Anti-India rant by Muslim League leader and Rajya Sabha MP PV Abdul Wahab and pro-Maoist journalist Bhasha Singh at a function organised by the Muslim League in Dubai has triggered a huge controversy. It has thrown up questions on ethics, code of conduct of MPs and propriety. To protest against the anti-India remarks, Indian Consul General Vipul staged a walkout from the event, saying that he can’t be part of any event where anti-India voices were being aired.
The statements made by Wahab and Bhasha Singh had irked many invitees at the function. Delivering her keynote address, Bhasha Singh, a member of the Central Committee of a CPI(ML) faction, said: “Having serious threat to the secular fabric, the Constitution and democracy…, it is a very difficult and dangerous time… I think in these dangerous times, we need to have different kind of tools, different kind of methodologies.”
Many fear that by saying this, Bhasha Singh, a core member of the Maoist outfit, was advocating violence. “What were the different kind of tools… different kind of methodologies she had talked about — armed violence? I suspect it is a clear call for violence and the government should order a probe and take action against the MP,” said a participant at the event. Instead of restraining her, Wahab not only endorsed her remarks but added to Bhasha Singh’s anti-India tirade. He is reported to have said that Indian democracy was in danger. “It is true. I can say that anywhere not only in Parliament, even outside India,” he added.
Political observers say his action amounts to violation of code of ethics for Rajya Sabha MPs. It must be mentioned here that R Balakrishna Pillai, a former minister in Kerala, had lost his position after he made a statement that people of Kerala should launch a “Punjab Model” agitation for protecting their rights. He made this statement when a coach factory initially allotted to Kerala was diverted to another state.
“More than legality, it is a question of morality and ethics. Wahab is a member of Indian parliament. He should not have maligned the dignity of our country in a foreign country. Stooping to this level is quite unbecoming of an MP,” said Prof Gopakumar, a political commentator.
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