Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Ostentatious Rich

The five-day wedding of businessmen and ex-state minister G Janardhana Reddy's daughter, Brahmani, is estimated to cost about 5 billion rupees ($74m; £59m).

The nuptials have proved controversial. Critics have described it as an "obscene display of wealth". Eight Bollywood directors were called on to create sets resembling ancient Hindu temples where the ceremonies would be conducted. Luxury bullock carts will ferry guests from the palace gates and they will be fed at a village that has been created inside the grounds specifically for the purpose. Gold-plated invitation cards, fitted with LCD screens cost 10m rupees ($147,677; £118,296). The bride's wedding sari was 170m rupees ($2.5m; £2m) The bride's jewellery is worth  900m rupees ($13m; £10m) Then there is the price of 3,000 security personnel plus 300 policemen along with sniffer dogs and bomb squads.

A former member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka state, Reddy recently spent three years in jail on corruption charges and was freed on bail last year.

If you want to end inequality contact:
The World Socialist Party (India): 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block (East), Kolkata – 700086,
Tel: 2425-0208,
E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com

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