By P. A. Chacko
Sahibganj, Feb 16, 2020: Sorry for this interruption. Granted that you will soft-land in Ahmedabad on February 24, we wish you a comfortable stay. We shall make sure that you will be cordoned off from all urban Naxals (Maoists) and slum dwellers. In order to provide you with a smooth ride from the air port to the hotel and to the function venue we are leaving no holes unplugged.
A hurried up beautification program is in progress. We are building a 400 meter long and seven feet high wall to prevent your honor from getting a glimpse of the slum that houses 88 families. Unfortunately, they happen to be the fruit of our industrialization cum modernization program. May be, on your next visit, we shall have more industries and better beautification drive.
This historic visit will be honored with a grand function, which was initially planned as ‘Kem cho Trump’ function. The function will be inaugurated with the roar of the Lion of Gir. This Panthera leo is our Gujarat’s pride.
Please take note that there is a slight mistake. Due to some unforeseen reasons, we are changing ‘Kem cho Trump’, which was our Trump Card, into ‘Namaste Trump.’ This is possibly to give a national flavor to the sweetmeat Gujarati dish. Don’t mind.
We still remember the Howdy Modi affair in your country on our prime Minister’s visit there. Now, be sure, it is a tit for tat exercise. Diplomacy requires such nitty-gritty of give and take. We are sure that your visit will launch many a trade pact which will transform Gujarat into a paradise with higher and longer walls.
Building bridges is not in the agenda for the time being. By the way, our new wall may be called, by mistaken identity, the new Berlin Wall. Happy trip Donald.
(P A Chacko is a social activists working in Jharkhand state for the past half a century.)