Saurav Ganguly’s exclusion from the Indian team has higher priority in the Indian media and among our political leadership than India’s position on the WTO agreements, electoral finances and corruption or farmer’s issues. Go figure.

While policies and proposals are being discussed at the WTO meeting in Hong Kong – most of which will critically influence our countries future – and while numerous domestic issues from rampant corruption at the highest level, murder of honest officers, desperation by farmers from various parts of India at their lack of access to markets, our parliament has much more important things to talk about. Sourav Ganguly.

And demanding this discussion at India’s highest political forum is no other than the party that has eschewed bourgeoisie lifestyles – the Communist Party of India.

How much more ridiculous might this get.

We can discuss how the game itself is run by a profit making body – and the representation of India is only important as long as it continues to strengthen that institution. But we will not.

We can discuss the politics of how this organization is run and who is chosen to play for India. But we will not.

But we do need to ask what interests the media decides to focus on and what issues the esteemed Parliament of India chooses to discuss.

No matter that the future of the country is at stake. But the media has done little to present the debate around the demands of WTO. It would rather focus on sensationalizing Saurav. The Parliament, in its wisdom, will only barely talk about WTO, with little debate on the details of the policies that the minister of commerce has gone to sign, nor the stances that the current government needs to take. Indeed not, for Saurav’s inclusion necessitates more discussion.

11 lawmakers have been caught on tape accepting money for asking questions. Beyond the easy question of corruption is a larger question of financial reforms in electoral politics. How are corporations and moneyed interests funding parties and elections and what is the pay back? Questions that critically affect the democracy of our country are not even being discussed or debated either in the media or the parliament. In fact the question is not even raised! But the leadership and media in India believe that Saurav Ganguly and a game of cricket affects India more.

These are our priorities. The media has decided. Real problems can wait. Does this democracy have any comments to make?

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