So, the news is out. In-spite of all the allegations, incrimination and for the lack of a better phrase self evident facts, the BCCI is set to get the maligned Srinivasan as its re-elected boss. I wonder if the odds could be stacked any worse against a person who is contesting an election. Take this, the chief of India's Cricket board is also the owner of one of the IPL teams which is run by his son in law who has been found hand in gloves with bookies betting against his own team. If this does not amount for conflict of interest, one is left to wonder what does!! What is even more shocking is the brazen attitude of Mr. Srinivasan when asked about the whole fiasco. The man is clearly a power hungry kursi clinger who just out of vain ego will not mind taking the institution and the game down with him. The sooner such lumpen elements are removed from the echelons of power the better. As such, BCCI is looked upon as a bully and a corrupt entity. Handing power over to a tainted man is not going to do wonders to its reputation.
While talking about the current state of the BCCI and the total breakdown of its moral values, one cannot help but notice the uncanny resemblance of it to the predicaments of the leading national political party of the country. What has transpired in the past two days has left the country with a feeling that its political bosses have lost all sense of purpose. Let us look at the issue without any prejudices and see for ourselves how the players of this game have left Indian democracy in no better state than Indian Cricket.
First of all there was the issue of the ordinance to allow criminals to contest elections. For any sane person, this should be an absolute no-brainer. But not to the Congress party. The day this ill fated ordinance was promulgated, there was the usual uproar in the media about the need and speed for such a move. The Congress party spokespersons were all out defending it with all guns blazing. Their energy in defense of this absurd ordinance could easily have been mistaken for something noble that would bring the country some great benefit. So, while the entire party clan was busy defending this indefensible ordinance, out came the heir apparent puffing vitriol. Theatrics apart, are we to believe that Rahul Gandhi, the de facto PM candidate of his party was unaware of this ordinance till it was in such an advanced stage of constitutional process? Did the Congress/UPA think-tank not include him in the decision making loop? Why were his opinions held back till the whole country was debating it? In other words, is he the principal of Team Congress or a mere "enthusiast"?
If anybody other than a Gandhi would have given that kind of a statement in a press conference, his political career would have gone kaput that very same moment. You can't survive a political kamikaze like that unless you are from the God ordained family that has the divine sanction to rule over India no matter how undeserving. So, when politics is like this how can Cricket be far behind? After all, don't the Gandhis also have a wayward son in law who could be saint or a murderer depending upon which rumor you wish to believe. In comparison to that, Gurunath Meiyappan is only a match fixer. Apples to oranges, not really!! But inspite of all the shenanigans of their kin, these lumpen elements in sports and politics can keep on riding their high horses because the good men around them do not dare to challenge their legitimacy.
In BCCI, at least some self respecting office bearers like Arun Jaitley have given in to their moral compunctions and resigned. Can we see something similar in the Political arena though?
While talking about the current state of the BCCI and the total breakdown of its moral values, one cannot help but notice the uncanny resemblance of it to the predicaments of the leading national political party of the country. What has transpired in the past two days has left the country with a feeling that its political bosses have lost all sense of purpose. Let us look at the issue without any prejudices and see for ourselves how the players of this game have left Indian democracy in no better state than Indian Cricket.
First of all there was the issue of the ordinance to allow criminals to contest elections. For any sane person, this should be an absolute no-brainer. But not to the Congress party. The day this ill fated ordinance was promulgated, there was the usual uproar in the media about the need and speed for such a move. The Congress party spokespersons were all out defending it with all guns blazing. Their energy in defense of this absurd ordinance could easily have been mistaken for something noble that would bring the country some great benefit. So, while the entire party clan was busy defending this indefensible ordinance, out came the heir apparent puffing vitriol. Theatrics apart, are we to believe that Rahul Gandhi, the de facto PM candidate of his party was unaware of this ordinance till it was in such an advanced stage of constitutional process? Did the Congress/UPA think-tank not include him in the decision making loop? Why were his opinions held back till the whole country was debating it? In other words, is he the principal of Team Congress or a mere "enthusiast"?
If anybody other than a Gandhi would have given that kind of a statement in a press conference, his political career would have gone kaput that very same moment. You can't survive a political kamikaze like that unless you are from the God ordained family that has the divine sanction to rule over India no matter how undeserving. So, when politics is like this how can Cricket be far behind? After all, don't the Gandhis also have a wayward son in law who could be saint or a murderer depending upon which rumor you wish to believe. In comparison to that, Gurunath Meiyappan is only a match fixer. Apples to oranges, not really!! But inspite of all the shenanigans of their kin, these lumpen elements in sports and politics can keep on riding their high horses because the good men around them do not dare to challenge their legitimacy.
In BCCI, at least some self respecting office bearers like Arun Jaitley have given in to their moral compunctions and resigned. Can we see something similar in the Political arena though?