Will Modi speak on sex crime of his political partner in Karnataka?

In an atmosphere of dying trust, the biggest concern for the ruling BJP should be disappointment among the voters. Prime Minister Modi had the opportunity to revive the lost communication between the ruling BJP and the opposition parties

This is not about what international watchdogs are saying about Indian democracy. This is simply about our experiences with the polls we are currently in. In the absence of excitement among voters, what counts is the behavior of political parties. Does it make them restless that people are losing interest in the polling process? Are they concerned about the disappearance of dialogue? Are they ready to inquire as to why they are not able to connect with the people? Respect for the opposite viewpoint and dialogue are two of the most important characteristics of democracy. Both are absent now. Political parties have long abandoned these virtues, such as listening to others and respecting rivals. They have developed a new code to treat the opponents. This code teaches them that political opponents are enemies.

They have discovered a new language of politics. Ridiculing rivals has become an integral part of present-day politics. Can we think of a democracy that could survive without meaningful communication between the ruling party and the opposition? The disappearance of dialogue between them has brought us to a situation where Parliament has also lost its dynamism. We have seen how bills have been passed during the last decade. The last session of parliament only displayed the arrogance of the ruling BJP. No one should forget how several MPs were suspended and bills were passed without any discussion. We have also seen how two election commissioners were appointed with all their haste just a couple of days before the start of the election process.

In an atmosphere of dying trust, the biggest concern for the ruling BJP should be disappointment among the voters. Prime Minister Modi had the opportunity to revive the lost communication between the ruling BJP and the opposition parties. The elections were not to be used only for the endorsement of the policy of the ruling BJP. The Prime Minister could have used it for a new beginning. He had already turned the BJP manifesto into a long monologue. Was there any need for him to use the entire poll process to express his deep-seated hatred towards everything that has been done in the last seven decades of independent India? He could have suspended his monologuing during the polls and started to listen to the people. Here comes the role of political parties. He could have carefully observed what kind of issues the opposition parties are raising. He could have articulated his response to these issues.

Should it not have been his worry that people have developed a pathological indifference towards the polls? The indifference is not reflected only in the reduced turnout of voters; it is visible in the comments people are making before TV cameras and on social media platforms. The public enthusiasm hardly matches his animated performances at public meetings. It is beyond doubt that the Prime Minister could have the best skills for performing on a public platform. But it is not giving results. The vacant looks of the audience at his public meetings show that people are now tired of what he is saying. It is true that his speeches are not meant for the immediate audience only. He is using modern methods of communication and talking to a whole range of people while addressing a public meeting. At times, it is more important to address remote audiences. This is not without reason; the Election Commission of India has provided him with the opportunity to make a lengthy campaign by holding elections in several phases. In every phase, he chooses a place that is near the constituencies that are undergoing polls.

Political observers have noticed a visible change in his speeches after the first two phases were over. They say that the change was first seen when he abandoned the development agenda in favor of a polarizing one. After the end of the second phase, he completely dropped his slogan, Abki baar, Char Sau Paar. He also does not talk of Modi’s guarantee. He talks about how Congress is a pro-Muslim party and the India Alliance is nothing but a gathering of those who are anti-Hindu. He has gone to the extent of accusing the Congress of being pro-Pakistan.

Will his formula of dividing the people on religious lines work this time? Will issues that have recently come up not affect the poll outcome? The videos of the sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna, a grandson of former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, have caused a political storm. The BJP leadership knew about his sex crimes well before it had stitched an alliance with the Janata Dal-S in Karnataka. The prime minister campaigned for him and asked the voters to vote for him. Ravanna fled to Germany as soon as videos of his sex crimes involving several women, including government officials, went viral. A leader of his party complained to the party leadership about the crimes Revanna is involved in. Instead of acting against the crime, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister chose to ignore it. They went ahead with an alliance with the JD-S.

The story of Revanna reminds us of the Nirbhaya case, in which some young people with criminal backgrounds raped and severely injured her. This was an individual crime. The Revanna sex scandal is a social and political crime in which a member of a highly influential political family used power to sexually harass several women. In the Nirbhya case, then Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi took personal interest in giving justice to the victim. She was given all the help she needed for her treatment. The laws related to rape and sexual harassment were revised and made more stringent. Prime Minister Modi has chosen not to speak on the scandal. He did the same thing when the issue of violence against Manipur came up.

It looks like the Prime Minister will not say anything on the issue.

(The author is a senior journalist. He has experience of working with leading newspapers and electronic media including Deccan Herald, Sunday Guardian, Navbharat Times and Dainik Bhaskar. He writes on politics, society, environment and economy)