Not many in India are willing to spend their money easily these days. People are holding on to even small currency notes as if their very survival depended on them. But not Gali Janaradhana Reddy, the Bellary iron man with a penchant for gold. The mining baron continues to be as lavish as he has always been.
The big fat wedding of his daughter in Bengaluru on Wednesday is the latest example. Around one lakh people, including some top politicians and film stars, are expected to attend the marriage, for which a massive film-like set with replicas of ancient temples and palaces has been put up at the Bangalore Palace.
Even the wedding invite created a sensation; it came with an LED screen which when switched on, played a video of the Reddy family singing to invite the guests. Yes, the lavish wedding was planned much before the surgical strike on black money created the present cash crisis.
But the over-the-top celebration raises questions of propriety at a time when the common man is struggling to get his hands on hard cash. Reddy, accused of minting crores through illegal mining, has never hesitated to show off his enormous wealth. And to be fair, he can’t be faulted for wanting a grand wedding for his daughter. Indians love to spend on marriages.
If the rich use the occasion to show off their prosperity, the poor borrow to conceal their impoverishment. But politicians preparing to attend the Reddy show should better think twice. Mindful of the implications, the BJP top brass is likely to stay away from the marriage. But knowing Reddy’s clout, some state-level leaders will find it difficult to skip the function. The marriage comes at an inconvenient time for the BJP. The country is reeling under a cash crunch triggered by the controversial yet bold demonetisation programme. And here’s a former BJP minister who has no qualms spending crores on a family wedding