Journalism of Courage
Danseuse and activist Mallika Sarabhai who joined the AAP recently hit out Monday at her party colleague Kumar Vishwas asking him whether he does harbour “anti-women, anti-homosexuals and anti- minorities” sentiments or did he occasionally voice them as part of a paid performance.
The AAP is yet to announce its list of candidates for LS polls but Vishwas has positioned himself as the nominee from Amethi against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
“I just saw some videos of YouTube where Vishwas is saying things that are clearly anti-minority and anti-gay rights. I have therefore publicly asked him whether these are his real views or has he just said these things because he is paid for a performance. I have also asked his views on Narendra Modi because I just saw him on TV saying ‘I love Modi’,” Sarabhai told The Indian Express.
Sarabhai has built her political brand around her staunch opposition to the Gujarat CM. Vishwas has been the target of protests by Muslim groups over his derogatory remarks about their religious practices. Vishwas has claimed the leaked videos are from 2005 and has apologised for them. But his views often bordering on those professed by the right wing outfits seem to have now caused unease within the party.
Sarabhai concedes that it is difficult for a party which is such a conglomerate of diverse voices as the AAP to function but the challenge is to find six points of convergence and then work around the others.
“That is why I asked him those questions. Truth is there are huge differences of opinion in parties like the Congress, the BJP and the RJD but they do not allow those opinions to be voiced. The AAP does and it is the best thing that has happened in many years. That is why I have questioned Vishwas, not the party,” she adds.
