There is little to doubt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government he heads have dragged themselves into a tight corner by obstinately dragging their feet in defending the dignity of women wrestlers demanding action against a ruling party MP over sexual misconduct.
Ably aided by the Delhi police, its response to the allegations of sexual misconduct against the MP have been pathetic. So pitiful it has been that ruling partymen have no face to show in public – best illustrated by Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, who on camera on Tuesday sprinted away rather sheepishly as reporters sought her response on the allegations levelled by the wrestlers.
But running away from the escalating outrage that the government itself has helped to engineer by its own inept and dishonest handling of the issue may not be an option any longer.
The wrestlers are not going anywhere, though they may have tactically stepped back for now from sinking their hard-earned medals in the Ganga. More worryingly for India, their stubborn protest has snowballed into a global embarrassment with even the International Olympics Association wading in with a strong-worded condemnation about the manner the wrestlers are being treated.
No matter how belligerent or blasé ruling partymen may pretend to be, the optics are terrible. Mostly cunning politicians who are wary of public opinion turning against them, those in power have reason to feel beleaguered by the turn of events.
So, what can the government do to bail itself?
Well, brace yourself some more half-hearted measures primarily aimed at defusing the worsening crisis by assuaging public sentiment.
Also read: India’s Women Wrestlers Are Facing Institutional Betrayal
By refusing to act decisively against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh – the MP who also is the chief of the country’s wrestling federation – the government has already made it abundantly clear on which side their sympathies lie.
For it, rousing slogans such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ ring no bells when it comes to giving primacy to political gains over matter of principles. If this had not been the case, rapists of Bilkis Bano wouldn’t have been freed prematurely from jail ahead of Gujarat state elections where Hindutva played an important part. It was not a simple coincidence that the perpetrators of this horrendous crime were Hindus while the victim was a Muslim.
But then politicians can afford to be brash and brazen only up to a point and not beyond. With the wrestlers’ protest now coming to a boil and reaching a tipping point that now threatens to irrevocably dent the reputation of those in power, expect some balm to be applied post facto for the purpose of containing popular anger.
That tens of thousands are not marching in support of the wrestlers, unlike the time when massive crowds took to the streets after the Nirbhaya rape in Delhi, does not mean people are unperturbed and not upset. India in 2023 is markedly different from the India that was in 2012. A majoritarian government in power may have forced people to be more measured in venting their opinion in public, but there is every reason to believe that they are horrified at whatever that is happening. Even some among the most die-hard BJP supporters are mortified, seeing the wrestlers’ protest being so grossly and insensitively mishandled.
Also read: There Is No Court Order Protecting Brij Bhushan. Then Why Has He Not Been Arrested?
You may choose to call the government of the day by any name – from brash to brazen – but one thing that you cannot say about it is that it is blind. Populist to the core, it has a better sense of the popular pulse. And it would have realised by now, beneath its veneer of breast-beating boldness, that it has lost the perception battle.
Do not be surprised therefore if the government decides to act.
Though it could just be a sham, it would serve those in power well if Brij Bhushan was to be arrested for a while. It would show to the world that the rule of law still applies in a democratic India and silence all its critics. It would also take the sting out of the wrestlers’ protest with the public having reasons to be satisfied that right has finally won over wrong.
Brij Bhushan’s arrest could allow the government to cut its losses without having to change its colours. It would be back to business thereafter. Those ruling us could go back to claiming that they relentlessly champion women causes while the true women wrestling champions will find themselves with their backs pressed against the wall. An unsympathetic establishment retains the ability to wrestle them down to the floor, dashing forever their hopes of representing the country and winning medals again.
Last but not the least, do not count out the police and the prosecution from playing its part. Once the dust settles, they could work to mitigate the mounting problems for Brij Bhushan. Some deft behind-the-scene string pulling and the MP could walk out free in no time, allowing the Bahubali to flex his muscles again. An immediate crisis would be averted, with the influential not having to concede much or change its mind.
Ruben Banerjee is the former Editor-in-Chief of Outlook magazine.