'Cameroon' in India and other stories

The news is seldom good and, although it is often entertaining, entertaining, entertaining, rarely is it funny. In the last few days, however, it has been really laughable.

For instance: the morning lady anchor on Times Now (Monday) and the News Night lady on DD News (Tuesday), both informed us that "Cameroon" was in India — unquestionably the eighth wonder of the world. We've heard of mountains moving but a whole country, that too all the way from west Africa to India? "Cameroon" was, of course, not a country, but the British Prime Minister David Cameron on a visit to India.

Cameron's stay in Mumbai prompted the BBC to spend Monday there too. Anchor Jon Sopel, flown out specially for the visit, seized the occasion to celebrate India's "growing economy" (something most Indians find laughable) and other subjects that caught his fancy. The recent Delhi gangrape prompted him to discuss women's safety in India with actress Tara Sharma who happily promoted her TV show (The Tara Sharma Show, Colors) during the interview. Sopel was clearly impressed by her views (or her?) and couldn't tear himself away — even though he informed us that his producer in London was whispering in his ear to do so. He was so boyish and bashful you had to laugh. He also did an Oprah in Mumbai by walking through its slums and driving in a rich man's Jaguar to illustrate the city's contrasts.

Markandey Katju is quite impressed by his own views and it must be said, he has them in plenty. But on Monday, he was enraged by Arun Jaitley's views of his views. "I speak what I think", he proclaimed (NDTV 24x7). And then added with Newtonian logic, "If I think 2+2=4, I will say it". Jaitley, he added, was not "cut out for politics" and recommended "sanyas" for him. However, his most priceless statement was yet to be: "In 20 years, India and Pakistan will reunite under a secular government". Honestly, you didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Ego trips

A police force of his own

A suitable CAG

The problem with porn