Bull's Eye

"Is it true the PM does not run the government anymore?" I asked one NDA leader.

"Yes, a mafia is running this government," he muttered.

"Are you saying the NDA has links with the underworld?" I exclaimed.

"Not underworld, but the upperworld," he said. "The chaps in this mafia are obsessed with temples and religion."

In disbelief, I asked a senior IB official. "It's true," he said. "We are aware of the upperworld mafia. Advani alias Chhota Sardar is the upperworld godfather."

"I know at one time the PM knew Chhota Sardar," I protested. "But now they are quite isolated from each other!"

"That's where you are wrong," the official said. "The link between the PM and Chhota Sardar still exists. We are convinced the NDA has close links with the upperworld."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked.

"We managed to secretly tape a conversation between the PM and Chhota Sardar," he said triumphantly. "The conversation took place just after the new BJP president was appointed. If you promise not to say how you got it, I can let you have a copy."

Hearing the tape was a shattering experience. This is how the conversation went.

Chhota Sardar (CS): How are you, bhai?

PM: First class bhai, how are you?

CS: I am very fine. You tell me what's happening.

PM: (Laughs) Bhai, should I say something? It's about that chikna. His friends keep bad-mouthing Sushma. Because of them she feels threatened in her job. What is this, bhai? You think about this, bhai.

CS: That chikna from Kashmir?

PM: No, no, the one from the law courts.

CS: He is not around for too many days, now.

PM: Okay.

CS: You understand?

PM: Yes.

After listening to the tape I excitedly phoned the police officer. "This is clinching proof that the NDA does have links with the upperworld. Why not publicise this?"

"Not yet," he replied. "We'll wait for two years. We'll use this when we are asked to probe who murdered the NDA."

Not your world, not their world,
We have our own world,
Not Hindu world, not Muslim world,
We are the mafia-world!