With every passing day, it seems that the list of absurd and stupifying things politicians and leaders say only gets longer. From sexist, misogynistic statements to dismissing serious matters when it comes to women’s safety – we’re slowly losing our will to be surprised at it anymore.
In another gem of a moment, The Quint interviewed VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell in Mangalore about moral policing and the Karnataka elections. While the communal divisiveness in their rally cries – “In coastal Karnataka, only Hindus should win which is why the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal are campaigning for the BJP this election,” he tells The Quint’s reporter, further telling them of the door-to-door campaigning they’re doing as well.
What piqued our interest as well is his response to the question of Mangalore’s growing problem with moral policing and harassment of couples and young women. Pumpwell’s statements are jarring – his explanation for moral policing, of the ‘good intention’ behind the public beating and harassment of people as it for ‘raising awareness’.
Mangalore is a cultural place with good values, he goes on to say, and if girls are out in pubs, dancing and drinking, and the ‘youth’ wants to stop it – and if it involves some ‘light beating’ – then it’s for the good.
Words seem to fail us in trying to understand his convoluted ideology and it is frightening to think that it is further being espoused to countless others.
This is a video that needs to be watched, you can view it here on The Quint’s website.
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