'Peela salaam'

Greeted with a lal salaam (red salute) by a comrade on the eve of a central trade unions convention this week, a veteran leftist trade unionist sighed and replied, “It is no longer lal salaam, comrade. Maybe we can say peela [yellow] salaam.” Red (the traditional colour of communism) was in serious danger of fading away, he explained, adding, it was already diluted after allying with trade unions representing all hues including saffron and the bonding has been going strong for the second year running. He then added that the unions were in peril, whether of red or any other colour. Anyone can sack 500 workers and we are not able to do a thing, he said gloomily.