In the modern political landscape, doing good for the people no longer seems to be the key to success. Instead, making controversial, sexist, and communal remarks appears to be the new shortcut to gaining political power. The rise of a new ‘Caps’ course (Communal, Abusive, Patriarchal, Sexist) has led to a trend—politicians gaining election tickets and promotions based on their offensive rhetoric.
Take the case of Ramesh Bidhuri, a BJP MP who made several offensive comments in public speeches. From insulting female politicians like Priyanka Gandhi to making misogynistic remarks about Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Bidhuri's history of inappropriate comments spans years. Yet, despite these controversies, he was given a ticket in the 2019 elections and even promoted within his party. In 2023, he continued his offensive statements, but instead of facing consequences, he was rewarded with a political position in Rajasthan.
Across India, politicians from various parties have found themselves climbing the political ladder through hateful comments. Whether it’s communal remarks from Nitesh Rane in Maharashtra or sexist statements from Sadhana Singh in Uttar Pradesh, the story remains the same: offensive speech is often met with promotion, not punishment.
It's time we reconsider how we evaluate our leaders. Women, for example, are not just voting for ?1500 schemes—they demand respect and a better society. If we don't change this toxic cycle of hate and disrespect, soon we'll all be asking, "Janab, Aise Kaise?"
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)