Political Diary
New Delhi, 30 April 2024
Slander Is Now Virtue
MORE VULGAR THE
BETTER!
By Poonam I Kaushish
In this theekha-masaledar
Lok Sabha electioneering season our netagan
are reveling in neech under-the-belt vitriolic
language, putrid entertainment swaying to the heady tinkle of money, cheap
thrills and seetees, whereby the
lines between a political opponent and sworn enemy have got blurred. In the
hope this will bring them political tripti!
Nothing epitomizes this better than
the brazen slanderous ongoing campaigning which has trashed basic courtesies
and decencies, ended camaraderie, bonhomie and respect among healthy rivals.
Underscoring, slander, sensation, smear, sully and smirch are the new political
dialogues and flavour of the time. With the devil taking the hindmost!
Everyone and everything has become
game: From desh bhakts to desh drohis.
For the Congress, confused about its support base, devoid of a vote plank and
desperate about stopping BJP from returning to power, it has fallen back to its
tried and tested formula --- abuse and blatant casteism. For the Saffron Sangh
it is a do-or-die battle for its ‘Gujju’ poster boy Prime Minister Modi to
ensure he continues his 10-years rule.
All hell broke loose when Congress filed a complaint
with Election Commission requesting action against Modi for misguiding people
by stating “We planning to redistribute wealth and women’s mangalsutra to infiltrators read Muslims and calling our manifesto
‘Muslim League imprint.’ This is neither written in the Constitution nor mentioned
in our manifesto anywhere.”
It accused its rival of distorting
a leader’s remark on inheritance
tax, with Modi trashing it as Opposition Party's mantra to “loot” people “zindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi.”
Adding, “Modi
talks so much. He says he has a 56-inch chest. What will we do with a 56-inch
chest? Tell us what you did for stomach? What are you giving us for meals? Today,
price rise is an issue worrying poor people.”
The BJP countered by accusing
Congress “shehzada” Rahul Gandhi of
persistently perpetuating a division between North and South India based on
language and region, along-with planning religion-based reservation to appease Muslims
for vote bank politics. Karnataka Congress Government has given part of OBC
reservation to Muslims, it thundered.
It took potshots at Rahul saying he is “Moorkhon aur jhooton
ka Sardar” who calls himself an “accidental Hindu”….. He does not
have proper knowledge of India's history and geography. Alongside falsely
asserting increase in poverty in the nation and called on EC to take action
against him. Rahul shot back “PM matlab Panauti Modi aur jebkatra.”
TMC’s Mamta calls Modi, “paapi” while NCP’s Sharad Pawar named
him “shameless,” Shiv Sena- Uddhav Thackeray said a vote for Modi was a “vote
for destruction”, BSP dubbed BJP-led NDA “terrorist Government.” While a
CPM leader said, “Was Rahul born into Nehru-Gandhi family? I have doubts … his
DNA should be examined.” AIMM Owaisi took the cake, “Koi maee ka lal pedha nahi hua jo mujhe rok sake…Modi RSS ka peelu hai…. ishara kar diya toh
dorana padhega.”
Obviously, the blame lies squarely
with Parties whereby the EC’s Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has become the most
potent missile in the arsenal of political rivals and jaani dushmans. With none caring a damn for its seven Dos and
Don’ts about general conduct, meetings, processions, polling day, polling booth
observers and Party in power.
Quick to complain, all shy from
demanding the same discipline for crude and repulsive swipes at rivals. Every Party has
raised allegations of causing hatred and division based on religion, caste,
community or language. A helpless EC only expresses its “displeasure”, invoking Section
77 of the Representation of the People Act and holds Party Presidents
responsible, as a first step to reign in star campaigners.
“Parties will have to take
primary responsibility for conduct of their candidates, star campaigners in
particular. Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more
serious consequences,” said EC. Barring a warning or ban on electioneering for two-three
days, the EC’s action against hate speeches totals a mere rap on the knuckles.
Big deal! Aren’t we accustomed to
gutter-sniping and vitriolic tu-tu-mein-mein
between political opponents and Parties? Isn’t it part and parcel of political
discourse? Of dirty linen being increasingly washed in public serenaded by
frenzied audiences more vulgar the better, dil
maange more!
After all, how would their art of
double-speak succeed if preachers of morality were to start practicing it?
Polls mean scoring brownie points against rivals, forget EC reading the riot
act under MCC. Ends matter not the means.
Will this mud-raking stop? No. All
are tarred by the same brush: Congress, BJP or X,Y,Z Party. Alas, none wants to
address critical questions: Why are politicians’ discourses becoming more and
more venomous and noxious? Can such language and conduct be condoned? In Delhi
the BJP stands accused of calling AAP’s Kejriwal “a dog” and its woman
candidate “a prostitute” alongside casteist slurs.
Frankly, I am neither surprised as
our netagan are only showing their girgit true colours throwing all public
decency and decorum to winds! Gone are the days when jibes and trolls were funny,
sarcastic and netas took them in
their strides.
Accentuating bankruptcy that is
manifest in our system wherein leaders have perfected the art of cultivating
low morality and high greed made more malignant by our fragmented politics.
Resulting in immorality becoming a way of life, what damn difference does one
more slanderous attack make?
Sadly, through this diatribe one
thing emerges crystal clear: political skullduggery indulged in mirrors the
harsh and horrendous reality of our polity. Where there is no dividing line
between what is correct and incorrect. A harsh reflection on the depth of
political depravation we have come to. A nouvelle vote-catching mantra in the
hope that this cesspit sniping would bring them power. Consequently, the idea
of democracy has been vitiated.
Alas, it is not this election alone,
the story is the same every election wherein EC is grappling with the same
questions. And by the time it arrives at an answer, votes have been cast. So
what happens to violations of the MCC? Zilch. They die a natural death.
It is simply stupid to lament about
falling standards of morality in politics in these bad times. As India votes we
must not allow ourselves to be taken for granted any more. We must demand statements
which are unwarranted and unhealthy for our democracy not be used along-with
insisting electoral reforms be implemented soon to make our democracy truly
representative. Stop voting for shameless, self-serving netas who put a premium on immorality.
Clearly, it is time our politicians
realize profligacy, immorality cannot be the bedrock of democracy. Our polity
needs to tone down divisive and personal attacks, engage each other on issues
affecting people and nation, not personalities to put electioneering back on
rails of dignified debate adopting zero-tolerance stand on offensive language.
The aim: raise bar on public
discourse because if you point one slanderous finger at another, four other
slanderous fingers will point back at you! How long will 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 & Feature Alliance)
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