What’s the point of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, “Parliament is not a place for drama; it is a place for delivery” when he knows full well that Indian politicians’ best delivery is drama?
“Doing drama” is a lovely Indian phrase. This week our representatives demonstrated their dramatic talents inside and outside Parliament as well as over breakfast at DK Shivakumar’s house in Bengaluru.
If it wasn’t the ‘dog’-’bow-wow’ by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, it was the orchestrated slogan chanting by Opposition MPs; if Union Ministers Rijuji and Nadda were not clashing with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, there was BJP MP Ravi Kishan versus the likes of the two Priyankas—Gandhi and Chaturvedi.
Then, there was the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, out of nowhere, ‘slamming’ ex-prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for wanting to use state funds to build Babri Masjid—for which the Congress “slammed” him right back (Republic TV).
There’s no less drama at the state level. Travel to Maharashtra and witness the antics within the Mahayuti government. A National Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) state minister Manikrao Kokate, created an uproar when he claimed that “Splits here, splits there, the BJP is only creating divisions.”
Oho, kya bawal, to use a favorite phrase on television news.
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The actors and producers
If politicians are the lead actors of these political dramas, television news is the wily producer. Wherever they can, they produce conflict.
With a little help from the PM.
Outside Parliament on Monday, Modi delivered an aggressive speech, which TV news pounced upon with relish, sensing a good fight ahead. Their descriptions of his advice to the Opposition are combative—‘PM tears into Opposition’ (NDTV 24×7), PM’s ‘belt treatment… rain fire on Opposition’ (Times Now), PM’s ‘stern, strict’ message (CNN News 18), ‘PM’s big attack…’ (India Today).
The Opposition replied in kind. Congress’ Rashid Alvi told Times Now that during Dr Manmohan Singh’s government, the BJP were “doing drama” all the time.
That set the tone for the rest of the day.
News channels spoke of “uproar” or “showdown in Sansad” (how they love alliteration in their headlines) and “fiery” but “stormy winter session” in Parliament (CNN News 18)
Other descriptions of the day in Parliament included, “Explosive first day in Parliament “(NDTV India), “Yes Sir, No Sir, will there be bawal?” (Zee News), and “How much kaam, how much jung?” (India TV).
Each evening, prime time debates are designed to set political rivals against each other. If you watch Republic TV at 9 pm, the stage is set for battle with opposing contestants lined up to the left and right of the anchor.
Thanks to Sansad TV we get to see inside the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha where there was loud and fierce chanting from the Opposition benches: “S.I.R se bachao, S.I.R. se bachao/Charcha ho, charcha ho..” echoed around the chamber, while outraged treasury bench members protested loudly. Vice President Radhakrishnan, Chairman Rajya Sabha called out, “No, no, no I am not going to allow this…”
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Dog days
This set the stage for the Renuka Chowdhury Show, viral on TV news and social media for the third day in a row.
She is a dramebaaz to perfection. Day one, she arrives at Parliament with a dog in her vehicle—Times Now called it ‘Dog Day Monday’. Speaking to TV news, she reassured everyone that the dog didn’t bite: “Those who bite are inside parliament,” she declared, inclining her head towards the Parliament building.
Hurriedly, TV news channels looked up the conduct rules and BJP shouted insult—did she just compare MPs to canines?
Day two saw more tut-tutting over her scant regard for decorum within the haloed precincts of Parliament. Then, on Day three, when she was asked about BJP reactions, Renuka Chowdhury pushed out her chin and went `bow-wow’.
Can anything beat this for pure drama?
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Most important meal of the day
How about the ‘secret deal over a meal’ breakfast in Bengaluru, between Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar at the latter’s home?
That wasn’t just idli-sambar, that was ‘optics’, said news channels. But they loved the drama nevertheless—you couldn’t tell who enjoyed the breakfast more—the news channels or the Congress leaders.
All morning, and perhaps before all of us had breakfast, we were treated to the two men at the dining table where the ‘main course’ was a ‘power pact’ (NDTV 24×7).
How TV news relished the event: ‘Nati chicken and Idli on meal. Breakfast Politics 2.0’ said Times Now, almost licking its lips. ‘K drama for Kursi’, the channels added, on the continuing tussle for the CM’s post between the two men.
No ‘breakthrough’ at breakfast, said CNN News 18, “just for optics”.
Drama over? “Probably not,” said the CNN correspondent.
And that pretty much sums up proceedings till now inside and outside Parliament. So much for PM Modi’s request for no “drama”.
The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)