Is Rita out to do to Cong what Maneka-Varun did to BJP?
Rita had one-upped on Maneka, baring the worse-than-racist attitudes prevalent in the country reminding one of slave-trade era. Her attack was on a vast section of oppressed people ready to explode after facing such humiliation for generations
MAY BE, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was conveniently imagining things when she declared, “Congress high command is behind (State Congress chief) Rita Bahuguna Joshi making humiliating comments against me.” But her categorical statement, “Rita Bahuguna Joshi's act was unpardonable” is hard to contest. It was virtually endorsed by her arch political rival Sushma Swaraj. The deputy leader of the BJP in Lok Sabha minced no words in her condemnation, “Rita Bahuguna Joshi crossed all limits of political attack against a rival and in the process, forgot the dignity of women.”
Rita had wondered while addressing a rally at Moradabad, “In UP, if Dalits are raped, then officials go there, give them Rs 20,000. Is this the value for a Dalit lady?” She was referring to the CMs decision to send the DGP to visit Dalits who were victims of crime, including rape. Then came the shocker, “If the same thing happens with Mayawati, we are ready to give her compensation of crore rupees!” Who the “we” in her barb were is anyone’s guess!
As news spread and created justifiable rage among Dalits, the UPCC chief retracted, “I am a product of the women's movement. I have respect for women. If my statement has hurt the CM, I deeply regret it,” Of course, the socialite daughter of former Congress CM of UP and staunchly anti-Congress Finance Minister of India, HN Bahuguna, is known for remaining in New Delhi most of the time championing the dignity of women in fashionable circles!
The Congress high command committed a blunder in 2007, by appointing the lady with no local rapport as the UP Chief in 2007, overlooking the past record of hers and her power-hungry father. By not taking very, very stern action against the foulmouthed leader without loss of time, the Congress is sure heading for doom. And the disaster may not be limited to UP, perhaps the only state where the party seems to be getting back some credibility by focusing on old-time values.
As the Congress President maintained a stoic silence, apparently ‘studying’ the legalities of the “rape remark” by Rita, the pertinent question is, “How many minutes should be enough to do that and avoid such horrific liabilities in the party like a plague?” Sonia Gandhi, when she opened her mouth, only expressed “deep pain and anguish over the developments” following the remarks of her UP boss. While failing to even reprimand Rita, she however remembered to slam the state government for its highhandedness (of getting the serious offender put behind bars!)
That the ‘anguish’ was at the most superficial was proved by Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, “We must keep things in perspective. The reaction of the (UP) government is clearly disproportionate,” he said and reasoned: “Even assuming Mayawati's anger (is right), it is at best something between the two - Joshi cannot be said to have inflamed communal passions. The arrest is effected purely on a vendetta basis!”
That the ‘anguish’ was at the most superficial was proved by Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, “We must keep things in perspective. The reaction of the (UP) government is clearly disproportionate,” he said and reasoned: “Even assuming Mayawati's anger (is right), it is at best something between the two - Joshi cannot be said to have inflamed communal passions. The arrest is effected purely on a vendetta basis!”
Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Satish Mishra vowed to not take “grave issue” lightly. Rita has been booked appropriately under section 153A (inflammatory speeches), 109 of IPC (abusive language), Criminal Law Amendment Act besides SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act, all of which are non-bailable. “Making a comment of offering a sum of Rs1 crore (to Mayawati) is an absolutely shameful act arising from the hollowness and backwardness of mind,” Mishra explained. He said his party was “pained and surprised” that the Congress had till now not booted her out, or even taken any disciplinary action.
Meantime, the situation is getting out of hand for Congress, with insensitive sycophants within and propping up the party putting their foot in the mouth. For example, Mohammad Azharuddin, Congress MP from Moradabad, said, “She has been ‘unnecessarily’ put behind bars, despite having tendered her apology to Mayawati” after displaying herself as an uncultured brute. The MP, who is known more for match-fixing controversies than captaining Indian cricket team, chose to meet her in the district jail. He talked as if tendering apology absolves one of unpardonable offences and offered to give her company in jail.
In an apparently connected incident, a portion of Rita’s house in Lucknow was vandalised and burnt by an angry mob, which, ostensibly, did not appreciate her gracefulness in expressing regret. This happened at midnight despite heavy security presence. While she termed the midnight attack as the handiwork of BSP men instigated by the CM, BSP dubbed it as a stage-managed drama. Rita rarely resides there and attackers had no reason to target the official house which was unlikely to hurt her. Rita was quick to lodge a complaint alleging that her 50-year-old caretaker and other domestic maids have gone missing. Next, the Congress Chief who commands little esteem from party workers appealed to them to do a roadblock and hold protests.
Hardly any MLA, MLC or senior party functionary at the state level responded and chose to wait for directions from the central leadership.
“Very conveniently, they (Congress leaders) got the house burnt by their own people. They have diverted the issue . . . The whole night the BSP President was continually in touch with the party in all states, asking people not to react and be calm. Had we been involved, the whole country would have been burning by now,” ridiculed Mishra.
“Very conveniently, they (Congress leaders) got the house burnt by their own people. They have diverted the issue . . . The whole night the BSP President was continually in touch with the party in all states, asking people not to react and be calm. Had we been involved, the whole country would have been burning by now,” ridiculed Mishra.
Former Congress Chief Salman Khursheed went one step further to push the party into abyss in support of his worthy successor. He opined: “If someone is obstructed from legal proceedings, if someone is a political rival or says something offensive, there can be discussion but last night's events are condemnable.” It is such apologists that the party should beware of. Will he counsel leisurely “discussion” rather than immediate arrest and prosecution to deal with any enraged, psychotic Dalit tries to avenge the insult?
Congress leadership must also beware of ‘support’ from certain quarters that may spell its doom. Senior BJP leader and Lucknow MP Lalji Tandon has come to Rita’s rescue. “The government's move under the SC/ST act is disproportionate and vindictive. . . We agree what the Congress leader said was against political decency, but the action taken by Mayawati against her cannot be justified under any circumstances... It exposes the autocratic functioning.” The scion of Mulayam Singh Yadav dynasty, Akhilesh Yadav, another ‘honourable’ MP of India too demanded the dismissal of the Uttar Pradesh government.
Maneka Gandhi who can take credit for the doom of BJP, which was neck and neck with Congress expecting to wrest power, by enlisting the ‘sympathy’ of party leaders for the barbs of her upstart son, contributed to the din: “What did Rita Bahuguna Joshi say? She didn't say much and after that she even apologised. Why can't she speak her mind? What kind of democracy is this? President's Rule should be imposed in the state!”
Just as any political future of BJP will depend on how fast the party jettisons the legacies of Sanjay Gandhi, the political future of Rahul Gandhi may hinge on the severity and promptness of punishment the self-styled women’s activist receives.
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.Why can't anyone say anything about the dalits or muslims? they can say anything about the general people tho...ironic, in a democracy...
.Is Mayawati still advocating the social engineering concept which is above secularism of the congress ? If Yes, there is no need of using the Atrocity Act
.Is Mayawati still advocating the social engineering concept which is above secularism of the congress ? If Yes, there is no need of using the Atrocity Act
.Is Mayawati still advocating the social engineering concept which is above secularism of the congress ? If Yes, there is no need of using the Atrocity Act
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