Political parties, including the BJP and their opponents, resort to abusive language as a tactic to dodge engaging in substantive policy discussions.
In the heart of India, the state of Bihar is grappling with a double-edged crisis. On one hand, the lack of employment opportunities is forcing many sons to migrate, leaving their mothers to yearn for their presence only once a year. On the other hand, the political discourse in the state has taken a turn for the worse, mirroring the infamous 'jungle raj' era of the 1990s.
The recent public meeting convened by the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar saw an alarming use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident, reminiscent of the past, highlights the deteriorating state of political discourse in the country.
Social media platforms have become cesspools of hate speech, often masquerading as political opinion. Anonymity and virality have combined to make online discourse even more brutal. Specific individuals who previously held public office and used obscene language towards the Prime Minister without apologizing are not publicly documented or named.
Other parties are equally guilty of using abusive language and incendiary language in speeches, punishable under the law. In 2014, a minister in the Indian Prime Minister's Cabinet used the unpardonable juxtaposition: Ramzade and haramzade in a public speech, causing widespread revulsion, but no stern action was taken.
The political discourse in India has degenerated into an arena of verbal mudslinging, devoid of dignity and decorum. A BJP MP, on the floor of the Lok Sabha, hurled obscene and racist slurs at a MP from a minority community, with no suspension or action taken by the Speaker or the party.
The PM's anguish is understandable, but he should also introspect on what has led to this deplorable state of affairs in the political discourse. In 1990-2005, Bihar was marked by lawlessness and corruption during the RJD's 'jungle raj'. Today, schools in the state are ruins, teachers are absent, and one out of three of the 14 crore Biharis live below the poverty line. Villages in Bihar have a high number of prematurely bent mothers due to anemia, lack of calcium, and nutrition. Mothers in Bihar receive a pension of only Rs 400 a month.
The BJP leader and the Prime Minister himself have used deplorable sexist expressions like "jersey cow", "Congress vidhwa" and "50 crore girlfriend" in response. This language, while not directly related to the issue at hand, further lowers the tone of the political discourse.
Silence in the face of abuse has become the default response in today's political climate. It is crucial for leaders to set an example and promote a respectful and dignified political discourse. The nation deserves better.
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