Pandya and Rahul bowled over for a duck The controversial talk show with Karan Johar has topped the headlines and pushed the publicity,ratings at nadir. It was not a live show and hence gender sensitive, sexist remarks should have been edited,censored as a self restraint on public broadcasts. The anchors know very well that objectionable content must not be publicly aired. The anchor was egging them to make deliberate comments. Some constraint must lie on the channel and seasoned anchor. The answers to deliberate provocative questions, no doubt are in bad taste, demeaning to the Indian women, who are already a punching bag of sexual harassment ,lewd comments . Their dignity and self respect is violated with impunity ij Indian society. They have apologized in public for their transgressions and also meted ban on playing, What punishment does cricket manual prescribe in such deviations in behavior ? Is it the first of its kind act? The punishment appears to be excessive not keeping with magnitude of so called crime. There are no such public comments in the near past by cricketers to serve as sign posts .The stretching of the issue beyond limits of elasticity and continuously bashing the cricketers to pulp is undesirable. If it is to conscientize and sensitise on gender issue, it has highlighted enough because the popularity of the sport in India and its following as a religion. The impact on society is only hypothetical. There are no adverse reports of any sexual behavior, misdemeanor on both the cricketers from their daily lives ,that they are habitual offenders given to loose morals of words or actions. For all practical purpose it appears to be an empty boast, without any proof of their brash utterances, carried away in their appearance on public platform.
As a matter of fact the lewd and suggestive posters ,crimes against women, rapes, women trafficking, child rapes, child marriages ,girl infanticide, dowry deaths, depiction of women in cinemas in poor light, etc this incident pales into insignificance and smacks of total hypocrisy in male dominated society. One wonders whether the politicians even at the highest level need to be cautioned, warned and hauled up for their most disparaging and insensitive remarks against women. They hold much more much more elevated platform of influence, position, power and following in public domain in comparison to the cricketers. Politicians have got away lightly without even censure from their own parties. The recent comment on Mayawati is debased and offensive. boys will be boys, publicly chiding and ridiculing of Renuka Chowdary , fifty core girl friend are notable remarks against dignity of womankind by politicians of repute and standing and must be revisited with same yardstick of deterrence The two cricketers have become easy pawns to send the message to treat women with respect and selected for harsh treatment ,baying for their blood, in comparison and even after expressing regret Enough is enough. Nelson Lopes Chinchinim