The leaders don’t even bother to mind what they are saying. To justify their uttered word they can go to every extent whereas in countering the statement the other tries to go even lewder. Instead of saying on the relevant issues, the election campaign turns to the personal attack which has nothing to do with the mechanisms of governing system of the county or states. Interestingly, when one accuses or assails (though verbally), the other retaliates, immediate or after a moment (Thanks to electronic and social media, which makes these viral in a fraction of seconds). Now it is upto the leaders to which low they can go in retaliation.
Instead of peeping in others’ collars, should concentrate on their views and programmes and put forward before the public. They should not indulge in the hate spreading politics. Besides, they should avoid boasting to fulfill all the demands, either practical or impractical. The practical ones should be preferred to be dealt. However the Election Commission keeps a vigil regularly but at times it seems helpless. In the flow of their speeches they don’t even bother to think what they have said. If it is pre-planned to utter lewdly, then it is a matter of concern, the leaders don’t even bother to mind about the barbs, how obscene it might be. There are several instances pertaining such obscene speeches leaving the people dejected.
Continuing the barb as usual, in a rally near Srinagar, National Conference leader and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah asserted that Kashmir will remain in the communal India. Being a minister in the Union Cabinet, Mr. Abdullah should have thought once.
“Kashmir wouldn’t be part of an India that is “communal” and that those who “vote for Modi should jump into the sea. India can’t be communal. If India becomes communal, Kashmir will not remain with India. It will not remain. The people of Kashmir will not accept communalism at any cost.”In his reply rather retaliation Mr. Modi retorted alleging the Abdullah’s to communalise Jammu & Kashmir:
- Farooq Abdullah, National Conference Leader
“I want to tell Farooq Abdullah that Kashmir has dealt the severest blow to the Indian tradition of secularism. And that was owing to your politics and that of your father and your son. You gave a communal color to the land of Sufi culture for personal political gains. You, your father and son have committed the sin of communalising Kashmir.”In the course of barbing and the opponent down the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi took a dig on Congress vice-president Rahul terming him a Namuna.
- Narendra Modi, BJP’s PM Candidate
“If you want to relieve stress, listen to Rahul’s speeches. As per his mathematics, there are 27,000 crore jobs lying vacant in Gujarat. How can this be possible when the total population of Gujarat is 6 crores ? What kind of namuna has the Congress brought ?”
- Narendra Modi, BJP’s PM Candidate
In the same tone Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rather in flatly reminded Narendra Modi not be childish because he is an aspirant of the country’s top post.
“They call him (Rahul) ‘namuna’. Sometimes, they compare him to a stand up comedian and sometimes they call him shehzada. I think you (Modi) aspire to be a Prime Minister, then why do you indulge in such childish behaviour? He (Modi) should maintain dignity,”While campaigning for the BJP candidate in Sreerampur, Modi made a veiled attack on West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee for selling her paintings.
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress Campaigner
“Your (Mamata) paintings used to be sold for Rs 4 lakh, Rs 8 lakh or Rs 15 lakh, but what is the reason that one of your paintings sold for Rs 1.80 crore. I respect art. But who was the person who bought the painting for Rs 1.80 crore”.
- Narendra Modi, BJP’s PM Candidate
Without missing a chance Trinmool Congress made a counter attack terming Modi ‘Butcher of Gujarat’ and asked to refrain from boasting on development. Besides TMC has demanded a public apology otherwise it would file defamation suit. In between CM Mamata Bannerjee too spat venom in her tweet.
“If he comes to power, India will plunge into darkness. We do not need gyan (lecture) on development from the architect of riots.”It’s a matter of shame for the country which is one of the largest democracies of the world; where mannerism and etiquette count. In lieu of boating about changing the country, the politics, all the political leaders must first and foremost learn themselves some mannerisms and etiquettes. Instead of peeping in others’ collars, should concentrate on their views and programmes and put forward before the public. They should not indulge in the hate spreading politics. Besides, they should avoid boasting to fulfill all the demands, either practical or impractical. The practical ones should be preferred to be dealt. In fact, the public is no more alien to the plight of country’s economy. The government should make the policies and impose taxes in such a way that the mass should not be over burdened.
- Mamta Bannerjee, TMC Leader
As a matter of fact the barbing getting murkier as the phases of the general election are going to be wrapped up second week of the coming month. The political leaders are just making fun of the democracy and polluting the polity. In this regard there is a question which is to be considered. That is despite making attacks and counter attacks the leaders demand a public apology. As it is said that if the other party remains neutral after the attack by the opponent, then apology is considered. Neither the political leaders are refraining from making derogatory remarks nor caring for model code of conduct. Despite their mischievous attitudes they demand apology. Isn’t it beyond the ethics?
#Ujjwal Ghosh [The author is Sr. Journalist. The views expressed are personal]