MP minister who said 'is a journalist bigger than me' is not new to controversy

Elected representatives of the society and, particularly, ministers are supposed to be most sensitive citizens because, by virtue of working among the people, they are supposed to know their pulse, their hardships, sorrows, sentiments and sensitivities. They are also expected to be politically correct in their words and deeds.

These are just the basic qualities of a politician. If one does not possess these traits, s/he is not qualified to become a politician or such a person cannot be successful in politics for long. Unfortunately, it is a travesty that in today's politics, which, in our country, has become more of a profession and is linked with status, money and muscle power, such persons are flourishing.

One such politician is Madhya Pradesh's high profile urban administration and development minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. He is a cabinet minister in the state since December, 2003 and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's bête noire. He is also a national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Considered very close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he was also in charge of 2014 Haryana assembly elections.

The minister made a highly insensitive remark barely 24 hours after Aaj Tak journalist Akshay Singh died under mysterious circumstances while interviewing the family members of a Vyapam scam victim in Jhabua on July 4. Asked about Akshay's death, the minister said, "Forget that journalist who died. Is he more important than I am?"

Now, Vijayvargiya's statement only underlines the growing perception of insensitivity of the Indian politicians for the people's problems. Such politicians are far removed from the reality of a delicate situation. They also prove that they can, on many occasions, simply fail to feel the pulse of the people.

There are several politicians in the country who remain in the news for courting controversies. And Vijayvargiya is certainly one of them. It is not a one-off statement from him. He is known to have put his foot in mouth on several occasions in the past by making controversial and sexist remarks. He has gone to the extent of even challenging the authority of the Election Commission and got away with it.

Unfortunately, the BJP has, instead of taking any action or at least reprimanding him, distanced itself from his remarks on all such occasions. This certainly is a reason for Vijayvargiya and his ilk to get encouraged and continue hurting the sentiments of the people who they represent.

In January, 2013, in the backdrop of the Nirbhaya gang rape case which shook the conscience of the nation, Vijayvargiya had the audacity to ask women to stay within moral limits or face such consequences. Citing from the Ramayana, he said even Sita was abducted by Ravana because she overstepped her limit ("lakshman rekha"). He said Ravanas in the society are ready to prey upon women who step out of their limits.

In July, 2012, he blamed women's "provocative dress" for moral corruption in the society. He advised the women to dress in such a manner which evoked respect in others. He expected women to dress and behave in accordance with the Indian ethos. He was talking in respect to a ghastly molestation incident in Guwahati where a woman was disrobed, thrashed and abused by a mob of men.

In mid-December, 2013, Vijayvargiya did not even spare famous lyricist Kavi Pradeep, a recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke award, and demanded that he be "slapped, boxed and kicked" for eulogising Mahatma Gandhi and the non-violent freedom struggle at the expense of those like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Maharani Laxmibai, Rani Dugawati, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhash Chandra Bose, who adopted a different path.

He took exception to Pradeep's nationalist song, "De di hame azadi bina khadag bina dhal, sabarmati ke sant tune kar diya kamaal", a patriotic song dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in the 1954 movie Jagriti.

In October, 2013, Vijayvargiya took on the Election Commission and challenged the model code of conduct just before the assembly elections in the state. He reiterated that he would continue to follow the tradition of offering money to small girls during "kanya bhoj" and paying the drummers during festivals even if they violated the model code of conduct. "You keep such a model code with yourself. I give two hoots to them. Do whatever you like. I reject such a law," he told the commission.

Quite recently, in March this year, Vijayvargiya advised the officials and chairpersons of district panchayats to resort to showing of shoes to the people recover taxes from them. As usual, he cited mythology and said when Lord Rama left for exile, his younger brother Bharata asked for a symbol to rule Ayodhya in his absence. "Lord Rama could have given his bow or any other thing to Bharata? But why did he give only his sandals (khadaau)? It was because the people could be ruled by showing the khadaau and instilling a sense of fear among them," he told them, saying the same rule applies even now.