MP Jaya Bachchan asked for it

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan- Image courtesy: NDTV

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan recently demanded action against Radio Jockeys (RJs) who joked and mimicked parliamentarians.  She obviously drew support across the party lines.  A few MPs from other parties remarked that “this trend is becoming atrocious”, exhibiting their level of intolerance.

After a hard day’s work, when we are struck in traffic, RJs come to our rescue, and we are thankful to them for the fun-filled chats and help us refresh and relax. Epithets like “chaiwala”, “pappu” ….were not taken offensive.  “Chaiwala to Prime Minister” is a mammoth success story.  “Pappu” didn’t take the tag serious.  Most of Lalu’s fame is because of RJs, comedians and cartoonists.  When the famous cartoonist Shankar had published a caricature depicting Jawaharlal Nehru, the latter complimented the artist, but chided him that his ‘nose is really not that long”.  Take comment and criticism with a spoon of honey, ma’am.   It is also an art to convert the satire to your advantage and popularity. 

Movies portray politicians in poor light

In most Indian movies, politicians are shown as jokers or villains.  The “Kapil comedy shows” on TV channels often mimick. Will you ban them?  Tamil fortnightly Thuqlaq editor, Cho Ramaswamy is renowned for his political satire and has not, for that matter,  spared any politician.  Can you censor the publication?  Do you dare silence him?  Khushwant Singh’s popular “With malice towards one and all” was extensively used for lampooning the politicians. None of the cartoonists ever spared any one or any act.  Incidentally, it is a major part of their job description.   You are no stranger to movies.  Sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. 

Joking and mimicking parliamentarians is another form of freedom of expression.  When we watch “live” parliament on TV channels, I  am sure, ma’am, you will agree with me there is no need to listen to any RJs.  Your colleagues on the floor of the House provide sufficient stunt and comedy shows.  We can give nice titles.  “Pepper spray”, “Sleeping beauties”, “Conspicuous absenteeism”, “Guest appearance”, “Tearing papers/bills”, “Indulging in fist-cuffs”,  “Fight for Room No. 5”…… please help me to continue the list.  We have ministers who cannot distinguish a “degree”  from a "certificate”.  MP threatening to “rape”.   Nearly 30 per cent of the MPs reportedly have criminal records.  The decorum of the House is consistently floored. 

Non-performing and mal-performing parliamentarians can be mocked and mimicked.  If media (in any form), doesn’t point out, who else?  As long as it is not vulgar or derogatory, a witty humour or mimicking is perfectly valid.  Our politicians have forfeited their right to muzzle the media due to their own actions and inactions.

Do we really have parliamentarians?

The real ones like Acharya Kriplani, Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Somnath Chatterjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, … and a handful of others can be found only in our history and politics text books (we should guard that too, as history these days are being ‘rewritten’). 

I hope the whole thing is not a farce that she is trying to claim some publicity. Let us not forget that she has been “nominated” by a party that makes fun of rapes. When her boss, Mulayam  Yadav said “Boys are boys” over the punishment for rape, where was her anger?

This is real life, not show business

The slandering and counter-slandering during election campaigns are there for all to see and believe. If our parliamentarians act like clowns, making fun is an obvious corollary.  The Speaker should initiate a debate in the House on “Why people hate and mimick  politicians?” and make it mandatory for every Member to speak on the topic (attendance compulsory, sleeping not allowed.).

Respect is earned, gagging doesn’t serve the purpose, not in democracy.  Even as a matter of strategy, Ms. Bachchan has erred.  By needlessly raising trivial matter, she has reminded the RJs and the media about what else they missed out.  Akbar has not banned Birbal.  Krishna Dev Raya has not banned Tenali Rama.  “Bachchan” cannot ban RJs.  By the way, ma’am, what happened to your funny bone?  If mimicry is not an art, well, acting is not, as well. 

Hypocrisy is an integral part of our democracy.  When there are MPs who are jokers and black spots and when parties have MPs with smelly foot in their mouth, the “RJ”-tribes will only multiply and flourish.  Let people identify you by your deeds, and demonstrate yourselves beyond sledging. If you can’t take pun in any form while in public life in your stride, its time for you to move on. Its time the melodrama is drawn curtains.  Thanks to Honourable MP Bachchan, RJs, for once, are in the limelight.  On a serious note, our elected representatives must learn to command respect.  Long way to go………