VIJAYAWADA: Andhra politics, known for decorum and healthy debates, has taken a new low with some politicians increasingly using cuss words to criticise one another. What had started as angry speeches during the separate Telangana and united AP agitations during 2012-14 between Telangana and Andhra leaders, has now assumed the form of abusive language in public among Andhra politicians.
It's no holds barred now with foul language being directed against the senior leadership including the chief minister and leader of the Opposition. Incidentally, the police have linked the recent attacks on the offices of the TDP to the use of cuss words against chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy by TDP spokesperson K Pattabhi Ram, who was subsequently arrested.
The chief minister on Thursday regretted that crime was taking new forms of late with "political elements trying to stall welfare activities, using swear words, and becoming antisocial."
He publicly mentioned a Hindi cuss word, used by Pittabhi Ram, against him and even translated it in Telugu for the audience. During the separate Telangana and counter united AP movements, leaders began abusing one another with abusive speeches in a bid to keep sentiments of their followers alive.
Telangana activists and their Samaikyandhra (united AP) opponents hurled abuses almost everyday. The agitations may have died down after the formation of Telangana in 2014, but the use of abusive language continued to dominate the political scenario. In the recent past, the Assembly had seen a ruling party member hurling abusive and threatening language at the leader of the Opposition.
There were also occasions when some members used abusive and humiliating language at their rivals. The unparliamentary remarks had to be expunged from the official records. Foul-mouthed comments have now spread to all parts of the state. Abuses seem to have become the order of the day. With press conferences where leaders let loose the filthy language telecast live, the abusive content goes on air uncensored. Ironically, some leaders have found it encouraging and repeatedly use unparliamentary words.
According to political pundits, the use of abuses and physical attacks may create a sense of fear among people, particularly investors. “The way our politicians are quarrelling in public by stooping down, forgetting all decent norms, will not do good to the state,” observes political commentator Prof DAR Subramanyam. Prof Subrahmanyam said that leaders using filthy language in public should realize that they are being closely watched by millions. “It's unfortunate that no one is an exception to the deteriorating public debate standards. Senior leaders should take the lead to set things right by advising followers not to resort to curse words,” Dr Subramanyam suggested.
Sociologist and political commentator Dr MC Das regretted that it was unfortunate that leaders are indulging in abusive and obscene language forgetting that this would impact the state at large. “Many people now repent on electing leaders, who are foul-mouthed.This sort of speeches could lead to violence and will have a bad impact on the psyche of the young generation,” Dr Das said. While TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu criticised the attack on his party offices, justified his spokesman’s flilthy language and called for state bandh, Jagan condemned the abuses and said people, who are angry over the abusive language, were behind the attacks.
