The hate speech rendered by the Congress candidate in Saharanpur, Imran Masood, was the lowest of the low, even by the hateful standards of hate speeches. This is a belated wake-up call for the machinery overseeing the forthcoming election, which, because of its importance, is whipping up passions like never before. So redolent was the speech of the communal mindset of some in a key state, which recently witnessed riots killing 60 people, that at least a need to act swiftly was perceived and the candidate booked.
Only last week the Supreme Court asked the Law Commission to look into hate speeches made by leaders of political, social and religious outfits and consider framing guidelines. So accustomed have we become in our expectation that the top court would once again guide the executive with its wisdom, its reluctance to frame guidelines on its own was disappointing. The issue, however, does go beyond who should be acting to curb this growing menace of politicians stirring up trouble among the very electorate that they woo.
As a national party, the Congress did enough at once to distance itself from what Mr Masood said. National parties would have to go much further than that. They have to sit together well ahead of elections and draw up a model code and a list of dos and don’ts that would bring in a fair measure of self-regulation. The Election Commission and the law machinery may be equipped with the power to take cognisance and book cases against offenders after the event, but most often the damage is already done in the stirring up of base emotions.
A pattern of brazen disregard for the provisions of the Constitution is seen in repeat offenders who carry on in the same vein once released on bail. Some politicians are habituated to using provocative language and it might even be a part of their electoral strategy. It stands to reason that while freedom of speech is guaranteed, its abuse cannot be allowed to become standard practice. All parties are also culpable, but in subtle ways rather than in the blatantly vicious style of the former SP politician.
While humour is not absent altogether at the hustings, there had previously been objections even to mildly amusing comments, like the famous Naani yaad dila denge of Rajiv Gandhi or the terms even top national leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi have hurled at each other. It would be in the interests of clean politics if leaders were to get together and draft a code on what can be said in the heat of battle.
