If what the BJD and the BJP spokespersons are quoting as Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy and Brajrajnagar MlA Radharani Panda having said to each other that triggered a feud between the two erstwhile allies and continued to stall the Assembly for three consecutive days, it shows literally they were talking about ‘water’ and ‘ghee’, considered most sacred and indispensible to any Hindu ritualistic puja. But surly, the intent behind the words, which are used in colloquial Odia slangs, was mischievous.
The slangs are used with a tint of humour to lower somebody’s dignity and therefore, to offend soemone. Squeezing water or ghee out of somebody means to press one till he/she gives in and finally accepts a defeat. Though Panda and her party men did not reveal what words exactly were used by Maharathy, only claiming that the words directed against the lone BJP woman MlA were ‘indecent’, former BJD Minister Pramila Mallick only disclosed in a TV channel that while Panda had talked about ‘water’, Maharathy had retorted ‘ghee’.
She said that Panda had used term ‘water’ to offend the Chief Minister over the chit fund scam, while Maharathy only tried to settle the score by using term ‘ghee’. Despite being a woman legislator, Mallick did not spare Panda saying that her behaviour too was unethical and words not in consonance with the norms of graciousness and courtesy.
Be that as it may, the controversy has subsided with Maharathy having appologised for his remarks. But it does not guarantee of restoring normalcy to the House ahead, which was disrupted from the very day the Winter Session began. The House is meant for discussion over several pertinent issues concerning the interest of the State and its people, but when there are deliberate attempts to stall its proceedings, it only leads to wastage of time and money and derailing of the very purpose of the august gathering of the people’s representatives.
The specter of chit fund scam has been haunting the ruling party which is expecting great trouble from the Opposition once a discussion on the issue is on.
When an Assembly session is underway, no Government would like to be rattled over its lapses and get exposed. On the contrary, no Opposition would like to miss an opportunity to embarrass a Government. But when an issue threatens to tarnish the image of both, it is not business in the House but disruption that seems to be the answer.
For our legislators, whose party men are more or less getting tangled in the chit fund row, only not allowing the House to debate on the scam, leaving nothing ambiguous, would be in their advantage.
The result being the Winter Session, days before which there was much hue and cry over a threadbare discussion on the chit fund scam and finalising, with a consensus, a way to save gullible investors from ponzi firms, began with uproar over Panda-Maharathy duel. Precious days were spoiled over the matter with a clear attempt to politicise the issue and get undue advantage from it.
When issues are discussed with right earnest, they tend to bear fruit, but when politics is allowed to meddle in, they stray from their purpose and end up in unnecessary turmoil.
Probably, the chit fund issue would get no different treat. The Opposition would veritably try to squeeze the proverbial ‘water’ out of the Government by citing rising number of BJD leaders getting into the CBI or ED trap, now that about five ruling party members have been grilled by the probe agencies, with a few cooling their heels in jail. By all means, the number is going to rise further. Similar would be the BJD’s tact of squeezing ‘ghee’ out of the BJP in the House by exposing the Central Government’s neglect to the State. In the midst of the vicious face-off and resultant din, the core issue would be missed.