Braggarts we are

Long back I have read a novel by Arthur Hailey titled 'In High Places'. There a stowaway was caught in a Candian Airline and a case is going on. The case get embroiled in the Candian politics and it is the hapless stowaway who suffers. Much worse than what he had undergone in sub-zero temperature outside the aircraft up high in air. I am not straight away comparing the two Italian Marines with the hapless stowaway. But there is good comparison between the two incidents. One imaginary and other real. The main stumbling block which deters the release of Marines on bail is the politics in Kerala. Unfortunately the shooting incident when the UDF the ruling coalition with Congress as the major partner and LDF the opposition which missed the bus by just four seats or so. And a by-election was due to take place. Any leniency towards the Italian Marines would have taken up by the opposition party and highlight that UDF was apathetic to the killed poor fishermen. And any thing connected with Italy is anathema for Left and Right. Mrs.Sonia Gandhi whose legs are the repository for all the blames for the performance of UPA-r is by birth Italian though by domicile Indian very much. So no leniency can be shown to Italians including normal decent behaviour. Also Indians suffer from a delusion that since British ruled India all British and all whites are our enemies. So we should  take each and every opportunity to harass them. When Ruling UDF gocernment sailed through Piravom by election with flying colours here comes another at Neyyattinkara. So UDF is in the same spot as before. No leniency. Hence when the bail application of the marines came the government lawyer said that if they are released they could tamper with evidences and impede the progress of the case. All the evidences are in police custody. The Italian Marines know hardly any English even and their Malayalam is limited to two words. Kothu for mosquitoes and eli for rat. The two constant companions in their incarceration. In what way they can impede the progress of the case or how they can tamper the evidence is not the relevant thing. The bail was rejected. In all probability the court must have played it safe. In such high profile case where the Prime Minister of another nation is talking to Indian PM and all it is better to pass the buck to higher ups to take appropriate decision. And so like the stowaway the Italian Marines are continuing their residence as guests of Kerala Government in the company of 'Kothus' and 'Elis' for constant companions. We are behaving like braggart. We can hardly do anything to our men in the hands of pirates or foreign governments but show all courage to the two marines who were tricked to come to Cochin and get caught. If the ship Enrica Lexie had sailed off without committing this blunder of coming to Cochin they would have been back in business as usual. Now all are gleefully running around the marines who have been caught.