The Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : CURB THE THACKERAY ITCH

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Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Leader Page Articles

CURB THE THACKERAY ITCH

LAST WEEK AT a public rally in Mumbai the Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, chose to characterise the Congress as "a party of eunuchs" for wanting to install Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister. This relapse into appalling taste was nothing new for a man who is a past master in vitriol; what was noteworthy was that he made the unbecoming observation in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. What is more, he prefaced his acidic comment with a caveat, "I know Mr. Vajpayee is not going to like my remark, but I cannot help it for I have learnt it from my father." It is significant that Mr. Vajpayee did not indicate in any way that he disapproved of the Shiv Sena leader's tastelessness. Mr. Vajpayee's silence is as distressing as Mr. Thackeray's indecent language. The Prime Minister has repeatedly asserted that he was for a dignified campaign and that his political colleagues should refrain from personalised attacks on Ms. Sonia Gandhi and her family members. Evidently Mr. Vajpayee's advice has fallen on deaf ears within his own party and the National Democratic Alliance. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, in particular, continues to test the limits of public decency and good taste in his attacks on Ms. Gandhi. The Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have called Mr. Vajpayee's rival in the Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, Ram Jethmalani, names. On its part, the Congress is not above hitting below the belt against BJP leaders like Mr. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, but its transgressions are less frequent and less crude.

It is perhaps inevitable that once in a while a leader will get carried away by partisan passion in the heat of an electoral battle and will be inclined to forget his political manners. An occasional lapse is understandable. But what the nation is witnessing is a political discourse of abuse, as part of electoral strategy. The rationale is predicated on the BJP's desire to paint before the nation the contrast between Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Congress' prime ministerial aspirant, Sonia Gandhi; the NDA leaders seem to feel that it is perfectly legitimate for them to highlight the starkness of that contrast and that they are entitled to make personalised references to Sonia Gandhi and her family. Aside from being an exercise in low campaign, it has not worked out politically for the NDA. Rather than demolish Ms. Gandhi's credibility as a leader, the BJP's relentless personalised attacks have, in fact, helped her emerge as the rallying point for all those forces and voices who have reason to be disillusioned with, or angry at, the NDA dispensation. The personalised campaign also distracts from the much-desired focus on policies, principles, programmes, and priorities.

What the political leaders and parties need to keep in mind is that they will be under obligation to cooperate, in and out of Parliament, after the elections results are out and a new government assumes office. If an electoral battle generates too much of bitterness and rancour among top leaders, then the crucial post-election parliamentary equanimity will become elusive. Indian democracy has over the years evolved a decent tradition of a healthy relationship of civility and respect between the Government and the Opposition. This tradition is eminently worth preserving. The onus today is primarily on the ruling BJP and its NDA allies. As Prime Minister and one in whose name the NDA is seeking a fresh mandate, Mr. Vajpayee should be willing to lay down the law that his colleagues observe norms and decorum. His silence in the face of his colleagues' willingness to scratch the Thackeray itch can only be construed as a sign of acquiescence. There is nothing masterly about this inactivity in the face of a recurrent assault on decent values in public life.

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