My Columns: Without Fear and Favour

Abusive Language: Growing Trend in Politics By Deepak Parvatiyar The use of expletives by ‘Sadhvi’ Niranjan Jyoti, the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in the Modi government, conveys more than what meets the eye. The reckless ‘sanyasin’, in an election rally in Delhi on December 1, asked the gathering to decide whether they wanted ‘Ramzaada’ (followers of Lord Ram) or ‘Haraamzaada’ (an expletive meaning bastards). Was it just an instance of loose tongue or a clever ploy to polarise the voters in Delhi where elections are to be held soon? It did create a ruckus with an agitated Opposition stalling the proceedings in Parliament, demanding Jyoti’s immediate sacking. Yet, her use of profanity did make headlines – something that a politician relishes, what if Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted by warning his party leaders against addressing the nation “out of turn”. The examples of loose cannons in politics are too numerous to be enumerated.

Shastri influenced VP, says PM's kin By Deepak Parvatiyar (This interview was published in The Times Of India, Bombay on 3rd December, 1989) Bombay, December 2. "In politics, Mr. V.P.Singh has been greatly influenced by the late prime minister, Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri," said Mr. Har Baksh Singh, younger bronter of the newly-elected Prime Minister. "It was only through Shastriji, that he (Mr. V.P.Singh) came closer to the Nehru family,"said Mr. H.S.Singh, in an interview to The Times of India  here today. "Such was the impact of Mr. Shastri on him, that after the former prime minister's death, Mr.V.P.Singh opened the Shastri Seva Niketan at the Manda Kothi. "Since his college days, Mr. V.P.Singh was the epitome of simplicity and although he belonged to the ruling class, he , alongwith his elder brother, Sant Bhakt Singh, protested against the zamindari system. He participated in the Bhoodan movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave and do