We all know how our politicians are corrupt and how massacres are staged by them for their gain. Recently I came across one such story.
3 slum-dwelling areas in Delhi were hit by fire. Fire brigade did not arrive for atleast an hour!
It was fishy considering that the Fire Brigade had arrived last evening in the slum at the behest of some fire rumors. Our ever-efficient TV news channels too were quick to publicise the rumors as ‘breaking news’.
Dharavi slum fire picture courtsey this Mumbai blogger
When a single Fire Brigade van finally arrived after an hour, half the slums could have been salvaged. But angry slum-dwellers were busy beating the fire-fighting van driver and firefighters because they were late! Frightened, all the other fire brigade vans stood outside the slum.
The slum dwellers were understandably agigated and angry. However, some of them were NOT surprised. They knew it had to happen sometime before elections. It has happened before in 2004. Timing is just too predictable. They ahd been almost waiting for it.
These people predicted the sequence of the events from this point, which is exactly how the events unfolded.
Politicians from loacal area arrive > Fire Brigadev vans run behind him (by this time whole slum is burnt to ashes) > Then comes a bread van (to distribute bread obviously) > The milk van arrives > Next blanket van expected to arrive.
These slum dwellings are predominantly occupied by minorities, so no guesses on which ‘secular party’ that will be dedicatedly involved in the ‘relief work’. By the time election will arrive here, which is on 7th May, they will have ‘earned’ their votes by hard work.
Bread, milk and blanket. What more could you need? It doesn’t matter if you have no place to go and hide in heat after having all your belongings and house burnt down? Relocate, rebuild on the promises of pukka home in future. Till then elections will ahve happened, and your ‘secular’ representative elected. 😦
Visceral Observations 
Shit. We see it in movies nut to actually see it happening! Why do we have this drama?
This is pathetic. I mean how blind can people be? Why do they have to vote for such loosers? Can they not see? I mean how blind can the so called minorities be? But why am i blaming the voters? But then what will i gain by pointing fingers on politicians? They are too thick skinned to be affected by a shoe then how can words can affect them. I hope these very politicians lose their home one day to realise the pain…I know my comments makes me sound confused but the fact is i am confused…Dunno what future we have.
Oh God!
I have been reading blogs that make me feel I am still a child and I cannot see through anything. If I would have heard of this incident, I would have probably never come to the conclusion that it is all planned.
Wonderful article.I am believing you.:-)!
sad…
People are much more intelligent than what politicians think. I doubt if present one will get reelected in this scenario. Usually this leads to anti-incumbency. I may be wrong, since I don’t know what happens at grassroots.
Unfortunate incident. I’m sure, one of many, in India. 😦
Wow. This is so sad, and i don’t have many doubts that this is how it goes in the great Indian democracy.
A lot more goes on! 😦 Sadly… also when these slum dwellers ARE provided pukka home, they either sell it or give it on rent and continue staying in the slums!!
Chicken came first or the egg!!
😦
i can be 100% sure that this fire must have been staged by some politicians as well . creepy means of campaigning and asking for vote banks from people when they are in a tight spot , give them sympathy and clothes and take their votes!
This is sad and still most people don’t think this way because they don’t understand <i?koot-neeti of politicians. Poor people are the ones who always gets manipulated in starting riots too.
They think that at the time of need the politician who came to offer them help is the one who deserves to win. Nevermind if he is the one who ordered the staged slum fire.
S*****!!I would never have thought!
this is sick and disgusting!
How low can we go as a species?Is there no end to this madeness and depravity? 😦
yuck!
If the slum dwellers do realise what is happening I hope they don’t vote for just bread, milk and blankets. They should accept the election gifts with gratitude and then use their right to vote for whoever they trust better.
The problem with electronic voting machines is the ballot is not really, completely secret anymore. This is not right. I have read of neglect by the representatives of some areas from where they got a lesser number of votes.
It’s always the same story – be it fire or any other natural calamity. This is the height of depravity!
As I wrote somewhere else too – You can sell shit at a higher price than a human life in India.
That is how things are and will remain for some time. Maybe forever.
its normal at all the slums all over the country. burn them, then come and give them a few rupees or some food and then win elections and disappear for the next 5 years.
isnt it the reason why slums still exist. so that they can be burnt and rebuilt again.
This always happens. U wont believe, we are editing stories of fake attacks all the time. They hijack trains for 4 hours –not to help but to show how the local leader in the particular area has failed to deliver. Hence, vote for me instead. Its cheap. And its in must of non-urban India.
Hmm, such is life and greed for the ultimate kursi
The Truth is not always visible!We need to find it out.
Sometimes the reality is very diffirent, rather it is portrayed in such a way that it looks otherwise.The example of North Bihar Plane innundated annually by flood waters will help us understand the issue.
The alluvial planes of north bihar are one of the most fertile,but it gets flooded every year.Flood is a recurring problem there and the people tilling the area know it,but still they live there to face flood waters.They are evacuated every year during the flood,huge sums of money and food stock is dumped every year but they settle there again after the flood.why.?.
the problem is recurring and it could be avoided but it still persists.why..?
It’s not that the politicians only exploit the opportunity.sometimes it’s the poor people also.They know when to stage these acts of slum fires etc to get maximum return.
So,dont believe blindly.
Yes, Like Reema Said, SHIT !!
Cynical but sooo true – the entire pre-election tamasha
Sad but true
Don’t know which is worse the phase before or after the elections!
:0(
This is election time, anything is believable.Our politicians can stoop to any level.
A pity that Politicians resort to such drama to garner votes. And more pity-ing is the fact that we can resort to writings to show our anger on this injustice.
its pathetic to see how manipulative politicians can be…and we have no choice but to choose between such morons to cast our vote…its a pity 😦
really stunned yes it is true what is said and experienced by people is absolutely correct. just for votes for votes these netas are ready to do anything and everything. what a shame to our gr8 democracy. pathetic situations and we have no choice but to choose the lesser evil or good among the bad if u don’t turn up and enjoy your holiday u r not doing justice and u hv no right to talk on the issues at a later date. If you look at the percentage of votes polled u can understand apathy of middle class and educated everybody thinks my one vote can not change the country if so u r wrong. like this one vote many thousands and millions won’t turn up imagine what gr8 loss u r doing. so before blaming others start thinking and retrospect what u r doing is right or wrong.let us all be part of the process and I am sure more no. votes polled will bring a rep. who can represent you better
have gr8 time and hope outcome of elections will bring cheers on face of all indians
pranesh
ok the first Reema isnt me. Hmm do I need to change my name? Like The Original Reema? or Reema 1?
Jokes apart..thats really a horrible thing. I never knew about such incidents.
Nice you brought up this issue… i had no idea about such thing!! we just see and ignore but thats not the way to deal with it!!!
Hmm…
A horrible incident that could be averted
Its time we need to stop being self-fish
From the desk of iW2K.
‘Get noticed.’
looks surprisingly siilar to life in the ghettos.
This is so shocking! And to think that I actually used to think that this sort of stuff happens only in movies! And just before elections – perfect timing! I am too disgusted to think straight.
Sad… Yet true…
The political tamasha gets on ones nerves for sure… But what about the educated class that refrains from voting??? It’s easy to blame the politicians, it’s right too, but what about the non voting population???
Anyway, the perennial optimist that I am, I’d still say that someday things will get right… Someday, they sure will 🙂
if these guys are the best our country has to offer then that speaks volumes about us. nothing’s going to change. we are all doomed. and i’m in an optimistic mood today.