When RTI gives rise to revenants

The concern of a Mumbaikar about the preparedness of the Indian government to deal with the threat of “aliens, zombies and extra-dimensional beings” is well warranted. After all, not only was his Right to Information ( RTI) application asking about the matter — including the possible co-option of Hollywood’s zombie hunter Will Smith in any contingency plan — given due official consideration, even the Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju commented that the “subject matter is too scientific”. He also added that such queries are a waste of time, but evidently Hollywood’s generous coverage of the zombie phenomenon via movies and television serials has had the desired effect in unexpected circles.

The RTI reply dismissed the contention as hypothetical and, therefore, any plan as unnecessary, but that response itself gives reason to believe that government departments could already be prime centres of zombie infiltration. Athorough, countrywide combing of the labyrinths of the government premises is needed. Earlier sweeps have revealed thousands of ‘ghost’ employees anyway, so the presence of zombies as well cannot be ruled out. However, even if hordes of revenants are discovered, India would not need sundry American Men In Black to come to our rescue. Not when there is Rajinikanth to deal with all such rascals!