BY SANJEEB KUMAR SAHOO
Because of the advice of so-called “Jhola Chhap” political strategists and “Jhola Chhap” political advisers, politics has, in my view, increasingly been reduced to comedy and entertainment for some politicians. But for me, politics has never been about comedy, entertainment, or personal attacks. Politics means a continuous and practical effort to build consensus, solve problems, and create ladders of opportunity for ordinary people.
As I stated in the first paragraph, I believe politics should not be turned into comedy or entertainment. I made that observation after watching a video uploaded by the Congress social media team on Twitter/X at 7:17 p.m. on September 19.
Let me make my position absolutely clear: I was, I am, and I will always be against personal comments, personal attacks, and trolling directed at any political executive, lawmaker, or politician, regardless of their political party or ideology.
Political debate should be about ideas, policies, governance, accountability, and the interests of ordinary people—not about humiliating, mocking, or personally targeting political opponents.
But supporters of top politicians are trolling each other over language skills, ground knowledge, knowledge of local issues, political skills, and #reading skills. India’s Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi’s supporters, seem to be trolling Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his #English-speaking skills, while Prime Minister #NarendraModi’s supporters seem to be trolling Rahul Gandhi over his Hindi-speaking skills and #Political skills.
But, ladies and gentlemen, five fingers are not equal. So, trust me, no politician is perfect. If you ask me, I can tell you the weak points of your favourite politicians. For example, I know politicians who prefer to sit with female journalists and share news with female journalists first, before sharing it with others.
So, trust me, the people of India need leaders who can hold the Prime Minister of India accountable for failures in foreign policy and for failing to meet the expectations of more than 150 crore people of India. In my view, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is helping only #GautamAdani and #MukeshAmbani and their children.
I have also recently learned about allegations involving a Union Minister who is considered to be very close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to what I have learned, the minister also seems to be helping businesspeople from his own caste. One of these businesspeople was reportedly part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign tour delegation and was recently invited by the minister to his official bungalow in New Delhi during #GaneshPuja. I was also told that a senior government official, reportedly the Cabinet Secretary of India, was present at his home.
I have exclusive pictures related to these claims, but please do not ask me where I obtained them.
By trolling each other, political supporters keep people busy discussing politicians’ personal issues. As a result, people do not talk about or raise their own issues before the government, lawmakers, politicians, and local authorities. Later, people forget about those issues altogether.
About Politicians’ Control in the Cricketing World, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin with a famous phrase: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.” “Jinke Ghar Sheeshe Ke Ho, Woh Dusron Par Patthar Nahi Phenka Karte.”
With that in mind, I would like to ask a simple question: Have you ever seen or heard a video in which #RahulGandhi asks his party’s Rajya Sabha MP, #RajeevShukla, not to hold any official position in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), while Rahul Gandhi himself criticises Home Minister Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah, over his position in international cricket administration?
Jay Shah assumed the position of Chair of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on December 1, 2024. Before that, he served as BCCI Honorary Secretary and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
This raises a broader question about the role of politicians and politically connected individuals in cricket administration in India and beyond.
The BCCI has long been at the centre of discussions about cricket administration and governance. The Justice Lodha Committee recommendations and the subsequent Supreme Court proceedings brought significant attention to questions of transparency, accountability, and the structure of cricket administration.
So, I would also like to ask: When and where did Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla play cricket, given his long association with cricket administration?
Rajeev Shukla has held senior positions in cricket administration, including at the BCCI. The BCCI currently lists him as one of its representatives on the Asian Cricket Council Board.
I am not raising these questions to make a personal attack on Rajeev Shukla or to comment on his political career. My point is about consistency.
If political leaders question the involvement of politicians or politically connected individuals in cricket administration, then the same standard should apply across political parties.
In other words, before throwing stones at others, political leaders should also look at what is happening in their own political backyard. As the saying goes: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.”
However, I do not want to make any comment here about his political career or his continued membership in the Rajya Sabha. He was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2002. His first election to the Rajya Sabha was reportedly with the support of #DhirubhaiAmbani, while his subsequent political career and continued membership in the Rajya Sabha have been with the support of the #Gandhi family.
And I would like to end by saying that I have always said, and will continue to say, that India’s top businesspersons, Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, have largely failed to create globally dominant products that can be sold internationally and compete with the world’s leading companies, despite receiving day-and-night support from the present Narendra Modi-led government. These same top businesspersons have also received day-and-night support from previous Congress-led governments, political parties, and politicians.
At the same time, some of these top businesspersons continue to receive strong support from politicians across opposition parties.
Lastly, making fun of each other and making personal comments against each other by politicians should be stopped immediately; otherwise, the day is not far when people will stop respecting political executives, lawmakers, and politicians.
Students have already shown their love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Jantar Mantar protests from July 20 to July 25, and students’ love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still going viral on social media.
