Option
for youth; going to Varsity or Parliament
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all
this fuss in Parliament about?"
"I think some people tried to prevent an MP from taking oaths…"
Bindu's father Percy said.
"And why did they do that?"
"They claim there was a court order preventing him from taking
oaths…"
"But surely thaaththa," Bindu asked, "if that was
the case, he shouldn't have been allowed to take oaths?"
"But Bindu, the Speaker says such an order was never officially
conveyed to him…"
"Ah,
the poor innocent Speaker, I am sure he knew nothing about it even
though it was all over the television and newspapers…"
"No, Bindu," Percy pointed out, "he cannot act on
television and newspaper reports especially considering what some
of the newspapers and TV channels are reporting…"
"But
thaaththa, why make such a big fuss about a single MP?"
"This game is all about numbers, Bindu…" Percy said.
"What do you mean by that, thaaththa?"
"Why, Bindu, the Blues and the Reds need a hundred and thirteen
MPs to prove that they have a working majority in Parliament, or
else they won't be able to get anything done. So, every single vote
is important…"
"But I thought they already had a hundred and thirteen…"
"No they don't," Percy explained, "If they did, they
wouldn't have lost the vote for the Speaker…"
"But
since then, they have been talking to some of Rauff's boys and even
Mr. Arumugam, haven't they?"
"But Bindu, Thonda asked for the sun and the moon in return
for his support and Satellite asked him to go fly a kite…"
"And what happened to Rauff's boys?"
"I think she has roped in a couple of them with promises of
various ministries…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "wouldn't Wimal and
Tilvin protest if they increase the number of ministries any more?"
"Ah,
now they are saying Satellite can do that if it is for the purpose
of ensuring a stable government…"
"But thaaththa, I thought the reds were a different breed of
politicians who didn't change their principles for their own convenience…"
"But you have to understand their plight, Bindu…"
"And what is that?"
"They
have got some power after thirty years and they don't want to let
go of it that easily…" Percy observed.
"But even with all these tactics Satellite still has not got
the required one hundred and thirteen, has she?" Bindu wondered.
"I think not," Percy agreed, "but they were counting
on the two rebel Buddhist monks which is why they were so upset
when another monk was sworn in instead…"
"But
thaaththa, that shouldn't give them an excuse to assault the other
Buddhist monks and run away with the mace…" Bindu pointed
out.
"Yes," Percy agreed, "but watching all this I feel
sorry for the younger generation of today…"
"Why is that, thaaththa?"
"Why,
now they have to decide whether they want to go to university where
they may get stabbed to death or go to Parliament where they may
get assaulted on a regular basis…"
"After seeing what happened in Parliament this week, thaaththa,"
Bindu said, "I think I would rather go to a university…"
Percy didn't disagree with that. |
