New Delhi, February 18
The feel-good factor of the BJP-led NDA government was reduced to the butt of ridicule today, with noted satirist Jaspal Bhatti launching the “Feel Good Party” here in the full glare of the national media.
In a humorously enacted spoof, Bhatti cocked a snook at all loud proclamations of the NDA government. He also had a dig at the Congress and dynastic politics.
“I am highly impressed by the feel-good factor, which inspired me to launch this new outfit”, he said. Punjabi pop singer Jassi lent his voice for the party anthem, a parody of the hit number, “ Dil le gayee kudi Gujarat di”.
Jassi was among the first to join the party and “any citizen of India who is feeling good with or without any reason will be eligible for the membership of the party.”
The unemployed, bankrupt, low- salaried or failed farmers are also welcome to join the party, but they should have a six-inch-broad smile. “He or she should not have low blood pressure, shortage of calcium or migraine problem as these factors lower the feel-good factor,” Bhatti quipped.
In this season of poll promises and tall claims, Bhatti packed a punch in his inimitable style.
Amid rendition of the party slogan, “Har garib ka yehi hai nara, Sensex ooncha rahe hamara”, Bhatti said: “If voted to power, we will propagate the feel-good message with greater vigour than any other party. We promise to produce numerous commercials for television and newspapers with public money to bring home the point that we are progressing,” he remarked.
If voted to power, his party will give an official seal of approval to the feel-good sensation. “If we come to power, our finance ministry will issue a certificate to each and every poor person, certifying ‘you are feeling good’”, he said.
The issue of foreign origin was dismissed as a non-issue.
“We do not have any problems on this front, even if the person concerned is a pure foreigner. He or she is welcome, but we would love it if they bring foreign currency also for the party fund”, he said.
Bhatti, who said his party had no ideology and was ready to strike an alliance (both pre-poll and post poll) with any party, including the BJP and the Congress, however, was categorical in revealing that the Prime Minister’s post would be reserved for the Bhatti “dynasty” only.
“The hidden understanding will be there to keep the prime ministerial post reserved for the Bhatti family only (for children or yet to be born grandchildren). Even first cousins will not be eligible for this high office,” he remarked.
To go with the mood of feeling good, the party has narrowed down its choice of party symbols to two — a smiling dog or a smiling cat. A request to this effect has already been put before the Election Commission.
Bhatti explained the rationale for having two party symbols. “We are sure that the party would split sooner or later... how can one forget the NCP episode, with both warring factions clamouring for the original symbol. In case our party splits, we will be left with at least one of the original symbols,” he quipped.
