There are words in the English language that can be altered over time. It is called a semantic change. But some words should be taken seriously, and not at face value.

Take ‘Meditation’ for instance. It is a practice that involves focus in clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques. It is usually done in isolation and has nothing to do with ‘Lights’, ‘Camera’ ‘Action’, with thousands of soldiers on guard.

Or take the word ‘Interview’, which plays a crucial role. If it involves journalism, both the reporter and the leader have an important role to play. The journalist speaks on behalf of the public and is committed to uncover information by asking questions on important issues.

The leader is expected to give balanced, impartial, objective and accurate answers. Interviews are unscripted dialogues, not a monologue or a scripted ‘Man Ki Baat’.

The latest in the category is a ‘Press Conference’. This is a media event in which notable individuals or organisations invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions.

A Press Conference is an essential tool in getting the message out to the general public and is called out when important news has to be conveyed. It is not a literary gathering or a Mushaira to showcase your poetry by spouting odes to EVMS.

It is an event that should be taken seriously because giving misinformation or insignificant information is worse than getting out no message at all.

The Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, in a Press Conference in March turned to his poet avatar, delivering multiple poems and couplets in his speech to emphasise his points including the criticism around the electronic voting machine (EVM).

He took a dig at the critics of the EVMs, saying the poll authority is often at the receiving end of ‘unfulfilled desires’. If you can’t do your job properly, blame yourself and not the EVM’ he said. In the ‘shayarana andaaz’ he recited a self-composed sher:

‘Adhoori hasrato ka ilzam

Har bar hum par lagana thik nahi

Wafa khud se nahi hoti

Khata EVM ki kehte ho’

He even quoted Bashir Badr while asking political parties to maintain decorum during the campaigning of the elections. He requested the parties to be respectful towards each other:

‘Dushman jam ke karo, lekin yeh gunjaish rahe

Jab kabhi hum dost ho jayen toh sharminda na hon…’

“You can be sworn enemies but let there be scope for not being ashamed when you become friends,” he added, translating the quote in English. He said this to buttress the point that even ruling parties have lost elections when EVMs were used for polling.

Apparently anticipating a vitriolic poll campaign, the CEC also urged political parties and leaders to refrain from abusing and vilifying their rivals.

He also quoted a couplet of Rahim:

‘Rahiman dhaga prem ka

Mat todo chatkay

Toote pe phir na jude

Jude gaath pari jaaye…’

Broadly translated it means that the threads of love, once broken, cannot be healed and even if they are repaired, the creases still remain.

I don’t know if the reporters were shocked, amused or annoyed at this theatrical performance of rhyme with no reason. But one brave journalist, Ashlin Mathew enquired about why no action was taken against the alleged ‘hate speeches’ by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.

Without spouting any poetry CEC Kumar, reiterated that the Commission has taken action wherever violence has been established. And he also emphasised that regardless of the stature of a campaigner, if allegations are substantiated, the Commission will not hesitate to take appropriate action.

Well, we all know just how ‘free and fair’ the entire process of elections has been. We have all seen how responsibly it was conducted throughout the country that claims to be the largest democracy in the world.

First off, why did the Commission not exercise its authority to freeze the EBS amounts collected by the BJP and others to prevent the same being used in electioneering?

Second, wasn’t the Commission aware that the government had planted its nominees as Directors of the BEL and ECIL- the two Central Public Sector Enterprises entrusted with the manufacture and supply of the EVMS? What efforts were made to address such a brazen conflict of interest for restoring the eroded public trust in the efficacy of the EVM system?

There were multiple (authentic not doctored) videos circulated where agents of political parties were openly canvassing for their candidates ‘within’ the polling booth. People were voting multiple times, shouting slogans, displaying pamphlets or forcing people to press a certain button. Some were not even allowed to vote. Was any re-polling ordered in such booths?

Also why target only the Opposition leaders under the guise of seeking clarifications, brazenly ignoring the fact that the Election Commission exists for ‘We The People’ and all the parties representing them. Why did it continue to encourage the very same campaigners to continue repeating objectionable statements, who blatantly invoked religion for votes, made divisive statements and promoted hatred?

Wasn’t the Commission not conscious of the fact that such statements made by those occupying senior, responsible public offices, not only lead to long-term adverse impacts on the integrity of elections and on democracy, but also hurts the harmony of the society?

Anyway, just one day before the results were to be announced, on June 3, there was yet another Press Conference. The journalists gathered yet again to question. And yet again the event was turned into a Mushaira. But apart from the recitation of multiple ‘shayaris’, this time there was also an enactment of a drama that somehow felt very familiar. When a journalist posed some questions, what we got to see was CEC Kumar playing the ‘victim card’.

And we all know why that occurs. It happens with people who are guilty, narcissistic, or have very low self esteem. Such folks, instead of taking responsibility for their acts, usually tend to develop a victim’s mindset.

That is perhaps the easy way out, so why not? Playing the victim helps one to get away from awkward situations or conversations. It is an age-old tactic to justify your inabilities or your wrong doings.

This attention seeking, coping strategy diffuses all the responsibility, making others feel that it was a powerful ‘tool kit’ that was working against the ‘poor’ man. And even though the poor powerful man has all that is required to fix the situation, he now has an excuse to give out a picture as though everything was out of his control.

Thus not only drawing the attention away from the actual issues but also gaining sympathy and support! Isn’t it funny that those who cry victim, are usually the ones who are usually in the wrong?

Nargis Natarajan is a writer, author and novelist residing in Bhubaneswar. Views expressed are the writer’s own.

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