All images: courtesy - AFP, Getty Images and Reuters.
Humour
Escaped From The Zoo? Democracy in India!
NEWS REPORTS
In the civilized world, when Members of Parliament ('MP's) launch attacks, it tends only to be crushing words they hurl.
But in India, it appears, politicians are willing to throw more solid - and breakable - objects to make a point.
Jyoti Devithe, an MP - yes, a legislator, a law-maker - in one of India's state parliaments, today took to pitching plant pots at the assembly building in her anger.
She was one of 67 opposition politicians suspended from the Legislative Assembly after they began demanding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's resignation for alleged financial irregularities.
Chaotic scenes began two days ago in the chamber when a member of the Bihar Legislative Council hurled a slipper at Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary.
Clashes then ensued between the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition, consisting of the Indain Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti (LJP) and various Left parties.
The protest then continued outside after 14 legislators were forcibly removed from the assembly by the marshals on Tuesday.
There, members burned an effigy of the Chief Minister, who they say is "neck-deep" in corruption following an alleged £1.5billion missing from the State Treasury.
Others began an overnight sit-in inside the assembly which they are continuing to maintain.
Yesterday, as the volatile protest continued, Mrs. Devithe, a member of Manmohan Singh's Congress party, was one of 53 legislators suspended.
She reacted by systematically smashing every flowerpot she could lay her hands on the grounds of the Legislature.
The Chief Minister is among 47 people named in a complaint alleging misuse of 114billion rupees (£1.5billion).
Petitioner Arvind Kumar pointed to the irregularities in the use of development funds during 2002-08 in Bihar.
The Patna High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter, a decision the government has appealed against.
July 22, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Jivand Singh (Germany), July 22, 2010, 12:03 PM.
The West truly has absolutely no idea of what goes on in India under the guise of "democracy". No wonder the Indian government's current PR budget runs in the hundreds of millions ... and they are doing a great job in sweeping everything under the rug!
2: Amarjit Kaur (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), July 22, 2010, 12:08 PM.
Looks like Manmohan Singh's Government and Congress Party is sending its 'leaders' to Canada to be trained in extremism. After all, where else would they go? Right, Prime Minister ji? You know, the Indians can lie through their teeth as much as they like ... but ultimately, the Truth will out. A bunch of yahoos, that's what they are ... straight out of Gulliver's Travels, I might add.
3: Hakam Singh (New Delhi, India), July 22, 2010, 12:24 PM.
Waheguru, Waheguru!
4: Kanwarjeet Singh (Franklin Park, New Jersey, U.S.A.), July 22, 2010, 1:45 PM.
The topmost photo on this page has two errors in its caption: a) Hon. Jyoti Divethe - honourable - really!? b) 'Indian democracy in action' - now that's an oxymoron - in a parliament/ state assembly of morons, there is no democracy - pun intended!
5: Irvinderpal Singh Babra (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), July 22, 2010, 2:54 PM.
Maybe MP Jyoti Devithe has begun the demolishing of all that is undemocratic and unconstitutional in India. It is time for change in that country.