Riding roughshod over opposition

When it comes to Chief Minister Nara

Chandrababu Naidu’s outbursts against Jagan, they cannot be justified under any circumstances. His intemperate comments show his mindset. Is it appropriate for a Chief Minister to say to his political opponent on the floor of the Assembly that “I will see your end.” Not stopping at it, Naidu went on passing immodest comments that “your father (referring to YSR) was unable to target me. What are you,” meaning that “you (Jagan) are kid”

In a surcharged atmosphere, a man on the street sometimes may stamp his feet in temper. But, politicians always start screaming blue murder at the slightest provocation. Those in power are more annoyed at the criticism than those in the opposition, who, for provoking the powers-that-be always rake up issues.

Post-infamous Internal Emergency (1995-97), the opponents of Indira Gandhi used to tell people at every opportunity that she used to force her cabinet colleagues to call her “Mr Prime Minister” to drive their point home that all her cabinet colleagues had no guts and they were effeminate. That is, of course, history.The development in Andhra Pradesh Assembly the other day will really pain those believing in freedom of expression. There was stifling or muzzling the voice of the Opposition, which has just 30 or so lesser in number than the numbers the ruling Telugu Desam Party commands in the Assembly.

This is could be the first time that a Chief Minister lost his cool and yelled at the Leader of the Opposition, Y S Jaganmoahan Reddy. Jagan may not have the stature of his father late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. But he has been enjoying wide popular support. His support base at first consisted of legacy left by his father, who was described even by his bitter opponent as “the most popular Chief Minister in the country.”

When it comes to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s outbursts against Jagan, they cannot be justified under any circumstances. His intemperate comments at Jagan show his mindset. Is it appropriate for a Chief Minister to say to his political opponent on the floor of the Assembly that “I will see your end.” Not stopping at it, Naidu went on passing immodest comments that “your father (referring to YSR) was unable to target me. What are you,” meaning that “you (Jagan) are kid.”

Apart from it, the ruling party members raise the bogey of some cases pending against Jagan whenever he rises to speak in the Assembly. They should know that talking about cases pending against Jagan is sub-judice. If they cannot understand this one, it shows their lack of commitment for democratic values. Naidu issuing threats to Jagan will have wider ramifications than expected. The so-called analysts who churn out columns and columns of analysis in newspapers or speak volumes on small screen may not accept it.

If I remember correctly, this is not the first that Naidu had lost his temper on the floor of the Assembly. During his earlier stint as the Chief Minister, he used describe the criticism against him by late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as that of a talk that smacked of rowdyism. Whenever, YSR used to flash his trademark smile when he was the Chief Minister, Naidu used to give the impression of sulking by saying that “keep laughing.” If Naidu believes what his sycophants tell him, he may turn a public ridicule in near future.

By Sreeramulu K