Uttar Pradesh: Many ways to pin the tale on the donkey in Orai prisoning case

The recent remark by the tough-talking UP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, that criminals in his state would be put in prison or be the targets of police encounters might have inspired the local constabulary of Jalaun district to put behind bars four donkeys charged with having larcenously consumed Rs 5 lakh worth of costly plants being grown in the prison compound.

While for some the episode might be seen as an endorsement of Mr Bumble’s assertion that the law is an ass, others might take a more serious view of the matter on the grounds that the beast of many burdens is worthy of protection.

Indeed, in that the donkey is the preferred load-carrier of the dhobi, it actively assists in the performance of a civic duty by getting people to wash their dirty linen in public.

In biblical lore, the ass has traditionally been seen as a symbol of humility and peace, as distinct from its equine cousin, the horse, the favoured mount of kings and warriors.

The animal’s reputed tenacity made it the mascot of America’s Democratic Party in 1828 presidential candidate Andrew Jackson, derided as a ‘jackass’ by rivals, turned tables on them by making the donkey his electioneering symbol to show how stubbornly he would pursue his political agenda.

Having picked the ass, Jackson triumphed over his opponents and kicked their metaphoric ass.