Ask for a raise, go to jail

Imagine this: You, who gets a crappy salary and sometimes isn't paid for months and months together, one day wake up and demand a hike in salary, else you'd stop work. What happens next? The cops come and arrest you.

Yep, that's right.

"Glorified prisoners", as a man very nicely puts it. That's what we are. We who? Not the British or the American expat, but the Indians, the Sri Lankans, the Nepalese... It's a fact. Trouble those who are already troubled.

Welcome to the holy month of Ramadan.

Not that this is the way it happens on Ramadan usually, but it's just a matter of co-incidence that today's front page's top anchor reads: "Qatar starts the holy fasting month of Ramadan today...

"Qatar's Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs appealed to Muslims around the world to make the holy month a time for prayer, obedience, supplication, forgiveness, moderation, tolerance and good deeds and to distance themselves from all causes of tension, hatred and sedition."

And right below on the bottom of the page a one column story says: "At least 32 agitating drivers of a transport company were taken into custody yesterday when they stayed away from work demanding a hike in their salaries.

Most of those arrested were Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals."

Enough for an Indian journalist to merge the two issues and blow it up!