- 26 minutes ago
Speaking at the India Today Conclave South in Kochi, Congress Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Jebi Mather reflected on the transformation of Indian politics, grassroots governance, and women's political empowerment. Addressing the political atmosphere, she remarked, "There is no tyranny of distance. There is tyranny of power that is happening in the country now." Mather highlighted her journey from municipal councillor and vice chairperson to Parliament, urging women to enter politics and face challenges with conviction. Discussing parliamentary representation, she insisted that the Centre must implement women's reservation immediately rather than linking it to delimitation. She emphasized that political leaders across parties have an obligation to safeguard democratic institutions, stating that the primary duty of any politician is to stand up and protect the Constitution of India. Additionally, Mather touched upon national media dynamics and countered cultural stereotypes faced by southern parliamentarians in Delhi, reiterating that shared cultural appreciation reinforces national unity.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome, first of all, Jibi, to the India Today Conclave South.
00:04And we're in your land, Ningal De Natal E Prasham, we're having the India Today Conclave South.
00:10You've seen generations of politics, in the sense that your family has been in politics,
00:15you've kind of grown up in that world.
00:17How would you define the politics of today in Kerala?
00:22Very good morning to all of you.
00:24First, let me take this opportunity that we are delighted that India Today's Conclave South is happening in Cochin,
00:32the Queen of Arabian Sea.
00:35So, very, very delighted.
00:37Now, coming to your question, like how do you see the politics of today?
00:42Politics of today has transformed so much.
00:46Where the organizations or the politics, which we have seen probably 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago,
00:57that has transformed.
00:58Now, whether the transformation that has happened is not just about the politicians,
01:05the transformation has happened.
01:07How we look at politics, how media looks at politics, how the constitutional bodies look at their duties,
01:17how the independent organizations or those who are accountable,
01:23those who are supposed to abide by their constitutional role,
01:28how the degradation has happened.
01:30Now, all that are at the national level.
01:33But in Kerala, if I were to say,
01:36we are still clinging on to the very basic democracy,
01:41whether it is from grassroots,
01:44you look at very, if you look at political parties,
01:47you take any political parties,
01:49now Kerala, it is the Congress and the LDF.
01:53Predominantly, you look at the politics of today,
01:57we still maintain a very cadre-based, systematic, grassroot approach
02:03in terms of politics and organizations concerned.
02:06But to your answer, Kerala cannot be separated from India.
02:11So, India, if we look at it,
02:14we have reached a time,
02:16a defining moment in India's history,
02:20a time where it is for everybody to stand up and speak
02:25to protect the constitution of India.
02:27I think I would say, whether it is Kerala,
02:29whether it is Andhra Pradesh,
02:32whether it's Jarkhand, whether it's Chhattisgarh,
02:33whether it's Punjab, whether it's Kashmir,
02:35anywhere, India as such, if we look at it,
02:38the politics of today demands
02:40that we may be faced with many consequences,
02:44there may be threats,
02:45there may be a lot of inconvenient situations,
02:51but whatever it is,
02:53the primary aim of any politician
02:56who wants the good for the country
02:57should be to stand up and speak
03:00and protect the constitution, should be the idea.
03:03You found a common thread, a common theme there,
03:05where you've kind of bridged any differences
03:08that there is in politics between Kerala and Delhi.
03:11You are someone who sees what's happening in Kerala
03:14and then you also see what's happening in Delhi.
03:16Is it challenging to represent Kerala in Delhi?
03:20It's so poles apart.
03:22You found that common theme,
03:23but it is poles apart in its politics,
03:25in its nature, in its very essence.
03:28No, we, whether it is Kerala,
03:32I see where I am saying,
03:33whether it is Malayali
03:35or whether it is any other state,
03:37if we genuinely believe
03:40in what we are supposed to be standing for,
03:43nothing stops us from saying that
03:45whether it is in Kerala
03:47or whether it is in Delhi.
03:48We would look up to anyone,
03:50we would look at anyone in their eyes
03:53and we will say,
03:54we will have the courage to say
03:56that you are wrong,
03:57what you're doing is not right.
03:59So you're saying that doesn't matter?
04:01It doesn't matter because...
04:03Is it hard?
04:04Is my question.
04:05Is it hard to represent a state like Kerala
04:08that, you know,
04:09most politicians in Delhi
04:10don't understand much about?
04:12There's always that,
04:14you know, we keep using this term
04:15on India today,
04:16tyranny of distance.
04:17Do you sense that when you go to Delhi?
04:19I don't feel that at all.
04:21There is no tyranny of distance.
04:23There is tyranny of power
04:24that is happening in the country now.
04:26And with the tyranny of power,
04:28how can we get the country
04:31out of tyranny of power
04:33is what my concern is.
04:34There is no tyranny of distance.
