04/04/2015

‘Off the record’ problems of Giriraj Singh


Patna,(BiharTimes): While regretting his remarks on Sonia Gandhi Union minister of state, Giriraj Singh, meekly stated that one should understand difference between what is off the record and what not. He did not clearly and emphatically mention whether his utterances against the Congress president was off the record or not. It seems that he was himself not very sure about the comments.

But some of his apologists, both in the media and politics, are of the view that the difference between off the record and on the record should be understood as the mediapersons, especially of the electronic channels, sometimes in zeal for TRP rating, bid goodbye to their professional responsibility.

But Giriraj’s case is a bit weak as he had been used to such utterances. In fact many public opinion makers attribute his sudden rise in politics in the recent years to his outlandish statements and strong loyalty to prime minister Narendra Modi. Otherwise he is not a stuf fit for a berth in Union cabinet.

True he is a Bhumihar and fairly young to be a minister as per the criteria laid down by the prime minister. Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister Dr C P Thakur is above 80 and Begusarai MP, with whom Giriraj has no good relationship, is about 75.

But there are much more sober and talented Bhumihar leaders in the BJP like former minister Chandra Mohan Rai, who never got promoted as he was not so sharp-tongued as Giriraj. As Giriraj is used to such utterances and has always been in controversy nobody was there, even in his own party, to listen to his weakly argued point on “off the record”. In fact his on the record statements are often as acerbic as the one given against Sonia.

His remarks that all those opposed to Narendra Modi should be pushed to Pakistan and the way he came down on the former deputy CM, Sushil Kumar Modi, when LJP leader was about to join the NDA is known to all.


He love to remain in controversy as this is his USP. Incidentally, a major theft was committed in his house soon after he became MP. The burglar decamped with Rs 1.14 crore and dollars and ornaments worth lakhs of rupees from his flat. He gave contradictory statements then.

Critics of BJP are of the view that since PM Modi loves such controversial figures he had packed all of them in his cabinet. This was the line of criticism adopted by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

This off the record row is not the first of its kind. Old-timers recall that when the newspapers carried the quote that “Patna ki sadak ko Hema Malini ke gaal se bhi zayada chikna bana denge” (Will make Patna’s roads smoother than Hema Malini’s cheek) the then chief minister Lalu Prasad denied having said any such thing.

But Giriraj’s case is different. He is living in the era of TV journalism and smart phones and he can not be so casual even while speaking off the record. What the minister needs to be advised by the gentlemen in his party is that off the record things are said among friendly journalists be it in Patna, Delhi or even in one’s own constituency––Nawada in this case. There was absolutely no scope to utter off the record things in place like Vaishali district. How can a Union minister say so to those with whom he is hardly introduced.

Anyway Vaishali district has hogged the limelight twice in a fortnight. First time when a local journalist snapped a photo of mass copying in matric exam. It went viral. This time a Union minister has been caught.


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