Venice fly-in trap for Bezos Shaadi

When protest banners start hanging off 16th-century bell towers, you know a city has had enough. In Venice, a bold red X across 'Bezos' was unfurled from San Giorgio Maggiore as part of a growing backlash against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's extravagant, city-hogging wedding scheduled for June 24-26. Locals say it's nothing personal. Venice has battled overtourism for years - cruise ships that dwarf bell towers, Airbnb invasions, and billionaire-palazzo bingo that's driven residents out, jacked up prices and hollowed out neighbourhoods. Now, add a 3-day spectacle complete with drones, VIP yachts and palazzo lockdowns guarded like Fort Knox.

Since we, desis, know a thing or two about big fat weddings, Venice's protest could also make us gulp as we float down our gondolas. For once - and unlike in 'golden visa' Trumpland - the net worth of the guest doesn't matter. What matters is 'dignita'. And space to breathe away from loud tech bros - and bhabhis. A city's right to remain liveable - not just Instagrammable - is not too much to ask. 'Having it all' doesn't mean riding into town and leaving a Unesco World Heritage site you used as a backdrop as the new must-visit Bezos-was-here spot. Venice isn't just a wedding prop or weekend playground. Believe it or not, it's home for people outside the pages of The Merchant of Venice.