A moralist in the age of pragmatic politics, former Himachal CM Shanta Kumar shows the way yet again, going into self-quarantine and chiding the present incumbent.
Who says a margdarshak (guide)—a term coined by the BJP to allegedly sideline party elders like L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi—does not wield influence in the party or the government? Shanta Kumar, a two-time chief minister and BJP veteran, proves speculation to the contrary wrong.
Kumar is known for speaking his mind—bluntly. In response to the 2002 Gujarat riots, Kumar, then a Union minister, said that if he were the CM of the state, he would have resigned (Narendra Modi was the Gujarat CM then). Whether it was the multi-crore Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh in 2002-2003 or the Bangaru Laxman tape scandal, he did not hesitate to raise his voice. As the Karnataka party in-charge, he took a stand against CM B.S. Yediyurappa due to allegations of corruption and nepotism against him in 2010.
After the BJP’s attempts to unseat governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Kumar has been lecturing the party on ‘moral’ politics. “The BJP has deviated from value-based politics. It pains me how state governments are being destabilised even though the BJP faces no challenge as the Congress is on the verge of collapse,” he said.
These days, Kumar is working on his autobiography in his hometown Palampur. During the pandemic, he decided to strictly observe social distancing and advised all visitors to keep a distance. So, it’s no surprise that he got annoyed when newly inducted cabinet minister Rakesh Pathania and the state BJP unit’s new president Suresh Kashyap knocked at his doors to take his blessings and margdarshan for their new innings. After Kashyap turned out to be the primary contact of Sukh Ram Chaudhary, another minister who tested positive four days after his swearing-in ceremony, Shanta Kumar went into isolation for 14 days and outright refused to meet leaders. One wonders if former Himachal CM Prem Kumar Dhumal was following in his footsteps when he also went into a 14-day quarantine after a meeting with Pathania, Kashyap and food and supplies minister Rajinder Garg.
Kumar also publicly snubbed chief minister Jai Ram Thakur for not adhering to social distancing norms—his tour in Kangra attracted huge crowds wherever he went. “There is a need to observe not just 100 per cent, but 200 per cent social distancing and all precautions against the spread of COVID-19,” Kumar said. Some speculate that his chiding compelled the CM to wind up his tour and return to Shimla. After all, who can refuse to tread the marg (path) shown by the margdarshak.
By Ashwani Sharma in Shimla