Gujarat polls: The news lows in politics -Governance Now

Gujarat polls: The news lows in politics

The Gujarat elections have seen leaders making remarks that show the polity in poor light

GN Bureau | December 9, 2017

#Gujarat #politics #elections #Narendra Modi #BJP

From ‘neech’ to ‘dadhi-topi’, the run-up to Gujarat assembly elections have seen politicians stooping to a new low to score brownie points over their adversaries.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “neech” remark triggered a political storm just ahead of the two-phased balloting in Gujarat. Aiyar was later placed under suspension by the Congress.

Prime minister Narendra Modi retorted on Saturday: “They have not called me 'Neech' for the first time yesterday. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and her family members have used it too. Why am I 'Neech' - because I was born poor, because I am of a lower caste, because I am a Gujarati? Is that why they hate me.”

Then there is the case of Shailesh Mehta ‘Sotta’, who is the BJP candidate for Gujarat’s Dabhoi assembly seat in Gujarat. He said “if someone with dadhi-topi is among the people here, forgive me but their number here has to reduce” because “there should be no population of Dubai” in Dabhoi.

He was served notice for violating the model code of conduct.

The attacks and counter-attacks were no holds barred.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said BJP leaders were losing their “mental balance” and “they should be sent to psychologists”. He also accused Modi of speaking “lies” and “twisting the history”, reported Indian Express.

In the past too, the gloves have been off.

Digvijay Singh of the Congress had compared Modi to the “10 headed” person, alluding to Ravana. Another time, Singh had tweeted a meme that had abusive language.

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