Parliament was in session, the Jawaharlal Nehru University row continued to bubble, Raj Thackeray urged his party workers to burn autorickshaws and the Indian cricket team won the Asia Cup. But two stories, and two individuals in particular, managed to hog the headlines and airtime all week.
At the end of February, Vijay Mallya hinted at what was to come. Announcing his resignation as non-executive chairman of alcoholic beverages company United Spirits, the liquor baron said: "Having recently turned 60, I have decided to spend more time in England, closer to my children."
He wasn't kidding. It emerged earlier this week that the chairman of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines had left the country for the UK on March 2, the day public sector banks, to whom he owes an estimated Rs 9,091 crore in loans, moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal against him. The Rajya Sabha MP left Indian shores a full six days before the banks approached the apex court to impound his passport.
While Mallya has insisted he is not absconding, the news of the “wilful defaulter” being on the run caused an uproar in Parliament over how he was allowed to get away. He has now been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate on March 18.
Jostling for attention with Mallya was fellow Bangalorean, the spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The Art of Living founder organised a World Culture Festival to mark the 35th anniversary of his foundation. But the three-day event ran into controversy over reports that the organisers had flouted environmental norms in holding the event on the floodplains of the Yamuna river, with a seven-acre stage being built on the riverbed.
Adding fuel to the fire was the news that the government had deployed army personnel to help construct pontoon bridges on the river for the event.
Eventually, the National Green Tribunal allowed the festival to go ahead on Friday after imposing a fine of Rs 5 crore on the Art of Living Foundation.
With Vijay Mallya and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar seemingly let off the hook, there was much outrage online and talk of India's shift to crony capitalism and crony spiritualism.
But the laughter mill ran alongside this heated debate, as some on social media juxtaposed the two events to humorous effect. Even Amul and Ola got into the act through their advertisements. Here's a selection:
Sri Sri: Art of Living.
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamTPCC) March 11, 2016
Vijay Mallya: Art of Leaving.
Our Banks: Art of Giving.
NDA Government: Art of Taking.#VijayMallya #ArtofLiving
Misunderstanding
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 11, 2016
NGT: Boss, you need to pay Rs. 5 cr fine
Sri Sri: No. I won't pay
NGT: Then you'll have to go to jail
Sri Sri: Okay. Fine.
Vijay Mallya looted 17 banks.
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) March 10, 2016
And the one decent bank that was left, Yamuna bank, is now being taken care of by Sri Sri.
#VijayMallya cartoon @ETMarkets @EconomicTimes pic.twitter.com/yPWaTDW7aF
— R Prasad (@rprasad66) March 11, 2016
Reaction when someone shouts the word "Bank Wale Aa Gaye". #ModiSingsOoLaLa #VijayMallya #BJPSavesMallya pic.twitter.com/dmJ4YRxzEy
— PM Anupam Kher (@ROFLakdibaaz) March 11, 2016
#VijayMallya
— Rajendra jhawar (@JhanwarRajendra) March 11, 2016
Jaitley will recover the money..
In next year's budget, he will introduce "Mallya Recovery cess" of 0.50% along with service
After NGT fined Rs. 5 crore to Emperor Shah Jahan for illegally constructing the Taj Mahal at Yamuna Ghat.(1632) pic.twitter.com/buNjIRQCd6
— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) March 11, 2016
Amul Topical: Liquor baron flees! pic.twitter.com/DzdRAjPPYl
— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) March 10, 2016
.@SriSri brought everyone together @PMOIndia @ArvindKejriwal @adgpi @satishacharya's cartoon https://t.co/Jct7siofyN pic.twitter.com/Jcr8MX7V97
— Reddit India (@redditindia) March 11, 2016
#SriSri obeyed the #NGT
— janakiraman (@periyakulam) March 11, 2016
That means there is a semblance of truth,#SriSriYamunaMess #WCF2016 pic.twitter.com/91Q824ZAyJ
#ArtofLeaving: When .Olacabs linked the monk to the Ferrari https://t.co/Pj2pkxAeVK pic.twitter.com/TGnOLdYc8n
— Raghav Seth (@raghavseth212) March 10, 2016