War makes idiots out of us and honestly this is exactly what’s happening if we are to believe the Indian media these days. Following the Pulwama attacks, the Indian media is trying too hard to whip up war hysteria, and somehow they think stopping tomato exports to Pakistan will help them deliver some real hurt to their arch-rival.
Here is a clip that ran on an Indian news channel recently. And no, its not a parody but as real as it gets:
Tomato politics between India and Pakistan is childish this funny clip can remind you the school days conflicts between class fellows pic.twitter.com/dbacVq9z3B
— Hamid Mir Øامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 19, 2019
For those who want a summary of the video, basically Indian farmers (and TV anchors) have decided not to export tomatoes to Pakistan. And they happen to be rather animated about it.
First, let us speak the truth here. We do know that when it comes to food, we subcontinent types are bound to have some strong opinions. Also true is the fact that we tend to brag about how superior one dish is to other, and just want everyone else to get in line. We do love our food after all, and want everyone to taste it.
I thought the "tamatar ni bhejenge" news was a joke until I saw it on the TV.
Okay! So they are actually replacing the 'anti-nationalist' comedians by news reporters.— Sami (@iffat_nissar) February 20, 2019
A Worrying Situation
But thanks to the Indians, we may no longer be able to boast which dish is better. Today its tomatoes, and tomorrow it could be sugar.
First they came for the tomatoes and I did not speak out,
Then they came for sugar and there were no more gulab jaamans to be had.
Scary isn’t it? Threatening to stop basic food ingredients is something not even a Bollywood villain would do. Mogambo can launch a couple of ICBM missiles and put bombs in toys, but stopping a crate of tomatoes? Now that’s truly diabolical.
How Pakistanis are Reacting to the Indian Tomato Ban
That truly grim news notwithstanding, Pakistanis are dealing with the situation the only way they know how – with humor.
Here are some of the best reactions to the tomato ban saga:
https://twitter.com/PakhairRaghlay/status/1097786034891513856
https://twitter.com/PhataDholl/status/1098116294111563776
OMG…India is stopping the export of Tomato to Pakistan. No more chicken karrhaee..😠we must take this matter to the International Court of Justice.
— Arjumand Azhar🇵🇰 (@ArjumandAHussai) February 19, 2019
Tomatoes Become the First Casualty of Indo-Pak War
Jokes aside, it seems that this tomato ban is already causing some ripple effects.
https://twitter.com/NArs80/status/1097882511257014278
And it begins:
India vs Pakistan: Tomatoes in Lahore are being sold for Rs180/kg.
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 19, 2019
The truly amazing part? Pakistan already has a ban in place for importing Indian tomatoes over the past 3 years.
https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/1098078569773912064
Some enterprising vegetable sellers are already taking advantage of war hysteria. And then they say war isn’t good for business.
But here’s a plot twist:
https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/1098079519649513472
Perhaps we can just start planning for what comes next? Might as well prepare to have chicken karhai without tomatoes from now on. This tomato ban business might stay up for the time being.
The are clever enough to destroy their own export by doing so.
Its just that Indians say jai jawan and jai kissan.
soldiers are hurt and farmers did not want to provide food to the country that is harming the nation. Its Thats how they show their love towards soldiers and nation by taking loss to their business. It not going to kill u pakistanis but something they did of their conscious.