Gujarat elections 2017, ahead of the crucial polls in the state, ruling BJP and Congress are locked in a blame game over alleged bribe offers to buy the loyalty of leaders. Gujarat is in wrestling mode, on one hand Congress party and the leaders of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti to hold talks about the issue of granting reservation to Patels. On the other hand, the young Patidar leader Hardik Patel is in news with a leaked sex CD. As a journalist, I don’t buy these stories that offend personal lives. Earlier too there were many attacks on PM Narendra Modi for snooping, leaving his wife and laying his academic credentials. It happened with RaGa, he is the most vulnerable victim of opposition. Whether that of Modi, RaGa, or Hardik Patel, unless it is not affecting public interest, their personal lives should be left alone. These unwise stories are an embarrassment to journalism, no matter which the politician or political party is. But then these are the hard lessons, any new and upcoming politician has to learn and guard against in future.
The surfacing of the video in which Patel is seen with an unknown woman triggered a series of allegations with the Patidar leader accusing the political rivals of resorting to “dirty politics”. In the CD, Patel is allegedly seen with the woman in a hotel room. While he had claimed that such a CD is likely to be released in the run-up to elections, reports have cited that the said CD was shot on May 16. Ashwin Sankarsariya, as the individual, has uploaded the video on Youtube. He reportedly claimed that he also has CDs featuring the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader’s colleagues. The alleged sex CD is the latest development in poll-bound Gujarat.
All of a sudden this Ashwin, who lives in Delhi, remembered there is a CD shot in 2016 and after a year, right across elections he must publish it. He also made convincing story stating that Hardik approached him in Delhi in 2015 with a girl claiming her to be his wife. He went to Manali and this guy has all the records and audio clips. If Hardik does not clarify now, he will produce the records in next four days. Look at the pressure tactics, they are just diverting subjects from one angle to another and everyone is baking their bread. Why these guys have to wait for four days? Is he expecting some perks? Why this same guy waited for one year to expose the CD? What was the purpose and who shot it for him is another question. Why he is not arrested yet? Well, authenticity of the two video clips could not be verified yet. The video is fake and morphed.
The BJP has stooped to a low level of politics and such leaks infringe upon a citizen’s fundamental right to privacy. Hardik can have his life, having sex with consent of his partner is not crime, it’s his private moment. Why one has to get into his bedroom with a camera? This shows how one was preparing to eliminate his political career long ago. About 10 days ago, Hardik had predicted that a doctored sex CD would be out soon to defame him.
After the video clips went viral, he went to Kadi, where thousands of youth stood by him. This time people are supporting him and he is a man not an impotent, he must be having his personal life, and that is his fundamental right. People are matured enough to understand this. Meanwhile, India is suffering with many issues; these politicians have forgotten to talk on development. Corruption and incompetence are two issues that remains obstacle in Modi’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” campaign.
Without oversight, governments under this system run amok. Their arbitrariness is limitless because India’s Constitution doesn’t place any restrictions on government’s role.
When Chhattisgarh PWD Minister Rajesh Munat’s sex CDs went viral, the BJP government in the state had arrested senior journalist Vinod Verma for tarnishing his image through “fake” sex CD. But same political party in other state is mercilessly maligning the image of a young revolutionary, but no inquiry or arrests yet happened. Politics is the new entertainment hub in this country. The repulsion has given way to distrust and how long will such standard in public life continue to serve us, one wonders. But who is responsible for this? Political leaders and parties? No. It is the average, inefficient Indians like us who have invited trouble and now crying foul over the effects.
We, Indians, have some inherent topography. We love to keep our house interiors clean and dump all garbage outside without the slightest of worry. We get pride by kicking away a beggar seeking a coin but don’t hesitate to pay huge sums for luxurious consumptions, even if that means indulging in excesses. What is wrong with the politicians? India’s political system is characteristically corrupt and it’s abolishing our society’s moral fibre. People don’t live in emptiness; the system in which they live shapes them. It is a myth that the political system nurtures society and can change it.
In BJP leader’s sex CD matter, a case was registered at the police station against Baghel, Verma and others under section 67 (A) of the Information Technology Act following the minister’s complaint. A copy of the CD has been submitted to the police station and it was sent for forensic examination. Munat, considered close to Chief Minister Raman Singh, was accompanied by the state BJP president Dharam Lal Kaushik, his over half-a-dozen cabinet colleagues and other party leaders, while filing the complaint. So much power display and pressure was created against one journalist. Very dramatically he was grabbed at midnight and sent to jail. Why same party leaders showing double face when it comes to Hardik Patel? Winning elections is that important that one can go to any level. Doing such cheap politics is not healthy for India at large. For power, nowadays-Indian politicians are going to any extreme. Some things are really wrong with their upbringing and attitude. Instead provide the growth plan and development.
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