We're used to the double-speak of the Congress and the BJP, where a party functionary spouts something controversial and at times even incendiary. When there is a public outcry, the party is quick to close ranks and dismiss the statement – by someone from their own flock – as a 'personal view'.
Digvijaya Singh has been espousing his 'personal views' on subjects ranging from the ridiculous to the ridiculous. Take this one from as early as September 2001, when Singh wanted astrology to be introduced in universities.
Opinions on grave national issues can't be dismissed as 'personal opinions': PTI image
"The Congress today made it clear that it was opposed to the introduction of astrology as a discipline by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Talking to reporters, the AICC spokesperson, Mr. Jaipal Reddy, said it was for eminent scientists to decide the status of astrology as a science. The party was also opposed to "patronisation of astrology by the UGC,'' he added. Referring to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijaya Singh's statement favouring introduction of astrology at the university level as an elementary subject, Mr. Reddy said it was Mr. Singh's "personal view"
More recently, Nitin Gadkari has been vociferous about his opinion that income tax, service tax and sales tax should all be done away with. Of course, there was a rider that this was a personal view.
Such views broadcast by politicians like Singh and Gadkari are perhaps balloons sent up by the parties concerned to gauge public sentiment on issues, unmindful of the problems the views could create. In the two instances given above, there is no great danger of societal unrest, so it was easy for the respective political bodies to dismiss them as 'political views'.
What is disturbing is that the most dangerous or potentially inflammatory 'personal views' aired recently come from the AAP. More specifically, they come from Prashant Bhushan. The most dangerous, certainly, is Bhushan's view that there should be a referendum on the Kashmir issue.
As there was swift outrage, the AAP backed off. "We don't agree with Prashant Bhushan. It's his personal view. Deployment of the Army within the country should be decided on the basis of internal security threat. There is no question of a referendum. But sentiments of locals should be respected," Kejriwal said.
Earlier, Bhushan had commented on nuclear energy in general and the Kudankulam plant in particular. "Aam Aadmi Party leader Prasanth Bhusan on Sunday said the party always supported the cause of people's movement against nuclear energy at Kudankulam and would always be with the people.
Addressing members of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) at Idinthakarai near the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Bhushan assured his party's support to the ongoing agitation against KNPP," reported IBNlive.
It is perhaps wishful thinking to expect the Congress and the BJP to be responsible and mindful of what they say and consider the impact of public pronouncements. But it would be tragic if the AAP does the same, and refuses to consider the fact that there are reactions to statements made by senior party functionaries.
Statements can lead to social unrest, to lack of confidence in the economy and markets, to inflation, to the slowing down on investments, to a fall in the dollar, and so on. The media – and the public – have learned to discount statements by Congress and BJP functionaries.
Time will tell whether the opinions of Bhushan can be discounted. Till we know whether they can, we can get used to a time of more and more discomfort, even if the AAP rejects every such statement as a personal view.
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