BJP: Worm's eye view

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has earned itself a mocking new sobriquet courtesy the two-day meat ban its government has imposed in Mumbai for a Jain festival: Bharatiya Jant Party, jant being the Marathi word for worm. The author of this nickname is Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who has vehemently opposed the ban. By way of explanation he said the BJP behaves like a worm whose movements and presence are quite unpredictable. The party that was earlier termed the Bharatiya Jumla Party (party of empty promises) after the extravagant campaign that led to its stunning performance in the Lok Sabha elections may find itself the butt of many more jokes in the days to come.