From rhetoric to rudeness in politics
A national daily recently highlighted how American politics has descended into a culture of coarse language and profanity, with leaders openly using vulgar expressions in public discourse. What was once a space for polished rhetoric and dignified debate has now become a battleground of insults, where shock value often overshadows substance.
This trend, epitomised by Donald Trump’s style and now echoed across party lines, reflects a deeper erosion of civility in democratic dialogue. When leaders normalise obscenities, society risks accepting them as the new standard of communication. The danger lies not only in the words themselves but in the message they send—that aggression and vulgarity are more effective than reason and respect. As readers, we must ask whether democracy can thrive when its language is debased. Political speech should inspire, not degrade. Restoring dignity in discourse is essential if politics is to remain a forum for ideas rather than insults.
Assis Everette Telles, Comba, Margao
Preparedness over panic
During the vacation season, international travel increases sharply, with people from India visiting foreign nations and travellers from different countries arriving in India. At such a time, the Ebola outbreak has raised global concern. The Union Health Ministry has asked all states and Union Territories to strengthen surveillance, improve hospital preparedness and screen international passengers after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Ebola is a rare but severe and often deadly illness caused by the Ebola virus. It spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or tissues of infected people or animals. It can also spread through contaminated objects such as needles and medical equipment. It is not generally spread through the air. The outbreak is a reminder that global health issues can affect every nation in an interconnected world. India, being a major international travel hub, cannot ignore such health threats. The Indian government has therefore increased vigilance at airports, hospitals and border points. At present, there is no need for panic in India. The risk of a widespread Ebola outbreak remains low. India has a strong public health surveillance system and experience in handling infectious diseases. However, awareness and caution are necessary. Fear and misinformation often spread faster than diseases themselves. Citizens should remain alert but not fearful. While the disease is serious and dangerous, India has taken timely precautions to protect its citizens. By following medical guidelines, maintaining hygiene and supporting health authorities, people can continue to travel safely while minimising risks posed by infectious diseases like Ebola.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
When satire becomes political storm
I am sure that when Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, during a hearing, allegedly compared unemployed young people drifting towards journalism and activism with cockroaches and parasites, he never imagined that his controversial comment would inspire the creation of an AI-generated image and the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) by one of India’s roughly 1.4 billion people under 30, Abhijeet Dipke, a political communications strategist, though he says the idea came as a joke.
The joke, however, crossed 10 million followers. India has one of the world’s youngest populations, and the CJP’s Instagram account overtook the official BJP account, which has around 8.7 million followers. The CJP describes itself as “the voice of the lazy and unemployed”, while also claiming “zero sponsors” and “one stubborn swarm”, and inviting supporters to join a movement for people “tired of pretending everything is fine”. Its informal political goals include a ban on post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for judges and zero fees for student rechecking. Naturally, the CJP has attracted attention in a political culture many see as overly managed and hostile to dissent. Several opposition politicians, including Akhilesh Yadav, Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, as well as senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, have engaged with it. The movement reportedly drew further attention after Shashi Tharoor said that CJP reveals public frustration with the government and shows the Opposition there is an opportunity waiting to be seized. On May 21, the movement’s X (formerly Twitter) handle was withheld in India following a legal demand. Intelligence agencies reportedly flagged the account for content deemed “inflammatory” or a threat to national security, a move criticised by opposition leaders as a crackdown on dissent. After the shutdown, environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk backed the CJP, saying the government should not “kill the messenger” and should treat it as feedback instead. The founder, Abhijeet Dipke, later said he would return quickly with the tagline: ‘Cockroaches Don’t Die’.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad
