Kejri lowering political discourse: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday launched a counter attack on the AAP for “lowering the political discourse” and said the “right to vulgarity” was not available to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

With the AAP accusing him of being involved in the DDCA corruption, Jaitley said people in positions are expected to act with restraint, hinting at Kejriwal and other AAP leaders.

Questioning Kejriwal’s several undignified barbs against Modi, including that the PM was a “coward” and “psychopath” which he had uttered in the aftermath of a CBI raid on his principal secretary that triggered the controversy over DDCA affairs, Jaitley said the nation would be outraged if central government functionaries were to speak in the same language.

“What about the statements made by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi about the prime minister and others, both inside and outside the Delhi Assembly? If any functionary of the Government of India were to use such language, it would witness a nationwide outrage,” he commented his Facebook post titled, “Stray thoughts after winter session”.

“Vulgarity is not a right available to them. The political discourse cannot be couched in vulgar language. Falsehood delivered with vulgar overtones is not a substitute of truth. Lumpenisation of public discourse can never be high point of politics. Functionaries of the Delhi government and its supporters have lowered the level of political discourse,” he commented. He accused AAP leaders of “relying heavily on general falsehood without ever stating the specifics”.