04:36There is no tyranny of language.
04:38There is no tyranny of issues.
04:41The tyranny of power
04:43needs to be shown their way.
04:46You're a woman who's,
04:48you know,
04:49paved her way in politics.
04:51What's that like?
04:53You know,
04:53representation of women in politics
04:55is something everyone speaks of
04:56in parliament.
04:57It's a big,
04:57big talking point
04:58about reservation
04:59and the need to have
05:00more women representation
05:01in parliament.
05:03What is your one message
05:05to many others
05:05who may be seeking
05:06to enter politics,
05:07women in particular?
05:08Is it hard?
05:11Any,
05:11any field you take
05:13is hard.
05:15Any field you take
05:16depends on the seriousness
05:17you give to that field.
05:19But if you take any field
05:21very lightly,
05:21then it is lightly.
05:22But politics,
05:24you have to have that passion.
05:25You have to have the courage.
05:28You need to have that ability
05:30to face any and every challenge.
05:33But still,
05:34I think for women,
05:35women are known for multitasking.
05:37They manage their home.
05:39They manage their responsibilities at home.
05:42But they,
05:43when they are,
05:45I'm sorry for all the men sitting here,
05:48about multitasking,
05:50I have to admit that
05:52it is the women.
05:52I'm sure the men will agree too.
05:54I'm sure the men will agree.
05:56Men will also agree.
05:56They would take the newspaper in hand.
05:59The first thing they do,
06:00they will conveniently sit and read
06:02whether women will be taking care
06:03of the children's breakfast
06:05and the lunch packed home
06:06and the...
06:07While reading the paper.
06:08While reading the paper
06:10and watching the news.
06:11So,
06:12for me,
06:13I always say
06:14that
06:15it is about the passion
06:16that matters.
06:17Now,
06:17I am from a
06:18municipal councillor background.
06:21My background is
06:21municipal councillor.
06:22I'm very proud of that.
06:24I have contested
06:25municipal elections
06:26three times
06:27on a congress hand ticket.
06:29So,
06:30what I believe,
06:31see,
06:31if we are able to understand
06:33the concerns of the people
06:35at the grassroot,
06:36you can address the concerns
06:38at national level also.
06:39But,
06:40see,
06:41that level of
06:42whether it is
06:43you are a municipal councillor
06:45or I was a municipal vice chairperson
06:47and then I am Raj Sabha MP.
06:48It doesn't matter
06:50for a woman
06:51whether you are
06:52at the bottom level
06:54or the top level
06:55or the mid level.
06:56Your commitment,
06:58dedication
06:58and your decision-taking capacity
07:01and more importantly,
07:02the passion,
07:04the boldness,
07:04the courage,
07:05all these are the things
07:06that matters.
07:06I don't think
07:07we are in an age
07:08where we should sit
07:08and discuss
07:09whether women
07:10should be
07:11or whether women
07:12can do.
07:12Look at the Asian Games
07:14gold medal.
07:15Who has got more home?
07:17It is the women you take
07:19and you take
07:19look at positions.
07:21You look at positions.
07:22Everybody wants to discuss
07:24whether women
07:24should be given.
07:25There is no discussion also.
07:27Hardly it is given.
07:27But I am very fortunate
07:28Congress party
07:29has sent me to
07:30Raj Sabha
07:31from a
07:32very grassroot
07:33political
07:34that is the basic.
07:36Anybody can have
07:37the grassroot
07:38in India
07:38as per the system.
07:40And I am also
07:40from a
07:42organizational background
07:43where from
07:44the youth congress
07:44where I have
07:45climbed up the ladder
07:47from the block level
07:48to the state.
07:49So it doesn't matter.
07:50My message
07:51to all the women
07:52who wants to be
07:53interested in politics
07:54come jump in
07:55but be ready
07:56to face
07:56all the challenges
07:57with a smile.
08:00I am glad
08:00you have said that
08:01and you have highlighted
08:02that you know
08:02women do it
08:03so much better.
08:04I am sorry again
08:05but women do it
08:05so much better.
08:06But I will highlight
08:07this ma'am.
08:08Grassroot politics
08:09in Keralam
08:10sees a lot of
08:11representation by women.
08:12That doesn't
08:13somehow translate.
08:14I will give you
08:14some numbers.
08:15Keralam has
08:1611 women MLA's
08:17out of 140.
08:187.9% of the assembly.
08:20There are two
08:21women ministers
08:22in a 21 member cabinet.
08:24Nine tickets
08:25were given by Congress
08:26to women
08:26in this assembly election.
08:28One during
08:29the Lok Sabha.
08:30You hear a lot
08:32of the terms
08:32smash the patriarchy.
08:34But is all of that
08:35just sloganeering
08:36is women representation
08:38a pipe dream
08:39and nothing more
08:39than that
08:40for every political
08:41party.
