A Rogue State

This weekend, I could not watch the India-WestIndies match because my cable operator did not put on Neo Sports channel. Neo Sports is a new kid on the block which has won the terrestrial rights from the BCCI for next four years for a whopping sum of money.

But since past many years, Prasar Bharti and its bosses have introduced a new form of loot against which no FIR can be lodged.

In the name of "public interest", they would forcibly usurp direct feed from any private telecaster. Soon, they would introduce their own "interest", and start putting their own Ads of Ghadi Detergent and Young India to earn easy money.

Later, "public interest" would be heavily compromised by blocking presentation ceremonies, any replays - be it a dismissal, a boundary or an appeal, and even the first and last deliveries of an over.

Meanwhile, nobody would remember the interest of the poor private channel which had bought the telecast rights in hope of some Ad revenues and viewership. Due to DD business, cable operators would boycott them, and advertisements would also fall short of expectation. Ten Sports had almost run into bankruptcy till Zee Sports bailed them out.

And our "public caring" DD would make kill even without spending a single Paisa.

However, Supreme Court woke up and saw the loot. Though holding DD's right to telecast, it forced DD to share the revenues with the concerned private channels. But again, this was peanuts as compared to what telecasters would have originally achieved because cable operators would still boycott them.

But Nimbus stood up to the challenge. They said no to loot. They refused to agree to Doordarshan's terms. Predictably, Prasar Bharti's boss Priyaranjan Das Munshi is hopping mad. Look what he says - "Nimbus is unpatriotic! I will not allow them to plunder India!"

To slightly change the old phrase - "Look who is plundering."

Pathetic, Munshi, pathetic. Its not even laughable. Only an absolute idiot like you would utter such a statement, but then again that couplet comes into my mind - "Har Shakh Per Ullu Baitha Hai, Anjaam-E-Gulistan Kya Hoga."

Also remember, patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel(and plunderer, looter, idiot)! Anyway, a Congressman is the last person who can comment on patriotism. Their only loyalty lies with their Italian boss.

I am not complaining that I couldn't watch the match. I won't watch it on DD. These shameless money launderers have got in habit to feed on other's effort like parasite. Now they are planning to bring a legislature to continue to do that.

In last twenty years, they haven't invested a penny to improve upon the infrastructure. Now they want to have their cake and eat it too. That is what rogue states do. Public interest is the last thing in their mind.