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Political Slander:MORE VULGAR THE BETTER!, by Poonam I Kaushish,18 July 2009 Print E-mail

POLITICAL DIARY

New Delhi, 18 July 2009

Political Slander

MORE VULGAR THE BETTER!

By Poonam I Kaushish

Much ado about nothing! That’s how I look at the big hullaballoo over UPCC President Rita Bahugana Joshi’s below-the-belt crude and slanderous remarks made against arch-rival BSP’s UP Chief Minister Mayawati. What’s new? Aren’t we accustomed to gutter-sniping, sleazy and vitriolic tu-tu-mein-mein between political opponents and parties? Of dirty linen being increasingly washed in public. Serenaded by a frenzied audience’s seetees galore. More vulgar the better, dil maange more!

It all started with Joshi’s comment at a Party meet in Moradabad, “The DGP gave Rs 25,000 to a rape victim recently, we should throw that money on Mayawati's face and tell her that if she is raped then we are ready to give Rs 1 crore as compensation."  Predictably all hell broke loose. Within hours Joshi’s house and cars were burned down by BSP’s workers and jailed for 14 days under the stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, for her alleged objectionable and insulting remarks.

True, Rita has no business to incite the crowds. No matter that she may have been provoked by Mayawati’s words and actions. Also true, that her comment may have been meant to score brownie points. But it took on casteist overtones against the backdrop of an emerging bitter battle between the Congress and the BSP, following the Congress’s resurgence in the Lok Sabha poll in this electorally crucial State. Leaving Mayawati rattled by the prospect of her core vote base shrinking further.

Some may shrug it off as part and parcel of political discourse. Not a few might dismiss it as Mayawati being paid back in the same coin. Recall January 2007, when she used almost exactly the same words, that the nieces of bête noire Mulayam Singh could be given monetary compensation if they were raped. Not a few might lament a decline in political diatribe and aver that the battle should be fought on issues and not personalities. Even justify it by asserting that two wrongs don’t make a right.

Sadly, in a milieu where politics has degenerated to a euphemism for community and caste, the Rita-Mayawati tu-tu-mein-mein is a harsh reflection on the depth of political depravation we have come to. Wherein there is no dividing line between statecraft and witchcraft. What is correct and incorrect—political etiquette and public decency? Slander, sensation smear and sully are the new political dialogues. The new vote-catching mantra. In the hope that this gutter sniping would bring them tripti--- and power.

Today we may hang Joshi and Mayawati. But will it stop the muck-raking? No. All are tainted by the same brush. Be it the Congress, BJP or any other party. Over the years, slander seems to have become a virtue and unparliamentarily language the order of the day. Remember, the brazen communal campaigning in the Gujarat Assembly poll in 2007. Of Sonia Gandhi calling Narender Modi ‘maut ke saudagar’ and the Chief Minister retaliating, “Italian mud will not stick on me. Sonia has a hatred for Hindus.’ Retorted another leader, “Modi is a terrorist…an unchanged lunatic... He is a cynical and criminal challenge to democracy.” Added Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for good measure: “If you are against the Modi Government, only God can save you.”

What to speak of VHP’s obnoxious Togodia calling Sonia an “Italian kutri….” DMK’s Karunanidhi mad ravings about Lord Rama being “a drunkard” over the Ram Setu issue. Varun Gandhi’s hate speech against the Muslims. BJP’s late Pramod Mahajan comparing Sonia with Clinton’s Monica Lewinsky resulting in a torrid of abuse by Congressmen against bachelor PM Vajpayee, “Aulaad nahin, damaad hai.” Of AIADMK Jayalalitha being called a “Vishkanya, anybody who touches her does not survive.” NCP’s Sharad Pawar being described as “so big that he can’t walk properly.” What to speak of SP’s Amar Singh malicious rancour against Congress leaders and vice versa. Or Rajiv Gandhi dismissing Opposition criticism as “let the barking dogs bark”

At another level, Mayawati has exposed the hypocrisy of the system. Love her, hate her or simply ignore her, the hard reality is that this in-your-face Dalit diva couldn’t care a damn. She believes in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Truly living up to the synonym of rule by law, jiski laathi uski bhains. Be it putting Joshi and Varun in jail, letting loose her political goondas or amassing huge wealth. Her reaction: catch me if you can.

The irony is that Mayawati knows damn well that she will go scot free notwithstanding the raised brouhaha by her opponents. Perhaps one can put this down to the fact that having risen from the bottom of the ladder she can only rise. With nothing to lose.

At another level, it is not only her. The other regional satraps RJD’s Lalu, SP’s Mulayam, DMK’s Karunanidhi, LJP’s Paswan and AIADMK’s Jayalalitha, do exactly the same thing and get away with it. So why the fuss over Mayawati? Is it simply because she is Dalit and belongs to the lowest class in the caste hierarchy unlike the others? Is it the Brahmanical order which looks down on her? 

Alternatively, the reason behind Mayawati’s brashness is the flip flop by successive Governments in taking a stand over her misdeeds read corruption cases pending before the Supreme Court. No doubt, the CBI has chargesheeted her in the disproportionate wealth case as also in the Taj corridor scam. But for reasons best known to it be the NDA or the UPA Government when push comes to shove all develop cold feet. Even today, the Supreme Court has adjourned the case to a latter date. Thus it may be a while before the long arm catches up with her.

However, political analysts put the kid glove handling of Mayawati as sheer political compulsion of her rivals. They would want to tread cautiously. In the event if action is taken against her, it would give her undue advantage vis-à-vis her Dalit vote bank, which is beginning to desert her. In fact, her action against Joshi has to be seen in this light. Her supporters discount this. Any action against her could lead to riots and arson. The burning of Rita Joshi’s house for remarks is just a curtain raiser to the extent the BSP workers could go to. 

Clearly, both the issues of slander and political expediency expose the bankruptcy that is manifest in our system. Wherein our politicians have perfected the art of cultivating low morality and high greed according to their whims and fancies—and the need of the hour which has been made a lot more malignant by our fragmented politics.

Resulting in immorality becoming a way of life. What damn difference does one more slanderous attack make? Needless to say, harsh words are undoubtedly part and parcel of politics. Even Westminster, the mother of all Parliamentary discourses is not free from this. One notorious case is that of a leading Labour right Nye Bevan who often crossed swords with Winston Churchill describing the Conservatives as gutter snipes and vermins. 

True, the rules of the game have changed recklessly without a thought for the future. Clearly, it is high time that our netagan realize that they are putting a premium on slander. They should remember one age-old truth: If you point one slanderous finger at another, four other slanderous fingers will point back at you! How long do we suffer the stampede for sensation and slur? Can a nation be bare and bereft of all sense of shame and morality? ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)


 

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