Indian politics' most glamorous couple is all over the news again, this time because it may only be a matter of time before they decide they can no longer be a couple. But even before the Twitter brouhaha and her allegation that her husband, HRD minister of state Shashi Tharoor, was being stalked by a Pakistani journalist who may also be an "ISI agent", Sunanda Pushkar had been in the news recently. Khaleej Times, a Dubai-based daily, reported this week that Pushkar had thrown what it termed a “hissy fit” at a function in Dubai. Pushkar, no stranger to controversy, reportedly screamed at a Khaleej Times journalist who was trying to interview Mr Tharoor during a private dinner party, “You really need to stop this!” and “This is why I hate the media.” Most intriguing was the threat that followed -- “I have thrown liquor at Arnab Goswami. You think I can’t do that to you?”
The nation, as a friend put it, would really want to know the truth about this one. And CCTV footage, if possible -- I can already see it racking up a million views on YouTube on the very first day. Regretfully, Pushkar dismissed this particular charge outright on Twitter, and said the others had been exaggerated.
If the journalist’s version is true, and it may well be, Pushkar’s high-handed behaviour is deplorable, and does no favours to Tharoor’s position either, particularly in a foreign country. But the Khaleej Times reporter, in his attempt to show that Pushkar’s display of temper was hardly a one-off, goes on to add in his article, “Sunanda is not far removed from such boorish behaviour. Last year, she slapped a political worker on a trip to her husband’s home state Kerala.”
A little context here. To any woman who has lived or even stayed in Kerala for a sufficient length of time, Pushkar’s harassment would not have come as no surprise. I can personally vouch that my home state, for all its impressive achievements in development indices, including literacy and gender ratio, and the ancient matrilineal system of inheritance of the Nairs, is no safe haven for women. Last year, Malayalam actor Shwetha Menon filed a case against 73-year-old Congress member of Parliament, N. Peethambara Kurup, for sexually harassing her at a public function. Menon later said she would be withdrawing charges, presumably under pressure, though at no point did she deny the incident. Being subject to sexual harassment is perhaps the great leveller for Kerala’s women, those married to members of Parliament, those attending functions with them and the rest of us.
Admittedly, it was tempting for the Khaleej Times journalist to strengthen his case by painting Pushkar as a woman prone to flying off the handle without justification. But by trying to reduce Pushkar's reaction to a serious incident of sexual harassment to "boorish behaviour", he has instead lent credence to Pushkar’s dubiously enunciated complaint on Twitter that ““Some journalist MUST stop abusing the power of the Pen.”
The nation, as a friend put it, would really want to know the truth about this one. And CCTV footage, if possible -- I can already see it racking up a million views on YouTube on the very first day. Regretfully, Pushkar dismissed this particular charge outright on Twitter, and said the others had been exaggerated.
If the journalist’s version is true, and it may well be, Pushkar’s high-handed behaviour is deplorable, and does no favours to Tharoor’s position either, particularly in a foreign country. But the Khaleej Times reporter, in his attempt to show that Pushkar’s display of temper was hardly a one-off, goes on to add in his article, “Sunanda is not far removed from such boorish behaviour. Last year, she slapped a political worker on a trip to her husband’s home state Kerala.”
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Quite. Except that the occasion when Pushkar did indeed slap a man in Kerala, reportedly a Youth Congress worker, was no throwing of a “hissy fit” or even “boorish behaviour”. The incident in question took place over a year ago, when Tharoor and Pushkar had landed in Thiruvananthapuram on their maiden visit to his constituency after he had been inducted into the ministry again. On leaving the airport, the couple was mobbed, and a Congress worker allegedly used the opportunity of the hubbub to molest her. But instead of ignoring the groping, Pushkar slapped the man. “Bravo” I had cheered silently, when I read about the incident.
A little context here. To any woman who has lived or even stayed in Kerala for a sufficient length of time, Pushkar’s harassment would not have come as no surprise. I can personally vouch that my home state, for all its impressive achievements in development indices, including literacy and gender ratio, and the ancient matrilineal system of inheritance of the Nairs, is no safe haven for women. Last year, Malayalam actor Shwetha Menon filed a case against 73-year-old Congress member of Parliament, N. Peethambara Kurup, for sexually harassing her at a public function. Menon later said she would be withdrawing charges, presumably under pressure, though at no point did she deny the incident. Being subject to sexual harassment is perhaps the great leveller for Kerala’s women, those married to members of Parliament, those attending functions with them and the rest of us.
Admittedly, it was tempting for the Khaleej Times journalist to strengthen his case by painting Pushkar as a woman prone to flying off the handle without justification. But by trying to reduce Pushkar's reaction to a serious incident of sexual harassment to "boorish behaviour", he has instead lent credence to Pushkar’s dubiously enunciated complaint on Twitter that ““Some journalist MUST stop abusing the power of the Pen.”