Politicians come to blows on TV show

NAGPUR, February 20: Wrestling for power in the political arena is acceptable, but when political leaders come to fisticuffs, that too durin...

NAGPUR, February 20: Wrestling for power in the political arena is acceptable, but when political leaders come to fisticuffs, that too during a cable TV programme, the situation becomes intolerable.

In one such real fight, Shiv Sena city chief Praveen Barde and Republican Party of India (RPI) corporator Prakash Gajbhiye freely exchanged blows on the Nokh-Zokh television programme organised by IN Cable network. Scores of viewers watched the programme on their television sets.

Congress candidate Vilas Muttemwar stayed away from the show, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ramesh Mantri left the scene as the fisticuffs were being exchanged. Barde used unparliamentary language while referring to the Congress with which the RPI is having an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Gajbhiye used similar language about the BJP.

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A free-for-all followed during which BJP city unit president Prabhakar Datke and Barde pounced upon Gajbhiye. Later Gajbhiye and Barde exchanged blows even as thetelevision cameras were on. The debate ended without any message.

Tempers rose when anchorpersons Sanjay Tiwari of IN Cable and T B Golhar of the NUWJ sought the opinions of the three groups on the standing of Congress which has, earlier, lent support to other parties in forming the government, but later withdrawn support.

Barde used a particular word to compare the relations of the Congress with those parties which had taken its support. This caused a furore in the Congress camp and the leaders lodged their protest with the anchorpersons. Gajbhiye used another unparliamentary word to describe the life of a senior BJP national leader.

This caused confusion in both camps and Datke ran to catch Gajbhiye. As leaders gathered in the middle of the set, the organisers ordered the cameras to be switched off. Both parties hurled abuses and levelled blows till the seniors intervened in the matter. The debate resumed after tempers cooled down.