In the end, the much-hyped "Meter Jam" campaign flopped in the three metros -- Mumbai, Bangalore and Dilli -- but the organisers aren't ready to write it off either
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Understandably, it made a greater splash in Mumbai where some commuters chose to ride a bus to work and back than take an auto or cab. In Bangalore, though the response was muted, it managed to put auto unions on the defensive. They now plan to announce some "commuter-friendly" changes.
In Dilli, expectedly, the campaign was a non-starter, even though all agree that it is here the campaign needs to succeed most. But Dilliwalas, saddled with a horrible public transport system and a limited-area Metro service, have no option but to submit themselves to the prevailing 'auto-cracy'.
It'll take more than an online campaign to wake up Dilli sarkar to protect the commuting citizenry from the clutches of unscrupulous drivers.
Security stand-off
Dilli is merely bristling. But Saudi Arabia almost banned it, and the UAE is making similar noises. Two years after first raising the security issue, the Indian government is loudly threatening to pull the plug on BlackBerry. BlackBerry has so far refused to play ball. But the government too has hardened its stance, and is likely to set a deadline for RIM to comply with its directive (or maybe they will confront a GoM?).
Naturally, the thousands of BlackBerry users in the country have reason to be nervous, though observers still don't rule out a last-minute backroom deal that satisfies the government as well as RIM. Keep your fingers crossed!
"Image Guru", Dilip Cherian is a part-time spin doc and full-time analyst ufffd of issues, food, cities. He awaits your tweet @DILIPtheCHERIAN.
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