welcome. Though taken aback by this sudden act, I recovered quickly. What a SyHAHI welcome!!!
At the reception, on showing the receipt, a bottle of ink was opened by a demure beautiful lady and roughly applied on my face. Since Yogendra Yadav was smeared by ink at a rally in Delhi, AAP has chosen this method of welcome. Though taken aback by this sudden act, I recovered quickly. What a SyHAHI welcome!!!
Inside, the quadrangle was filled with many people. A frantic discussion was going on. I could see Arvind and his team seated on the floor while guests were placed on chairs. This made viewing him all the more difficult. But what the heck,"he is just a common man, he should sit on the floor". What if it inconveniences me? Inconvenience and chaos begets revolution, said Arvind in some interview.
I was given a Y and N flags by one volunteer. I asked him as to what was the agenda. Reply came back pat,"We are just finalizing the menu for the lunch, we have 49 items to prepare. Since we believe in democrazy, we are taking the opinion of all guests to finalize the menu. Once this is done, Arvind will give a speech and by that time, lunch will be ready. We have to vacate the premises by 4.20 pm".
Wow, I wondered!!! How well planned!!! 49 days in power, 49 items on menu!!! I could not rather connect the closure of the lunch session at 4.20 pm, but what the heck!!! I never claimed myself to be smart.
I got myself into the act. It was already 1.00 pm and a big screen next to the unused stage displayed the status of the menu consensus. Water and salt were checked. The polling was on for pickle. I eagerly participated by voicing my choice of pickle. Priya pickle was not in the list. I asked a volunteer, "no problem" , said he. We will add this to the list. I was enthralled!!! Never before was the common man's request considered!!! Superrr!!! I got into full flow and momentum, vigorously voicing my choice of rice, mixed dal fry, paneer masala till we reached the desserts.
Suddenly, a police announcement blasted into the tent to vacate the premises. Kejriwal assured all of us that this was just a threat from the ruling Government and not to worry. The warning was repeated but an unfazed Yogendra Yadav started the poll for desserts. Suddenly, a troop of policemen descended upon us and picked us up and pulled us all out. I was mighty irked. Democrazy has no place in this nation!! I muttered to myself. As people were being pulled out and the shamiana being dismantled, there was a lot of cheering from the crowds sitting in the cars. An idiot that I am, I thought this was for me and waved back only to realize that a policeman had pushed me from the quadrangle to a narrow street and the cheer was actually for the cops.
I was given a Y and N flags by one volunteer. I asked him as to what was the agenda. Reply came back pat,"We are just finalizing the menu for the lunch, we have 49 items to prepare. Since we believe in democrazy, we are taking the opinion of all guests to finalize the menu. Once this is done, Arvind will give a speech and by that time, lunch will be ready. We have to vacate the premises by 4.20 pm".
Wow, I wondered!!! How well planned!!! 49 days in power, 49 items on menu!!! I could not rather connect the closure of the lunch session at 4.20 pm, but what the heck!!! I never claimed myself to be smart.
I got myself into the act. It was already 1.00 pm and a big screen next to the unused stage displayed the status of the menu consensus. Water and salt were checked. The polling was on for pickle. I eagerly participated by voicing my choice of pickle. Priya pickle was not in the list. I asked a volunteer, "no problem" , said he. We will add this to the list.
Suddenly, a police announcement blasted into the tent to vacate the premises. Kejriwal assured all of us that this was just a threat from the ruling Government and not to worry. The warning was repeated but an unfazed Yogendra Yadav started the poll for desserts. Suddenly, a troop of policemen descended upon us and picked us up and pulled us all out. I was mighty irked.
In few minutes as the AAP volunteers were being taken away in the police vans, the junction had been cleared off all remnants of this grand luncheon,
Luncheon with Kejriwal - 20,000 INR
Polling for the lunch menu - Timeless
Experience after the luncheon - Speechless
There are somethings that money can buy. 20,000 INR lunch with a common man is not one of them.
For everything else, THINK BEFORE YOU POLL!!!
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