Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Decision On Quota Is Final: Arjun Singh

CNN-IBN's famous one-on-one talk show The Devil's Advocate recently held an interview with Arjun Singh, the prick-in-chief who's bringing in the reservations for different castes in order to somehow, magically, 'unite' India.

I was referred to it from the latest post on YouthCurry. You should check it out if you're looking for excerpts of the interview. However, I personally think the entire interview is well worth a read. Its infuriating when you read the words of this top minister when he talks of trading our future for his votes, as well as very educative and informative when it comes to the entire ruckus being made about reservations. You can see what an almighty waste of good oxygen someone like Arjun Singh is. You can marvel at Karan Thapar's resilience, for sticking to his facts and penetrating questions, and also his extraordinary self-restraint, for not hitting Arjun Singh on the head with a bat [which is something I swear I would have done at the time!].

My favourite portions of the interview:

Karan Thapar: Do you personally also, as Minister of Human Resource Development, believe that reservations is the right and proper way to help the OBCs?
Arjun Singh: Certainly, that is one of the most important ways to do it.
Karan Thapar: The right way?
Arjun Singh: Also the right way

and also....

Karan Thapar: But there are people who feel that their lives and their futures are at stake and they are undertaking fasts until death.
Arjun Singh: It is being hyped up, I don't want to go into that.
Karan Thapar: Do you have no sympathy for them?
Arjun Singh: I have every sympathy.
Karan Thapar: But you say it is being hyped up.
Arjun Singh: Yes, it is hyped up.
Karan Thapar: So, then, what sympathy are you showing?
Arjun Singh: I am showing sympathy to them and not to those who are hyping it up.

Read the full interview I say, and please let me know what you think of it.

2 comments:

Confused n Baffled said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Confused n Baffled said...

This is the sort of stuff that our politicians do. I can't believe the man refuses to answer such vital questions in such a blatant and uncaring manner. When asked about even his own personal views on the agitation, you can see how Arjun Singh deviates from giving a straight reply, instead drifting into political mumbo-jumbo.

The government has gone ahead and passed the bill now. From June next year, it comes into effect. 27% reservation at all universities. This despite the figures shown by Karan Thapar that say that half the SC/ST and OBC seats currently go empty. Despite the fact that medical students, and engineering students from the country's top colleges are protesting vigorously. Striking students are famished with hunger, actively protesting ones are being manhandled and mercilessly beaten by the police. Yet the bill is passed, unanimously, by Parliament. There is no hearing, no consultation with even the faculties and heads of the various educational institutions.
And then they complain about Brain Drain. And jump around about India Shining.