From jail bharo to pub bharo

M. Gautham Machaiah

Thank God, Renuka Chaudhary was not born during the freedom struggle. Had she been around, our netas would be thronging some watering hole instead of jails in their struggle for freedom.

Chaudhary, the Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare has turned the much revered slogan jail bharo upside down, with her own pub bharo call, urging the youth to visit pubs in droves to protest against moral policing. What abysmal limits politics has plunged to!

Obviously, the honourable Minister has not read the Constitution of India, particularly Part IV, which lays down the Directive Principles of State Policy. Here is what Article 47 says:

Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health: The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.

Chaudhary’s own party, the Indian National Congress, has banned its members from consuming alcohol, at least in public. And here we have a Minister who urges the youth to fight for their freedom by cramming into pubs. Visiting pubs and bars is a matter of personal choice, but to have a Minister openly advocating consumption of alcohol by the youth is disgusting. Surely, Chaudhary would not expect the youth to have nimboo pani and masala chai at pubs!

It is time the Government and the Congress rebuked Chaudhary publicly for her irresponsible statements, more so because she is entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the welfare of women and children.

Thankfully, the Valentine’s tamasha has come to an end. And hopefully, the pink chaddis and condoms are back in their rightful places, lest the Minister has some more wise cracks to make!

Picture sourced from: broadband.bigflix.com)

COMMENTS

I totally agree with the opinion that visiting pubs should be the personal choice of an individual. It is shocking to see such an invitation from the lady, who is sitting in a responsible position. As a person from the same State (Andhra Pradesh), we are aware that Renuka is kind of flamboyant person who strongly believes in up-bringing of children in a "free" society. But she has got no right to influence the youth of India to misuse freedom! She should rather focus her attention to lakhs of families whose lives have been ruined by cheap and illicit liquor. The Minister should be more concerned about these women and children.I would strongly request the youth of India, not to fall for such cheap tricks played by these politicians, be it Renuka, or any other political leader who tries to mix up their personal agendas with general public's sentiments.

-Anju A, Hyderabad

Now, if men didn't turn into Ravana in Rama's name, the honorable minister would not need to make such statements, would she?

-Cherian Thomas, Dubai

It appears that most of us have taken the right of freedom to expression for granted. Thanks to the tabloid like TV channels of this country, an unknown person like Pramod Mutalik has become an internationally renowned personality. Union Minister Renuka Choudhary has proved by her utterances and actions that burning issues like female infanticide. child labour, child beggars, child illiteracy and malnutrition among children are insignificant to be bothered about and gives a clarion call for 'Pub Bharo'.If the Women and Child Welfare Minister were to issue sermons on the law and order problem of a State, then why do we need a Home Minister? If he is supposed to be in charge of law and order, why has the gentleman shut his mouth and allowed the unconnected woman to make a mess of herself and the cabinet as well. After all, hell has not descended on Karnataka? If some elements have tried to take law into their own hands, the government has ensured that the culprits are brought to book. What more can you do in this country, where the courts are supposed to decide on all cases? Can you hang them in public, like in some other countries? It is a disgrace that we have many 'sensible' and 'learned' characters manning the show on the top not knowing their own duties and responsibilities, but very keenly waiting for every available opportunity to grab headlines whether for right or wrong reasons.

-Manohar Yadawatti. Bangalore