Grapevine

May 2023

‘Rape Analogy’ or a Self-goal?

Nabeel Gabol, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, recently came into serious disgrace for making a shameful and insensitive comment about rape in a podcast. In the video of the podcast, Gabol talked about being overpowered by the opposition, saying “when rape is imminent, just enjoy it”. Making light of a heinous crime like rape, he was officially issued a show-cause notice by the PPP Sindh president, with a warning of organisational disciplinary action to be taken against him for making inappropriate conversation and using non-parliamentary words. Though the matter will be settled down soon with mutual agreement within the party corridors, this time Nabeel Gabol seems to have inflicted a self-goal by using rape as an analogy. One wonders whether he would be equally enjoying the moment or not?

Pappu Can’t Dance Saala!

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment in a case about remarks he made in 2019 seen as insulting to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sentence also rendered Gandhi ineligible to stand in the poll next year. On the face of it, the BJP-government, led by Prime Minister Modi, looks hell-bent on keeping the leading face of the opposition out of political race by fair means or foul. Commonly referred to as ‘Pappu’ across the country because of his royal-like pampered upbringing and gullible persona now despite a proper full-face beard, Rahul is still considered a newbie in Indian politics. However, the Modi sarkar takes the Congress party, once the dominant force in Indian politics, quite seriously and thus cannot allow its supremo to occupy the political dance floor to show his moves.

The Son Also Rises!

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the Iranian Mohammad Reza Pahlavi toppled in the 1979 Islamic revolution, recently grabbed the media attention when it was announced that he was going to visit Israel in April last week.
According to Israel, Reza Pahlavi would be the “most senior Iranian personality” to ever pay a public visit to Israel. It bears mention that Iran and Israel enjoyed warmer ties under the US-backed Mohammad Reza Shah. Israel says the visit by Reza Pahlavi is meant to create “a bridge between Israel and the Iranian people, and expressing joint opposition to the Ayatollah regime”.
The rise of Reza Pahlavi shows he is determined to carry the legacy forward, becoming a darling of the West like his father.