hum ho haa heee - yet another cabinet reshuffle

After being bored to death by the expenses scandal (I mean do we really care which MP purchased what kind of toilet seat and claimed how much back, for heaven's sake?), we now have the survival drama.

What will happen to Gordon? Will he survive or will he not?

The spate resignations from Cabinet Secretaries last week probably added to the worried look the PM had on his brow during the last press-conference. But he seems to have survived - for now at least.

But like Hazel Blears who proudly displayed a brooch that said "rocking the boat" as she walked out on him, the EU election results may well do just that - and rock the boat.

If Labour comes a dismal fourth, will the rebel MPs put up and shut up? Will Cameron increase the tone of his call for an immediate General Elections? Will Brown buckle or will he buck up?

Questions.. questions questions... and all we have to do is to wait till Monday for the answer, when the EU elections results start coming in.

At the end of the day, I know that whoever comes to power, one thing will remain: this Government and future governments will continue to treat the Indian faith traditions (Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism) as an 'after-thought'. They will continue to speak to us on a 'tokenistic' basis, while they maintain conscious rigour and characteristic robustness in engaging with the Abrahamic traditions.

No doubt, the Abrahamic traditions have a claim of historicity - after all Christainity has been around here for more than any other religion; Judaism has been here sevaral hundred years before the Indian faiths even dared to show their face; and Islam has received special attention for all kinds of reasons.

However, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists are often left feeling left out while attention on the Abrahamic faiths is steady and consistent.

Only a few months ago I was at a reception organised by the Communities and Local Government Department. Although they had laid out sumptous tables with kosher and halal meals, not a morsel of food was suitable for an orthodox Hindu who would only eat strict vegetarian food that did not contain onions or garlic. Jains of course would have had an even more difficult time since they eat nothing that is grown under the ground. The dietary rule is only an illustrative example of how Hindus keep getting sidelined - the list can go on.

But to cut the long ramble short - what difference does all this talk about expenses and Gordon's survival make to the Indian traditions who are an afterthought? Hum, ho, haa hee - not much, me doth think!