Lok Sabha 2019: Seven most outrageous things that politicians said this election season!

May 23 is here at our doors and the political commentator in me is breathing a sigh of relief! The last two months have been a roller-coaster ride, not just for me, but all journalists and political pundits. Each time there was a news break, all of us were glued to our television sets to know which politician had a foot-in-the-mouth moment, or which politician said something ignorant or just downright insensitive.

And there was such choice.

There was plenty of ignorance and bigotry that we got to see this election season — so much so that some of these politicians deserve to be inducted into a hall of shame for their statements. Honestly, we are surprised that the Election Commission didn’t send notices to all the politicians that feature on this list, but hey, there are only so many notices they can send, right?

So sit tight as we take you through some of the most shocking statements that we got to hear this election season!

‘Nathuram Godse was a patriot’ — Sadhvi Pragya

Controversy’s own child, Sadhvi Pragya said plenty that earned her the number 1 spot on this list. In one interview, she glorified Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. She reportedly said, "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a befitting reply in these elections."

‘Narendra Modi is a neech aadmi’ — Mani Shankar Aiyar

Veteran politician and member of the Congress party, Mani Shankar Aiyar reportedly called Narendra Modi a ‘neech aadmi’. Again. To follow up, as it were, from his infamous 2014 remark. A few days later, the same man was spotted threatening journalists with violence and verbally abusing them. Who's talking about neech aadmis again?

‘Rajiv Gandhi was Bhrashtachari No. 1’ — Narendra Modi

Several comments lowered the level of political discourse in India. PM Modi’s Bhrashtachari No. 1 remark though was a new low. Attacking a politician, a former PM, who isn’t present to defend himself was a first which shocked many. Needless to say, he got a lot of flak and serious criticism for the same.

'Khaki underwear' — Azam Khan

Being a woman in politics is hard, especially because women are prone to sexist and misogynistic attacks by other politicians. Jaya Prada was subjected to such misogyny this time. Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party candidate, in one of his rallies, reportedly said, "...the underwear beneath is of the khakhi colour", aparently with context to Jaya Prada, and was served a notice from the National Commission of Women.

‘Hua to hua’ (1984 anti-Sikh riots) — Sam Pitroda

2019 has been a bad year for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘guru’ Sam Pitroda. He first got flak for calling Pulwama an ‘accident’ and deservedly so. He then questioned the legitimacy of the Balakot air-strikes. The final nail in the public perception coffin was him saying ‘Hua toh hua’ with context to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

How about keeping shut for a while, Mr Pitroda?

‘Hemant Karkare died due to karma’ — Sadhvi Pragya

Sadhvi Pragya crossed all limits when she said that Hemant Karkare, a man who laid down his life in his duty during the 2008 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, ‘died due to karma’. She was even banned by the Election Commission from campaigning for 72 hours due to her comments.

The obscene pamphlet targeting Atishi Marlena of the Aam Aadmi Party

This one isn’t an outrageous comment per se, but it caused a stir. In a press conference, AAP leaders Atishi and Manish Sisodia alleged that the BJP had distributed an obscene pamphlet in areas of East Delhi, which contained derogatory, misogynistic and casteist remarks about Atishi and Sisodia. Gautam Gambhir even served AAP a legal notice for defamation. This pamphlet will go down in history as the most crass, crude and vulgar personal attack in the history of Indian politics.    

So far.

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