Idiom and abuse

Theres a right place and time for an idiom. Nor can it be used at will. Its individual syntactical components will be extracted and highlighted,although an idiom is nothing if not full. Certain idioms dont work at all. These are hard lessons BJP President Nitin Gadkari may be learning from his entanglement in the controversy over words he chose to describe the actions of Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav in a speech that chastised the RJD,SP and BSP for not supporting the NDA over the cut motion in Parliament. Gadkari may also be learning that when youve just entered a national spectrum of public life,adversaries doubts about whether you should be there at all will persist. And these will be strengthened by gaffes.

In Parliament,and in politics,it has been observed how often abuse is resorted to and how readily offence is taken. In the delays to legislative proceedings and adjournments to the House,the role of disruption is widely noted,as well as the frequency and tenor of spats. Despite mechanisms to deal with unparliamentary language,there hasnt been visible willingness on our politicians part to change their conduct. And similar conduct outside,in the wider political battleground,doesnt help at all.

Gadkaris offence is the use of foul language; and no excuse of misunderstanding what he meant or his idiomatic usage of Hindi will do. He has rightly apologised,and he would be advised not to stand on ego and finesse that apology. Lalu and Mulayam dont appear very forgiving at the moment; and the experience should deepen the BJP chiefs understanding of the gravity of his new national stature. If theres a verbal line that cannot be crossed in civilised politics,it has no place for thoughtlessness either. Parliamentary language will not become more parliamentary if its a free-for-all in the wider political flow that feeds Parliament.