As a natural ally of the Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward women, my only objection to the Pink Chaddi Campaign is that large boxes of knickers are not being sent to the real villains of the piece. The biggest portraits in the pink chaddi rogues gallery—those worthy of many garlands of pink chaddis—should be of L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh and the Chief Minister of Karnataka. In a small sideshow should be stamp-size pictures of those entitled to only half a pink chaddi: the head of the RSS and the nameless repugnant thugs he has spawned. These ‘senas’ of debased, violent young men dishonour India by creating the impression that it is part of Hindu culture to molest women. How long is it before they start burning girls’ schools like their Taliban brothers?

When culture becomes politicised it is not the thugs who are the problem. They can be locked up and the key thrown away. As far as I understand the laws of this country, violence in a public place is a criminal act and long jail terms can easily be imposed. Lock up the leaders of the Bajrang Dal, the Shiv Sena and Karnataka’s pink chaddi sena and we can be assured of no further trouble. But, what do we do about the ideologues who watch silently from their enclaves of double Z-security? Of these the most culpable is the man who wants to be our next prime minister. So eager is Shri L.K. Advani to get the job that he is currently asking Pakistanis to vote for him. While reading The Dawn newspaper last week, a little box flashed on my screen that said ‘It’s possible, Advani for Prime Minister’.

... contd.