LET law take its own course -- in the case of abusive language used by former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin. Because he used unacceptable language about famed actress Trisha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin arrested. Now, a legal process will decide the outcome -- which is perfectly all right. Let that happen fully and systematically -- so that the nation realises the consequences of using abusive language. The Udhayanidhi case, thus, should be treated as a good symbolism of things should move. Frankly speaking, such -- hard and straight-forward -- approach needs to be taken in every such case all over the country, no matter then who is involved. There is no doubt that the nation hailed Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s stand of pardoning the Cockroach protesters for their abusive language.

 

Yet, there also are countless numbers of people who insist that the Prime Minister erred in granting pardon to the Cockroach protesters who used terribly filthy abuses for him or even his departed mother. The Prime Minister might have made a political point by granting pardon to the users of abusive languages, but set a rather unacceptable precedent, they say. Who would disagree with this point of view ? Abusiveness has often crossed into the different domains of political and public life. Even in legislative forums, some members show the temerity of using very unacceptable language during their statements and speeches. Of course, the system takes care of such expressions, all right, through rules and regulations.

 

et, the nation often finds itself very irritated when political leaders indulge in using language that is no civilised society would ever accept. The nation was equally irritated and disgusted when some political elements even dared to liken people in high positions as ‘chor’ (thief). Despite this all-pervasive usage of filthy language in public life, there appears to be no legal action against anybody at any level. There has been no action against political leaders who stand in Parliament and shout their guts out to insist that India is not a nation and is just a union of states -- which is nothing short of deliberate blasphemy intended to insult the Indian nation. There also have been countless examples of highly irresponsible and arrogant people raising doubts about the integrity of the Indian Armed Forces and other agencies (known the world over for their high-calibre professionalism).

 

Yet, no such abusiveness gets punished in the Indian system, dominated as it is by politics (whose dark intrigue and complex motives the common people never understand). The arrest of Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin, therefore, needs to be treated as a good case study of how to handle such issues. Whether Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. Joseph Vijay erred politically or not by ordering Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin’s arrest, may be a separate issue. But what seems important is the fact that Mr. Vijay has taken a bold step in ordering the arrest -- whose ramifications may prove to be serious in many ways for many elements. Many people often make a strong pitch for Indian democracy as a system that has succeeded hugely despite all odds. Most people agree with this assertion, no matter the jaundiced opinion of a small percentage of some politically-driven Opposition leaders and parties.

 

Yet, there also is a widespread agreement among the people that Indian democracy would be far better off without its current abusiveness. In other words, this is a culture malaise that needs to be handled with firmness -- on two levels; cultural and political. The political community will have to come up with a consensus that it must get rid of its own abusiveness as a cultural malaise, and should stop using abuses as a political tool to beat the opponents with. In still words, a serious and concerted effort would be needed to refine the country’s political culture to a level where respect for everyone would become the core value and basic virtue. It is that democracy for which our founding fathers had bargained.