Mimicking Rajya Sabha chairman: What happens when political elite mocks Rahul?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*

The controversial mimicry of the Rajya Sabha chairman would not have become a news if Rahul Gandhi had not made the video of what happened. Interestingly, the video was not circulated by Rahul, yet he has become the target of the right-wing eco-system, which refuses to ask tough questions to the government on the issue of the security of Parliament.

Ironically, it is Rahul Gandhi who has been mocked and humiliated by the same elite, which is never short of issues to target him. Definitely, one needs to respect the chair and the presiding officers of our institutions. But that would be possible if the institutions have autonomy and the guardians and patrons of these institutions don't become the cheer leaders of the ruling party.

Can anyone appreciate the role played by the governors of Tamil Nadu or Kerala? Despite the Supreme Court order and categorical indictment of these governors, they continue to play the role as biggest obstacles and stop the elected governments from taking decisions.

The fact is that mocking someone on the basis of one's birth, physical attributes and mannerisma is offensive, but it is very much part of our culture. Had that not been true, we would not have made 'pappu', one of the most common names Indian families keep for their loved one, look contemptuous.

How can a person with such name be considered idiot or foolish? Is there any regret about that? How would anyone with childhood name 'pappu' feel after these jokes and humiliations?

The problem is, as a society, we are supremacists and mock at others. We can't accept a person as he or she is.

How can a person with the name Pappu be considered idiot or foolish? Is there any regret about that?

However, I don't think, anybody mocked at the chair during the protest related to his caste or any other identity. Making that issue as caste pride would have been sinister and absolutely uncalled for. Congress President Mallikarjun Khadge rightly said that when he was not allowed to speak in Parliament, he could easily say it is because he is a Dalit.

A more important point is that there seems to be no interest from the government side or ruling party leaders to reach out to the opposition. In a democracy, we need opposition, and a continuous confrontation will not take India anywhere. BJP's effort to claim that the opposition is an obstacle is without any logic. To term opposition as a disturbing element through slander campaign by the 'darbaris' will only create more obstacles.

Perhaps MPs know that there might be another session before we for the next general election. It seems both the government as well as the opposition have now decided to take each other head on through street politics. The dominant media, meanwhile, as usual is strictly asking questions to the opposition parties.

The history of India's so-called mainstream media is that of absolute shamelessness and opportunism. It is playing its role very well to divide, deceive and destroy democratic system in the country.

Let good sense prevail and suspension of the opposition members revoked so that they can participate in the discussions and debates in Parliament. For the future of our democracy, the relationship between the ruling party and the opposition must be cordial and workable. One shouldn't convert political opponents into enemies.

Political leaders in the past always enjoyed good personal relations despite political differences. It is time our leaders learnt a few good things from the past and take the country forward.

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*Human rights defender

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