“The Amarnath issue is irrelevant now. You have to understand that this is a disputed State”, says Sajjad Lone, People’s Conference Chairman on Kashmir.

Yes, of course, that was the very reason why Amarnath was made an issue. Tomorrow he will make an issue of Vaishnodevi and then say it is irrelevant and from these temples, next it may be Hindus or non - Muslims whom he will declare as “irrelevant”. Anyway in Kashmir valley Hindus are already made irrelevant what with Kashmiri Pandits living in refugee camps in their own country. In a democracy, everybody's place of worship is relevant and also all communities Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian, etc. It is only in Islamic countries others and their places of worship become irrelevant and political status of non - Muslims second class.

Let Sajjad Lone realise that any change in the present status of Jammu & Kashmir, including its trifurcation as suggested by some, will have serious implications to Indian Muslims as also to India’s present secular character. People like Sajjad, as a long - term plan, will first create a problem or dispute without a thought on the backlash and then cry foul and say they are irrelevant. Unless some people muster courage and stand - up to challenge them, people like Sajjad will succeed.

Mera Bharat Mahan!?
With the advent of internet and e - mail, not to speak of SMS on cell phone, intelligent, fun-loving people are always busy either sending smutty jokes or items that will tickle your sense of humour and sometimes ignite your cerebral.

Here is one sent to me by two of my friends a few days back:

An Old Moral Story:
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.

Modern Indian Version:
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

The world is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house.

Medha Patkar and Tan Shyamoli go on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.

Amnesty International and Kofi Annan criticises the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.

The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance).

Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for “Bharat Bandh” in West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry.

CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers.

Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Trains, aptly named as the “Grasshopper Rath”.

Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the “Prevention of Terrorism against Grasshoppers Act” [POTAGA] with effect from the beginning of the winter.

Arjun Singh makes “Special Reservation” for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions and in Government Services.

The Ant was fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes; its home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.

Arundhati Roy calls it “A Triumph of Justice”.

Lalu calls it “Socialistic Justice”.

CPM calls it the “Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden”.

Kofi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.

Many Years Later……
The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi - billion dollar company in Silicon Valley.

Hundreds of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in India

... ... Because of losing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the Grasshoppers, India is still a developing country!!!

What shall I say? Hey Ram or Jai Hind!

K. B. Ganapathy
Editor in Chief
Star of Mysore
Mysore