Today, the biggest issue this country is facing is corruption. The country has seen mega scams in the last 10 years of UPA regime and voters want to bring an end to the ‘Mahacorrupt’ government. People are not concerned about why Modi has not disclosed his childhood marriage before. People are concerned with what he is going to deliver for the country. Modi is being tagged as #Feku on social network for lying time and again and stating the wrong facts. It is natural that the supporters of a person/ party come under question while leader gives some wrong statement and reduces his credibility. Though it is a personal matter but hiding the truth does not suit a leader. He always said that he is a bachelor. When opposition created hullaballoo over the issue then he declared that she is his wife. He should be answerable to his voters about her basic rights denied by him. He is the leader who always talks about Women’s Rights in a Democracy. Yes, India is the biggest democracy and he should know that charity begins at home and he should practice what he preaches.
Finally, he revealed that he is married because he has eyes on the PM post and secondly, Jasodaben was already in news. He might have thought if he declared himself a bachelor, this issue of his marriage may get him into controversy and to avoid the hullabaloo, he declared her name in the election form and ended up in a muddle. I agree, marriage is a private matter, but the surprise disclosure by the PM candidate raises many unanswered questions. The sudden disclosure after so many years of denying existence of a wife is a clear case of lie and perjury. Moreover, he admitted that his marriage was a child marriage. Then who was the culprit and who should be punished for that? If it was not child marriage, then who will take action against Modi for depriving his wife’s her rights, leaving her without giving divorce. No matter what, but the lady has suffered all these years. Now, Modi’s supporters are terming it as sacrifice and tapasya. This is not about linking Mr. Modi’s silence about his wife to position of women in the country. The real question is, why he has hidden the truth and why he did not accept that he is a married guy? Was it not only for a political mileage, that he has sacrificed his personal feelings for the sake of people? It is about his mentality; if he cannot do justice to his wife then how can we expect him to do justice to the women of this country?
To marry and have a wife is one’s personal choice. This revelation is fully comprehended by conservative ideologues of new renaissance behind BJP when they do final character sketch for its future PM. If one fails to deliver normal affinity to his wife, how can it be a better choice for the bulk of diversified India?
Unfortunately, the act added more spice than intended in favour of the opposition and the impact feasibility study seems went wrong. Though, the West owns its own frailties, it insists obsessively for clean leaders to rule them. They peek into minute details of leaders’ biography, search genealogy and discuss it before exercising the revered democratic conscience. There is no intolerance for candidates or party but the aggressive instant flow of comments.
BJP supporters and leaders are actually hiding the fact by saying the marriage happened at a very young age, when Modi was just 17 and since it is a child marriage it need not to be entertained. The real issue here is not whether that was a child marriage or not, but why a person in his capacity, and a PM aspirant, had hidden the very fact in the previous elections, and why he is disclosing it in this election? Besides, he himself was saying time and again I am a bachelor, and will not involve in scams and corruptions like family men do.
Child marriage is not new in Indian society. Kids are married at a tender age when they don’t even understand the institution of marriage. Secondly, the electoral and judicial system has also made mandatory the disclosure of personal details like assets and that might hinder the candidacy of a candidate contesting in the elections.
Recently, we see BJP’s advertisement on TV showcasing women empowerment, women safety, women development.
Ironically, their PM candidate is the man who has never acknowledged the fact that he has a wife. What role model will Modi play when he refused to acknowledge his own wife? Had they been legally separated, then the case would have been different. If he was married in childhood, why didn’t he do something when he became an adult? What took him so long? Further, in a country where women have a robust public presence, keeping his wife hidden away from the public eye, suggested a regressive view on Modi’s part of a woman’s place in this country. Personal life and conduct of course reflect the character of the person. It is high time, Modi acknowledges his mistake and take sincere steps to address the issue.
