Why Blame Varun Gandhi?

By Ritika at 24 March, 2009, 11:02 pm

The Election Commission has advised the BJP against nominating Varun Gandhi as it has found Varun guilty of making the alleged hate speech at Pilibhit, the constituency he is standing for. The term advised says it all about the power of our Election Commission (EC). Though it has been a first in Indian electoral history that the EC has advised a political party to not field a certain candidate, the EC under current constitutional powers cannot enforce its advice.

The decision has again started a political circus and allegations are flying to and fro. BJP has come out with full backing to Varun Gandhi. BJP spokesperson has gone on the record of saying that the election commission officer Navin Chawla has good relations with Gandhi family (The Sonia one) and that’s what has promoted this piece of advice. However, it conveniently chooses to forget that the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswamy, to whom BJP has provided solid backing until recently, is the one who has maintained that the tapes of the hate speech are not doctored. Such volte faces are not uncommon with the BJP (or so with any other party). Remember how Narendra Modi did a volte face on ATS officer Hemant Karkare after 26/11 Mumbai attacks, after calling him names during the Malegaon blast case investigation.

How ill equipped Election Commission is to take any action against such speeches is completely demonstrated by this incident. No wonder that soon after, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has also come into limelight for his hate speech against North Indians in Nashik. This has prompted the police to book charges against him for violating the code of conduct and promoting enmity between groups. Probably he was feeling neglected after seeing Varun getting so much publicity after his speech. So, he didn’t want to be left behind.

And why shouldn’t these people come out with hate speeches, especially if it helps them to attract publicity, crowd and votes. It’s not so appalling for me that these politicians make hate speeches, but rather that these speeches are savoured by the people of this country. These speeches are made only because it helps the parties consolidate their voter base. If these speeches are to be stopped then the people of this country have to come together and defeat the candidates that talk such language. Until that happens why blame the likes of Varun Gandhi? It’s all fair in Indian politics as long as it gets you the votes in the long run.

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Categories : Politics & Society