Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Tejendra Khanna’s comment against north Indians on Thursday that they ‘took pride in breaking the law’ has stirred up the pot boiling already by the recent statements and deeds of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray.
At the inauguration of a new traffic-patrolling scheme by the Delhi Police, Khanna said, “while people of South India usually remained within the law, the people of North India took pride and felt a sense of honour in violating the law of the land.”
However he said that media completely distorted his remarks. A statement issued from his office said that the media has “seriously distorted the context and content of the statement.”
Clarifying his point of view the Rajniwas official said ''Khanna had referred to the comparatively lower level of autonomous self compliance of traffic regulations such as maintaining lane discipline, giving right of way and respecting traffic lights in Delhi, as compared to that observed in some metropolitan cities in the South, which is borne out by relevant statistics.”
The Lieutenant Governor must clear his stand while pointing out north Indians as habitual lawbreakers that whether the law-violator belongs to any particular society, community, class, section or the whole north Indians. But, if he wanted to say whole of north Indians feel enjoyment in infringing the laws, he must think about his own government, where many people belonging to Bihar and UP sit on high posts in government offices, which are solely responsible for maintaining law and order in his own state, Delhi. And, if these officers too like the commoners enjoy in breaking laws then, he must ask resignation from these officials.
Secondly, if the Lieutenant Governor had referred the violation in obeying traffic rules, he must also clear whether the whole north Indians break the traffic rules? If not, then a person sit on the high governing post must keep restrain upon himself while speaking in public. People like him must think that such remarks hurt the sentiment of the entire region. He must refrain from divisive statement that is certain to incite regional hatred and ill-feeling among people from different regions.
It seems that perhaps Raj Thackeray alone was not enough to divide the nation on regional basis. That’s why Tejendra Khanna has come forward with his fresh attack on north Indians that knowingly or unknowingly supports Raj Thackeray’s division of nation on regional basis.
Khanna’s comment drew sharp attack from all quarters and leaders told him to keep restraint.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, while condemning Khanna for his extremely irresponsible statement against the North Indians, demanded from the Congress-led UPA government to clarify its stand on the issue and sack the Lt. Governor without further delay.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, reacting sharply on Khanna's provocative remarks, said, “people of North India did not need a certificate from anyone about their character and integrity.”
“Delhi is the capital of a democratic India and people have the liberty to decide where they want to live and work," Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said.
Meanwhile in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati lashed out at Khanna, went a step further, and demanded his removal in a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Controversial portrayal
Perhaps Tejendra Khanna loves to remain in controversies. His recently ID proposals had been slammed for being not only unfair to the poorer citizens and migrants, but also the move could likely lead to unfair harassment.
Khanna’s remarks are clearly unwise as they brand the entire communities as keen violators. First the remark is ill judged and then the time is inappropriate as it corresponds with the rage in Bihar and UP, over attacks on people belonging to these two states in Maharashtra by the MNS followers.
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