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BY DN Singh
Politics in Odisha today manifest a very “disdainful hollowness” because of one man and that is the chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who had been hand-picked by Narendra Modi and the latter knows why? Were there no other deserving leaders other than Majhi to lead the state.
Before coming to the above issue in detail as who could have been better than Majhi (which we would deal in the later part of this article), let’s see how fallacious and “uncouth” a CM can be.
Mohan cuts sorry figure
At a time when Naveen Patnaik, former chief minister and leader of opposition in Odisha battling with health, the incumbent chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi was very recently seen shaking a political stage by mouthing some scathing jibes aimed at him. Some of them were ‘cheap’ and incomprehensible.
So when Naveen Patnaik was rushed to a hospital in Mumbai for a treatment of a Cervical Arthritis on June 20 the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bhubaneswar to take part in the first anniversary of Mohan Charan Majhi led government, shockingly the latter resorted to some sardonic swipes at the Biju Janata Dal in general, and the unwell Naveen Patnaik in particular, can best be described as very, very derisive in taste.
“ It is disdainful and manifest hollowness in Odisha politics after long, long years that Majhi does not possess even that much civility” said Kameswar Rao
What made Majhi try to wisecrack on the issue by dubbing Naveen led Biju Janata Dal bandwagon as suffering from an inferiority complex on his government’s successful one year, he somehow forgot that two days back he had tweeted an one liner wishing Patnaik speedy recovery. Sad that Majhi never thought it discreet that as the CM, he could have made a personal phone call to wish Naveen good health, which he should have done.
“ Instead, Majhi resorted to the most mordant and contemptible way of tagging him(Patnaik) one among many who fled from the state not to witness that the PM was going to give him a certificate for his one year’s completion” said political analyst Rabi Das.
Das further added that “ surely it was not a case of amnesia that on June 19 Patnaik had tweeted that he was going to Mumbai on a medical emergency. So, it was rather a selective amnesia that Majhi knowingly downplayed Patnaik’s personal health and tried to play to the gallery which sans the human factor”.
Constitutionally, any opposition leader or former CM is entitled for medical treatment at government’s cost but the Majhi dispensation, perhaps, forgot that part or his advisers are not aware of such provisions. There are many precedents in Indian politics when the incumbent prime ministers or chief ministers have stood by their leaders of opposition when any health issue came up.
Constitutionally or otherwise mutual respect in politics is crucial for a healthy democracy. It involves recognising the inherent worth and dignity and health of all individuals, regardless of their political beliefs, and treating them with consideration and understanding, even when there are political disagreements. This principle is essential for fostering constructive good politics.
“Mutual respect is the foundation of a functioning democracy, as it allows for diverse perspectives to be considered and debated in a respectful manner and when it is a personal or health issue one must rise above cheap politics” opined Ritik Pramanik, political commentator
Ailing Naveen Patnaik in his 24 years rule he unfailingly demonstrated decency in politics and otherwise in any discourse. He had never denigrated his language while speaking even about his opponents.
While talking about the above things there is hardly any room for debate of discomfort. But it mainly dwells within us all but the crucial issue is just common sense that often politicians fail to summon many often while dealing with leaders from the other side of the fence.
“The present chief minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, who comes from a humble background perhaps does not seems to have possessed that decency or rational going by his acerbic jibe at the former chief minister and now the leader of the opposition Naveen Patnaik who is admitted in a hospital in Mumbai undergoing a surgery” said Rabi Das, political analyst.
Majhi would have gained more height as a leader had he rather visited Patnaik`s residence before June 20 and wished him speedy recovery after the surgery.
Great precedents
There is no dearth of precedents when Prime Ministers and chief ministers in India have extended exemplary courtesy to any ailing leaders of opposition.
In 1988 when the leader of opposition Atal Behari Vajpayee had a serious kidney ailment, then Rajiv Gandhi as the Prime Minister of India from his government’s side made all arrangements to send Vajpayee to America for the treatment.
Even when Sonia Gandhi in 2011 was very unwell for certain health issues Narendra Modi as the then chief minister of Gujrat volunteered that the Gujrat government would bear all the medical expenses of Ms Gandhi. It was a different matter that Sonia did not need the support of the Gujarat government financially.
In 1970 when Morarji Desai developed some acute health problems, then prime minister Indira Gandhi’s government undertook the responsibility of all expenses of Desai’s treatment.
All said and done, the present chief minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi spoiled his own image by taking to inacceptable ways to berate a former chief minister who is on a hospital bed.
Perhaps, in politics, education or erudition today remains a very secondary aspect but somewhere this aspect prevails. Modi wanted a man who can be dwarfed by his aura but become a Xerox machine.
Alternative to Majhi
What would have been out of place had BJP high command or Modi chose someone politically informed, experienced and educated leader like K V Singh Deo, a seven time member of the Legislative Assembly and a cabinet minister during 2000 to 2009 as a choice for the CM.
“Singh Deo not only a level headed man in person but regardless of his position, who has been seen walking with his head on the shoulder and, and loyal to Modi. Who never slips off his designated track” opined Ritik Pramanik, a political commentator.
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