|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
The right column MPs take it lying down Prices of parliamentarians' meals at the Parliament canteen have been increased ten-fold, the media gleefully reported in banner headlines last week. What irritated me was not only the delight of the scribe but his attitude of vengeance - the "serve them right attitude". Reading the news I felt sorry for the poor chaps. After all they are our own representatives. Didn't we elect them? To add insult to injury a corresponding pay hike has been ruled out. Worse still were the banner headlines. Was it so newsworthy to demand lead status in national media? Why did the media, which usually downplay the rise in petrol or diesel prices, give prominence to a news item that has nothing more than an emotional value? In all probability they will stomach the hike and not forego meals. We, the people would elect them again and again. And the merry-go-round would go on forever or at least till democracy lasts in this resplendent isle of ours.. Anyway I hope our MPs will take it up in good spirit. They could take a cue from the ordinary folk who have always digested all price hikes without grumbling. I do not, of course, take into account the rabble-rousers who climb rooftops or take to the streets on the drop of a hat much to the amusement of the brown sahibs who govern. They belong to a small minority. My colleagues remind me the price hike will affect only the parliamentarians from the Opposition or the JVP who have not been bestowed with ministerial and deputy ministerial portfolios. The hiked prices are well within the means of the latter. As regards the two or three SLFP MPS without such portfolios they could wait a few more months when complexities of governance would automatically catapult them to higher level. I have always thought that the distribution of ministerial portfolios was the prerogative of the President and the masses have no interest in it. Banners and posters appearing in the streets of the city have proved me wrong. If one believes these banners and posters the public had profusely thanked the President for rewarding one of their heroes with a Deputy Ministerial portfolio, albeit belatedly. Funny fellows these masses are! They laud the President instead of berating her for rewarding a man they had rejected. May be they go by the maxim "The King can do no wrong". My only worry about food price hike in Parliament is whether the mudalalis outside would emulate the Parliament canteen manager and jack up all prices from that of the innocent nikan te (plain tea) to the koththu roti. - the Sceptic |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
