Democracy and the mall

Mumbai may be the financial capital of India but, because it does not have too many top pols hanging around it is usually the first city to give a preview of what a real, middle class, democratic India is all about.

First Mumbai airport banned private planes from taking off or landing during peak traffic hours so that commercial flights could try and remain on time. This forced the plane owning classes to take off before dawn and return late at night, both of which timings are a real drag on ones social life. But having bought a plane one could hardly turn it in, could one - especially now when the mildest late payment, let alone the 'repo' of a plane, gives rise to rumours of bankruptcy.

Now, Mumbai airport has gone one better - it is booting the planes out as their hangar leases expire and replacing them with hotels, shops, malls and whatever else will drag a coin from the travelling classes.

Mr. Reddy will have a few tough cocktail parties in the near future but this is a clear pointer to the rich and powerful; you may have the dough and the power but we want our share.

I would watch this space carefully were I a politician.