By D.N. Singh
Ever since Naveen Patnaik came into power in 2000, there have been two throbbing nerves who proved inimical to his position and political civility.
One is Damodar Rout, who was booted out recently allegedly for frequent perfidious utterances on very sensitive issues. Second is Pradeep Maharathy, also an in-again-out-again frequenter into Patnaik’s ministry. He suffered the humiliations of unceremonious exits and come backs. This time, he has been forced to resign for similar kind of uncivil utterances.
Maharathy and Rout, both had always assumed that their association with Patnaik is the cover-fire for them to use the snipers of highly objectionable nature on any issue. What is evident that both of them were not doing anything out of ignorance. Neither any of their insinuations were spin-offs of any political compulsion. But looking at the quality of language and the tenor, all were perceptibly intentional and uncalled for. The duo has always shown the penchant for cheap limelight. In hindsight, it can be said that Patnaik, in a way, for whatever reason, has been very magnanimous to such habitual offenders who pretend to be on a make-believe moral high.
But, in fact, such characters weigh heavily on the party’s image and credibility. And politics as a whole. One can easily recall the grudging one liner of Maharathy apologising for his utterances. He could neither hide his reluctance to do so nor could he camouflage the class deficit he suffers from.
Such politicians’ inner intents are always in manifest and forgiveness is something they think they deserve. There must be some more stringent actions against such leaders, be it in the Biju Janata Dal or any other party. They should be taught to realise that lose life and one would never again lose anything in life. So once you suffer from the discredit of corruption in language, only the exit door should be the last resort. That way Patnaik has remained a person who should have been more vigilant without adopting to the shout-out and shout-in tactics unnecessarily pandering to the whims of leaders like Maharathys and Routs .
The assumption about cleansing of thoughts through time and change in their pattern of politics can be an over-rated assumption.