08:41I am highlighting
08:42the Congress
08:43because you would
08:43be in a place
08:44to answer for them
08:45ma'am.
08:46No, definitely
08:47I agree with you
08:48when you say
08:49that is this enough
08:50means the answer
08:51is a big no
08:52this is not enough
08:53but at least
08:53we are moving forward
08:55is what I want
08:55to tell you.
08:56Our party is
08:57walking the talk
08:58on it.
08:58No, we are
08:59walking the talk
09:00we are
09:00now if you ask
09:01me how many
09:02Rajasabha MPs
09:03are there from
09:03Congress
09:06from Kerala
09:07it is only one
09:08and that's a woman
09:09and that's me.
09:10Now if you ask me
09:11for after so many
09:12years we are
09:13having two women
09:14ministers
09:15from Congress
09:16in Kerala
09:17so step by step
09:18it's happening
09:19there are efforts
09:19being taken
09:20at the organizational
09:22level also
09:23there are specific
09:25steps taken
09:26to ensure
09:27that women
09:28come to the
09:28forefront.
09:29But I would
09:29reiterate that
09:30this is not enough
09:31this is definitely
09:32not enough
09:33we have a
09:33deputy speaker
09:34also who is
09:35a woman
09:35after so many
09:36years in Kerala
09:37so that's also
09:38from Congress
09:38so smash the
09:41patriarchy
09:42is a slogan
09:44given by
09:45Rahul Gandhiji
09:46definitely that's
09:47a very big
09:48motivating force
09:49that is very
09:50genuine
09:51and I believe
09:53that he genuinely
09:54wants women
09:55to come to the
09:56forefront
09:57and Congress
09:57party also
09:58and now the
09:59reservation
09:59let's talk about
10:01reservation
10:01reservation
10:02who had
10:03how many
10:04women we have
10:06in local bodies
10:07including me
10:08earlier
10:10I agree
10:10local level
10:11it's
10:11local level
10:12who brought it
10:13leads the way
10:13who did walk
10:14the talk
10:14it is Congress
10:15party
10:16it is Rajiv
10:17Gandhi
10:17that let us
10:18accept
10:18now what the
10:20ruling dispensation
10:21what the central
10:22government now
10:22currently doing is
10:23they talk about
10:24reservation
10:25but they don't
10:26want to give
10:27reservation
10:27they only want
10:28to give
10:29try to bring in
10:30reservation
10:31under the garb
10:32of delimitation
10:32they're clubbing
10:34the two
10:34they're clubbing
10:35it
10:35their intentions
10:36are definitely
10:37they have
10:38intentions for
10:39everything
10:39that is what
10:40we are seeing
10:41in every sector
10:42everyday news
10:43everyday events
10:43but delimitation
10:45and women
10:45reservation
10:46if the central
10:47government
10:47was genuine
10:48they should not
10:49club it with
10:50delimitation
10:51give women
10:52reservation
10:52to the existing
10:53numbers
10:54who is stopping
10:55them
10:55if they are genuine
10:56but they are not
10:56genuine
10:57there are two
10:58aspects here
10:58and you've
10:59highlighted some
10:59of the numbers
11:00and congress
11:00is taking that
11:01step
11:03you know
11:03one is on
11:04gender
11:05the other is
11:05on a generational
11:06gap in politics
11:07again that
11:08very often
11:09what we define
11:10as a youth
11:11netta
11:11is not really
11:12a youth netta
11:13in for example
11:14again Keralam
11:15the average age
11:16of the cabinet
11:17is about 57
11:18years
11:18do you think
11:19that's good enough
11:20or do you think
11:21that you know
11:21we need to have
11:22younger blood
11:23in politics
11:24as well
11:25there should be
11:26a mix of
11:27young blood
11:28experience
11:29is what I believe
11:30it's not
11:30just the case
11:32that it should be
11:32only young
11:33but sometimes
11:34experience also
11:35is required
11:37and a combination
11:38of young blood
11:40and the
11:41experienced
11:42will be the best
11:43combination
11:44is what I believe
11:45and now
11:46we do see
11:47our sports
11:48minister
11:50is Kerala
11:51sports minister
11:52as a youth
11:52congress president
11:53he's very young
11:54he's the first
11:55time MLA
11:56and congress
11:56has made him
11:57the minister
11:58so there are
11:59many young
11:59ministers
12:00under 50
12:02we have
12:03many number
12:04of ministers
12:05who are under
12:0550
12:05so all that
12:06is a good
12:07message
12:08which we are
12:08giving
12:09but just by
12:10saying only
