Not out of context: Haryana Gov bats for PM, takes swipe at Muslims, Sikhs

Rashtrapati Bhawan asked him for an explanation after a report in The Indian Express highlighting the ‘‘political’’ parts of his speech. In his reply, Babuji, as the Governor is known, said that it was not his ‘‘intention’’ to seek votes for the BJP and that his sentences were quoted ‘‘out of context’’.

The Indian Express is in possession of a copy of the tape that the Governor said was not very clear and he is right on one score. Some parts are inaudible, but the Governor’s message is clear enough in the bulk of the tape that can be heard. It is even more suggestive in the portions that suddenly trail off and become inaudible.

This newspaper has already reported that the Governor named Prime Minister Vajpayee and asked his audience to support him for bringing peace which leads to development. It also reported how he advised voters that it was foolish to try those who had been tested before — which was seen as putting down the Chautala Government. Other parts of the speech seem to suggest a distinct BJP bias, even though he uses B R Ambedkar to make his points.

Judge for yourself in these excerpts from the tape:

‘‘Bhartiya samvidhaan ka first article kehta hai India that is Bharat is a union of states….yani ki Bharat aur India eek hi hai. Magar aaj halat yeh hai ki jo India kehta hai woh secular hai aur jo Bharat kehta hai woh firkaparast hai. (The first article of the Constitution says that India that’s Bharat, meaning that India and Bharat are one. But today one who calls it India is labelled as secular and those who call it Bharat are called sectarian.)

Soon after this, he singles out the Muslim and Sikh minorities to highlight divisions in India.

‘‘Babasaheb (Ambedkar) ne kahan hai ki sabse pehle Hindustani bano. Aur aajkal hamare desh mein kya hota hai. Ek Mussalmaan hai, woh kehta hai mein pehle mussalman hoon phir hindustani hoon. Ek Sikh hota hai, kehta hai pehle main Sikh hoon, phir Hindustani hoon. (Ambedkar said you be Indians first but what’s heppening today. A Muslim calls himself a Muslim first and then a Hindustanti. Then a Sikh says he’s a Sikh first).’’

Towards the end of his speech, the recording becomes jerky and some parts are unaudible. Curiously, this happens when the Governor seems to be making a blatantly political pitch. At one point, he appears to be supporting the Centre and criticising the State Governments.

Though the beginning of the sentence is unclear, this is what he says: ‘‘…Sabhi rajyon mein sasta ration bheja, kaha ki jo paise nahin de sakte unhe muft mein diya jaaye, jinke paas kam paise hain unhe kam daam mein diya jaaye, aur sabhi rajyon ko yeh sandesh bheja gaya…kisi sarkar ne yeh vaada pura nahin kiya aur kehte hain ki ham garibon ka bhala karte hain (Cheap rations were sent to all States, those who couldn’t pay were not asked to, those who did not have much money were asked to pay less and all States were sent this message…no government fulfilled this promise and yet they say they help the poor).’’

Then Babuji switches to election mode, but his punchline mysteriously cannot be heard. ‘‘Kitni baar aapne is shakti ka istimal kiya, parchi dali. Par baat nahin bani. Ek baar kisi aisi shakhsiyat ko, kisi aise party ko kamyab karein jise… (inaudible). (How many times you have used your power. How many times you have used that chit. Once at least you must make one person, one party successful which…’’

Echoing the ruling party line that there should be one clear leader and not a gaggle of claimants, Babuji then says: ‘‘Yeh na ho ki Pradhan Mantri Bharat ka to ek hi ho, sau candidates khare ho jayen. Sab kahen mein bhi ban sakta ho to phir bane hi bane. (Let it not happen that there is one Prime Minister of India and 100 claimants for the post, and everyone saying I can also become (PM), so let it be.)