Opinion Before ‘panauti’ comment, there was PM Modi and BJP’s vile statements

Take, for instance, the case of Donald Trump, whose presidency in the US was characterised by a language both unconventional and unbecoming of a leader. His unrestrained use of colourful language, particularly on Twitter, not only defied traditional decorum but often crossed into the realm of vulgarity, such as referring to countries in the Global South as “shitholes”. Trump also has a penchant for giving nicknames to his opponents — Crooked Hillary and Pocahontas — and launching personal attacks. This departure from conventional presidential discourse lowered the dignity of the office allowing people to take potshots at him with words like liar, misogynist, and divider.

Bolsonaro too, in Brazil, followed a similar trajectory. His blunt and often offensive remarks, whether targeting minorities, political opponents, or global leaders, have fueled controversy and division.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used rhetoric that, while resonating with his political base, has been consistently criticised for its polarising and divisive nature. His speeches, described as impactful oratory by his admirers, have rarely cared for historical or factual correctness or the moral obligations of the head of a state. This has drawn both fervent support and vehement opposition.

The appeal of these leaders’ uncouth language and departure from traditional political rhetoric must be examined deeply. They have garnered support by presenting themselves as “anti-establishment” but even after coming into power they never settle down to the task of governing but continue to rail and rant against their opponents.

Vile language is part of BJP’s populist strategy

In India, the favourite trope of the BJP’s leadership and supporters is their own victimhood by those they seek to tarnish as “sickular”, “commies”, “Islamists” and “Maoists”. Their narrative about the alleged unbridled power and corruption of the Opposition leaders allows them to brandish murderous slogans like “goli maaro saalon ko” and indicate to the lumpen segments of their parivar that they should manufacture malevolence, hatred and violence.

Their cynical appeals are also directed towards the segments of society they know are marginalised in the economic growth story. Coarse language is not an isolated problem but is a veil over policies that are hostile to the interests of these very excluded groups.

Unfortunately, sections of the media and the BJP’s propaganda machine work in overdrive to sell this fake and vulgar discourse to the disenfranchised who perceive it as a kind of unvarnished authenticity to which they can immediately connect.

There exists a faction of the professionally opinionated that champions the populist leaders’ unfiltered expressions as a break from the “shackles” of political correctness. They argue that the shedding of “political correctness” resonates with the masses, tapping into a vein of authenticity that they judge lacking in the Opposition.

The PM and BJP leaders’ disregard for statesmanship has stirred chaos in Indian politics. On the one hand, they frame political opponents as “termites” and terrorist sympathisers, sections of Indians as “Babur ki aulad”, Opposition leaders in racist and misogynist terms as “Ramzada-Haramzada”, “Jersey cow-hybrid calf”. On the other hand, they claim sympathy for having been targeted with uncivil descriptors. It has to be said that most of the latter claims are not borne out by facts but are a result of deliberate twisting of the words of the critics.

Why Opposition struggles to respond to BJP’s attacks

Narendra Modi has relentlessly promoted unscientific superstitions such as banging utensils and clapping (thaali and taali) for countering Covid. He has gone to the extent of giving lectures on mythology to scientists. On numerous occasions, he has distinctly connected the country’s future with his own destiny. Given this, he would perhaps not mind the superstitious “panauti” discourse if its target was anyone but him.

The attraction of populism lies in its appeal to emotions rather than reason, its promises over policy. This appeal to emotions, coupled with unfiltered language, creates an environment where truth becomes malleable, facts become subjective, and rhetoric replaces substantive debate.

The challenge for a political party or political leader in the Opposition in India then is to continue to reason in the face of irrationality. But the problem is that the BJP’s default mode is electoral campaigning and their main mobilisation strategy is the tearing apart of the nation’s social fabric. Given this, no space is left for civil dialogue which leads to the good of the nation.

In principle, we should all take a moral high ground and stick to rationality and civil discourse. In practice though, our polity has licenced and rewarded this vulgarity by selective outrage. If the state law enforcement institutions and even institutions like the Election Commission of India are perceived as not being bipartisan then all we are left with are the weapons of the weak — frustration, lamentation, and damnation.

The bar is high for Opposition parties and leaders, and rightly so. But BJP leaders, spokespersons and those who have its protection have continuously plumbed the depths of human discourse and come up with vilest of expressions. In this, the PM can be credited with leading by example.

The writer is a Rashtriya Janata Dal MP, Rajya Sabha