The tagline of the new season of Kaun Banega Crorepati is 'Yahan Sirf Paise Nahi, Dil Bhi Jeete Jate Hain'. Never mind that – until a little later. But let's check out some of the questions that Bachchan-ji is likely to ask in an episode in the very near future.
Question: Who is the person spreading malicious rumours about Pankaj Singh, home minister Rajnath Singh's son?
Options: A. Arun Jaitley B. Nitin Gadkari C. Lalji Tandon D. Salman Khurshid
Depending on what friend you phone, you'll get A, B or C as answers – unless you are friends with Salman Khurshid who will, for lamentable reasons, want to take credit in getting something right.
In case you do manage to boil things down after taking the 50/50 lifeline to Options A. and C. you’ll be more keenly aware of the first big inner-party turmoil faced by the 100-day government. The correct answer, alas, is not with me but only with Big B. But if I was on the hot seat venturing a guess, I would be wise to remember that Lalji Tandon ‘made way’ for Rajnath Singh in the Lucknow seat during the parliamentary elections.
The fact that the former Lucknow MP's son Ashutosh 'Gopal' Tandon has got a ticket to fight the Lucknow East constituency in the September 13 Uttar Pradesh bypolls will also firm up the choice I make between Option A or B.
After the usual chit-chat and banter with Mr Bachchan, followed by a couple of questions including the cunningly-loaded one – In the Mahabharata, which of the following warriors knew how to enter the Chakravyuh but not how to come out? (A. Arjun B. Abhimanyu C. Drupad D. Rajnath) – a question of higher value would crop up.
Your palms sweating and with you looking into the audience to spot your 83-year-old mother (with whom Big B already shared a memory), you listen to the question:
Question: What is the charge against Pankaj Singh, home minister Rajnath Singh's son?
A. Taking a bribe to arrange a police posting B. For general misdemeanor C. For accepting a bribe from a businessman D. Seen in convivial surroundings with Salman Khurshid
From what is leaking like an old ONGC pipeline into the everything-is-kosher media, it can be ascertained that the rumour is of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Rajnath and Son and asking the latter point blank whether he had done any hera pheri involving the exchange of money. Keeping such unconfirmed information in mind, you'd probably choose between Option A and Option C – again, unless you are Salman Khurshid who would obviously choose D, even if that's hopelessly the wrong answer from a mile.
Now regardless of what the KBC answer – as opposed to the truth – is, we are left with the Modi government officially taking no action against a rumour involving the home minister’s son who, perhaps only incidentally, has been denied any bypoll ticket.
Which will lead to the final KBC question on that special episode in the near future:
Question: Who will be the next Home Minister?
A. Arun Jaitley B. Amit Shah C. Yashwant Sinha D. Rajnath Singh remains
Now, I'd really encash my chips and not answer that question and lose whatever I have won till then if I was smart. But then, who among us can be Salman Khurshid. Sigh.
Question: Who is the person spreading malicious rumours about Pankaj Singh, home minister Rajnath Singh's son?
Options: A. Arun Jaitley B. Nitin Gadkari C. Lalji Tandon D. Salman Khurshid
Depending on what friend you phone, you'll get A, B or C as answers – unless you are friends with Salman Khurshid who will, for lamentable reasons, want to take credit in getting something right.
In case you do manage to boil things down after taking the 50/50 lifeline to Options A. and C. you’ll be more keenly aware of the first big inner-party turmoil faced by the 100-day government. The correct answer, alas, is not with me but only with Big B. But if I was on the hot seat venturing a guess, I would be wise to remember that Lalji Tandon ‘made way’ for Rajnath Singh in the Lucknow seat during the parliamentary elections.
The fact that the former Lucknow MP's son Ashutosh 'Gopal' Tandon has got a ticket to fight the Lucknow East constituency in the September 13 Uttar Pradesh bypolls will also firm up the choice I make between Option A or B.
After the usual chit-chat and banter with Mr Bachchan, followed by a couple of questions including the cunningly-loaded one – In the Mahabharata, which of the following warriors knew how to enter the Chakravyuh but not how to come out? (A. Arjun B. Abhimanyu C. Drupad D. Rajnath) – a question of higher value would crop up.
Your palms sweating and with you looking into the audience to spot your 83-year-old mother (with whom Big B already shared a memory), you listen to the question:
Question: What is the charge against Pankaj Singh, home minister Rajnath Singh's son?
A. Taking a bribe to arrange a police posting B. For general misdemeanor C. For accepting a bribe from a businessman D. Seen in convivial surroundings with Salman Khurshid
From what is leaking like an old ONGC pipeline into the everything-is-kosher media, it can be ascertained that the rumour is of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Rajnath and Son and asking the latter point blank whether he had done any hera pheri involving the exchange of money. Keeping such unconfirmed information in mind, you'd probably choose between Option A and Option C – again, unless you are Salman Khurshid who would obviously choose D, even if that's hopelessly the wrong answer from a mile.
Now regardless of what the KBC answer – as opposed to the truth – is, we are left with the Modi government officially taking no action against a rumour involving the home minister’s son who, perhaps only incidentally, has been denied any bypoll ticket.
Which will lead to the final KBC question on that special episode in the near future:
Question: Who will be the next Home Minister?
A. Arun Jaitley B. Amit Shah C. Yashwant Sinha D. Rajnath Singh remains
Now, I'd really encash my chips and not answer that question and lose whatever I have won till then if I was smart. But then, who among us can be Salman Khurshid. Sigh.
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