Image via Indiatoday.com
The recent spate of reports on horse-trading in the Indian media has induced a prominent Arab horse-breeder, Mustafa Pasha, to shift to India’s national capital. “I was googling for horse-trading reports when I came across a number of articles describing horse-trading activities in India, especially around Delhi, in vivid detail” recalled Pasha.
“I was always under the impression that horses did not breed well in India because of the humid tropical conditions but these reports were an eye-opener. One of the reports said some of the horses are going for over 20 crores. That is way over what I earn after selling top quality stallions!! So I decided that I had to procure one of these ‘MLA’ breeds. They must be reared with utmost care and procedure, I suppose,” Mustafa added.
Mustafa’s search for the elusive MLA breed began on a rough note after the Arab horse breeder landed up at the AAP headquarters in Kaushambi. “These AAP chaps seemed to be the foremost experts on horse trading since most quotes in the reports were attributed to them,” Mustafa Pasha recalled. “However, when I asked one of them where I can purchase horses, he turned hysterical with rage, calling me an Ambani agent, my pleas that I am an agent of Pasha, Kemal & sons and not Ambani, notwithstanding. Finally, a bearded chap explained to me very patiently in a soft voice that such horse trading takes place only in the Delhi BJP headquarters. I was grateful for his pointing me in the right direction but I wish he could have been a little less sanctimonious.”
Pasha fared no better at the BJP headquarters either. “It seemed to be more of a ladoo trading center,” Pasha said of the place. “And when I mentioned horse-trading, the workers there also became hysterical, calling me an AAPtard. One guy, Jolly his name is, I believe, even came after me with a paint brush and I had to beat a hasty retreat.”
(Idea, inputs from MIB)