The Election Commission will decide on whether the distribution of free saris — on the occasion of the BJP leader Lalji Tandon’s birthday in Lucknow, which resulted in the tragic and completely unnecessary deaths of over 20 women — had violated the Model Code or not. It has promised to be quick about arriving at a decision. But there can be no doubt that it was cynical exercise aimed at making Lalji Tandon, and his party, electorally popular. Given its timing, Tandon’s altruism — or the altruism of his close political associate, Brijendra Murari Yadav, who had organised the event on his behalf — is completely and absolutely suspect.Of course, it can be argued that such tragedies are waiting to happen. That when large crowds gather, there is always scope for such mishaps, given the irresponsibility and casualness of organisers and the desperation of the poor. But that cannot be a reason to gloss over the incident, dismiss it as inevitable or allow those responsible for it to go unpunished. Tandon, even if he overlooked the provisions of Model Code, should have at least been alert to the physical dangers involved in such an exercise. Section 304 A of the Indian Penal Code recognises causing deaths “by rash and negligent acts” as a crime. And the law should take its course in this instance, regardless of the status of those involved.The injunction that political capital must not be made of such tragedies has been voiced. But to expect the Lucknow tragedy not to be politicised — at a time when a general election is on the horizon — would be naive in the extreme. Indeed, even if the Opposition parties choose to keep quite about it, which of course they are not going to do, one only has to listen to the voices on the ground to perceive the sentiments of the ordinary person over what has already come to be known as the “Tandon kand”. It would make more sense, therefore, for Lalji Tandon and his associates to come clean and frankly own up to their responsibility in staging such a shabby affair. Attempting to brazen it out could prove more damaging in the long run. The tragedy also holds a lesson for all those in the business of handling crowds during this election season. Safety must remain the primary consideration.
