Pramod Mahajan’s death was traumatic. It left a family shattered, a party bereaved, and a nation deprived of a gifted politician. The desperate battle to survive after several bullets remained lodged in his body prolonged the agony. For many days, media attention remained riveted on the hospital where he lay. It was pure tragedy.
However, Indians have a talent of converting tragedy into farce. Farce quickly surfaced after TV got into the act. The procession of anxious well-wishers who visited the hospital seemed never-ending. Mahajan was popular. Understandably, anxiety spread across a huge spectrum. Personal friends close to the family appropriately visited the hospital to offer moral support. But what of the mammoth crowds whose presence added to the hospital’s woes without lightening the family’s burden? Did they come to see the family or to be seen by TV?
Famous Bollywood stars close to Mahajan gave reactions that were restrained, brief and dignified. There were certain politicians cutting across parties who offered a dazzling display of histrionic talent. One cannot mention names. But some obviously had well prepared scripts. A few certainly deserved the Oscar. One was so melodramatic that he qualified only for a theatre award. These performances provoked discussions among TV viewers far removed from the patient’s condition.
TV has a strange effect on people. Not least affected was the police. The conduct of senior police officials briefing the media was astounding. At each step of the investigation a senior cop would give details of what was said, how the witness reacted, and his own appraisal. Thus, police ruled out a property dispute as the motive, briefed the media about the culprit’s psychological profile, and raised questions about likely leads to follow. All this in the midst of a high level investigation!
One cannot recall exact quotes from TV but sample this from a senior officer speaking toOutlook: "I have been on the interrogation team and I can say that Pravin is not dodging anything. No one can make him do anything that he doesn’t want to and no one can talk him out of something that he makes up his mind about, he’s that sort of guy. I can say he was harbouring the intention to harm Pramod Mahajan for about a year. His intention became the motive in the last seven-eight days before he finally pulled the trigger." Gosh! He knows everything! So, the case is closed? Or is it just unfolding?
Time the Maharashtra government woke up!