For someone who is apparently not considered to be a full time politician Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the last few weeks has not been shying away from taking political pot-shots at the opposition.
With a fawning media falling head over heels to latch on to every inanity she mouths the Nehru-Gandhi media circus one must admit has been quite entertaining.
In what was supposed to be an exclusive and extensive interview to Barkha Dutt Ms. Gandhi Vadra had this to say about politics
Frankly, I’m not sure I’ve figured out why myself. But I’m very clear I don’t want to be in politics, I’m very happy living my life the way I am. I think there are certain aspects of politics which I’m just not suited to.
Be that as it may, it is puzzling however why someone who holds these views on joining politics would expose her minor children of ages 7 and 5 to the hurly burly world of political campaigning.
The Times of India had this story to report on 14th April 2009
Former pradhan of Chandosi gram sabha Kanhaiya Baksh Singh had an unusual assignment on Sunday, April 12 — he escorted Priyanka Vadra’s Rehan aged 7 and Maira aged 5 made friends easily with village children, shaking hands & distributing Congress badges on their maiden independent election trail in the family pocketborough of Amethi
Priyanka told the media on Monday that the kids were out campaigning for their Mamaji and had even provided her with valuable feedback on problems like power cuts facing the constituency. “I thought let them have a first-hand feel of life…” said a beaming Priyanka.
While it is absolutely a parent’s decision on whether their children must be exposed to the public gaze in this manner, one cant help but highlight Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s hypocrisy on this issue.
On 20th December 2004 she had dragged the “Today” an english lanugage afternoon newspaper of New Delhi for publishing her children’s photographs.
The matter was filed with the Press Council of India which adjudicated in favor of the newspaper in 2005.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s specific complaint with the Press Council of India was
the impugned article/photographs published by the respondent do not involve any public interest except generating undue voyeuristic and morbid public curiosity about the minor child which is against the interst of the child.
The counsel contended that the contents of the article/photographs published are highly objectionable and directly infringe her son’s right to privacy and normal upbringing.
The complainant has submitted that the impugned article created unnecessary controversies, which were unwarranted and against the interest of the child. It and the press/media unethically tried to drag the child into controversy.
The complainant has submitted that Master Raihan Rajiv Vadra is a minor child and publication of such article/photograph are illegal, unwarranted and against journalistic ethics. Such article/photograph un-necessarily bring the child into public focus, which inter-alia infringe his right of privacy.
Further that many a time the press photographs/media persons unauthorisedly took photographs of the minor child when he was in public/private functions.
Such irresponsible behaviour of the media being unethical and against journalistic ethics may cause serious damage/injury to the child and expose him to serious security threats.
Further the counsel for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made these interesting remarks
the parents of the child made every effort to keep the child away from public gaze. The respondent had brought the child into unnecessary public focus that could be a security hazard and even hamper the child’s normal growth.
The issue is all the more puzzling for as Offstumped goes to press with this post, TimesNow is running a prime time story on Priyanka Gandhi promising to admonish brother Rahul for breaking his security cordon while on the campaign trail.
The Nehru-Gandhi-Vadras may be entitled to their misguided conviction that every offspring of the family has a god given responsibility to hit the election campaign trail.
But will someone question Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on her hypocrisy on the issue of violating the privacy of Minor Children and exposing them to the public gaze ?
An issue that she felt so strongly about back in 2004 that she saw it fit to drag a newspaper to litigation in the Press Council of India.
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