Same to same.

Go away for 9 days, no newspapers, no news on TV, not even radio and when you return everything is just the same. A Member of the Legislative Assembly in Maharashtra was being driven along the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on 18 March when his car was stopped by a police officer for speeding. Politicians in India think that winning an election allows them to commit any crime with complete freedom. They should not be questioned, let alone be arrested for the most disgusting offence. So this particular MLA must have become incandescent and abused the officer with the usual introductory line - " Do you know who I am?" The officer must have made the suicidal reply that he did not care whereupon 10-12 MLAs beat him up so badly that he is in hospital. This crime was committed inside the Assembly Building. Since no one came to help of the hapless policeman we can conclude that they would have been applauding this cowardly outrage proving our impression that all politicians are criminals. Now the Home Minister of Maharashtra has suspended the police officer for misbehaving with a politician, which proves that police are under the control of politicians and are actively restrained from carrying out their duties. Maharashtra has a Congress government. Also immune are Italians. The Delhi High Court has asked the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Patiala House Court to set up a special court to try the 2 marines on the Italian ship Enrica Lexie who shot and killed 2 fishermen off the coast of Kerala for fun in February of last year. The only problem is that the marines have vamoosed back into Italy and Italy has categorically refused to return them, offering friendship instead. So, will they use cardboard cutouts of the marines in the defendants' dock? We are not allowed to snigger as this will be construed as Contempt of Court and invite severe punishment. The marines were allowed to go home to celebrate Christmas with their families and again for one month, to vote in last month's elections. Who needs one month to vote?  No other country in the world is so full of love for killers of its citizens as we are. Caligula is reputed to have fought against the sea and ordered his soldiers to gather seashells as trophies and now we are trying the shadows of a couple of Italians. History, as they say, repeats itself. Only in this case we are trying to repeat Roman history for some unknown reason. Meanwhile, our most revered Defense Minister has said that the Augusta Westland VVIP helicopter deal was rotten. He is positive that " somebody has taken money " and said," The CBI is probing the case in detail. I stand by the commitment given to  Parliament that severe action will be taken against the culprits." But the culprits are likely to be in Italy. So how will we catch that " somebody " and will Italy offer friendship once again. Nothing changes.