12:11youth
12:11I do not
12:12agree to that
12:13we need to
12:13have the
12:14experience also
12:16so I've
12:17mentioned two
12:17aspects here
12:18gender as well
12:19as age
12:19because there's
12:20a lot of
12:20conversation
12:21discourse
12:22about these
12:23two aspects
12:24very often
12:24in politics
12:25but I will
12:26also say
12:26as you've
12:27mentioned
12:27ma'am
12:27that Kerala
12:29leads on
12:29many fronts
12:30on this
12:30it's a state
12:31that has always
12:32been extremely
12:33progressive
12:33and has kind
12:34of shown the
12:35way to the
12:36rest of the
12:36country
12:36is that
12:37something that
12:38Delhi recognizes
12:39when you speak
12:40to your
12:40colleagues
12:41other members
12:42of parliament
12:42do they always
12:43kind of put
12:44Kerala
12:44on the pedestal
12:45that it
12:45deserves to be
12:46in
12:46Kerala has
12:48its own
12:49unique
12:49features
12:50Kerala was
12:52the first
12:52state to be
12:54100%
12:55literate which
12:56we are very
12:56proud of
12:57Kerala is
12:58definitely
12:59if we look
13:01at the
13:01health
13:02or the
13:03education
13:04sectors
13:05we are way
13:06ahead when
13:07compared to
13:08many other
13:09states
13:09now to your
13:10question whether
13:11the parliamentarians
13:13in Delhi gives
13:14that recognition
13:15to Kerala
13:16I think
13:18everybody has
13:21about Kerala
13:22whether it's
13:23tourism or
13:24whether it is
13:25about the
13:27fellow parliamentarians
13:28they always share
13:29very good thoughts
13:30about Kerala
13:31now if your
13:32question is
13:33whether Delhi
13:34means the
13:36government
13:37I think I'll
13:38have to say
13:39that Kerala
13:40is always
13:41not given
13:43a priority
13:44which they
13:45should be
13:45given by
13:46the government
13:47and for
13:48that matter
13:49Kerala
13:49is also
13:50a place
13:50if you
13:51look at
13:51the media
13:52media of
13:53Kerala
13:54is very
13:54critical
13:55critical
13:57Kerala
13:57medium
13:58I still
13:58feel
14:00that's a
14:01good thing
14:02if they're
14:02critical
14:02they're
14:03critical
14:03of the
14:05government
14:05of the
14:06centre
14:06I'm saying
14:07and let
14:07me take
14:08this
14:08since we
14:08are talking
14:09about
14:09media
14:09let me
14:10also say
14:11that
14:12how
14:12where do
14:13we stand
14:14in the
14:14media
14:16of what
14:17we believed
14:17in as
14:18media
14:18where do
14:18we stand
14:19I take
14:20this opportunity
14:21to take
14:22you to
14:22the time
14:23of Nehru
14:24Nehru
14:24and Shankar
14:26what the
14:27what was
14:27the kind
14:28of critics
14:29that happened
14:29and what
14:30was the
14:30response
14:31of Prime
14:32Minister
14:32Nehru
14:33that of
14:33those times
14:34years ago
14:35he had
14:36he had
14:37the courage
14:37to say
14:38don't
14:38spare me
14:39Shankar
14:40do we
14:41hear
14:41anything
14:41like
14:42that
14:42now
14:43let me
14:44complete
14:44and then
14:45if you
14:46look at
14:46the present
14:47that period
14:48of
14:49about
14:501500
14:51cartoons
14:52Shankar
14:53has made
14:54of Nehru
14:54and Nehru
14:55has
14:56it is not
14:57just about
14:58it was
14:59pure
14:59critical
15:00and
15:01very
15:01even on
15:03the policies
15:03even on
15:04the decisions
15:05taken by
15:06Pandit
15:06Jawallal
15:07Nehru
15:07Shankar
15:08was critical
15:08I appreciate
15:10India today
15:10not because
15:11I am sitting
15:12in a forum
15:14of India
15:14today
15:15especially
15:16recently
15:17India Today
15:18has been
15:19showing the
15:19spine to
15:20criticise
15:20the present
15:21government
15:22criticise
15:22Prime Minister
15:23and the
15:24Home Ministers
15:24now if
15:25we say
15:25a media
15:26is criticising
15:27Prime Minister
15:28Narendra Modi
15:29or Prime
15:30Home Minister
15:31Amit Shah
15:32everybody is
15:33taken by
15:33surprise
15:34because that
15:35has become
15:35very very
15:36rare
15:37now India
15:38today
15:39I also
15:39appreciate
15:40now since
15:40we are
15:41talking about
15:41media
15:42you are
15:42so sorry
15:44you are
15:44so sorry
15:45which started
15:46I think
15:462013
15:47or something
15:48with Bollywood
15:50music
15:51and the
15:523D
15:53imagination
15:54if you
15:55ask me
15:56whether
15:56you look
15:57up to
15:57Mr.
15:59Narendra Modi
15:59Amit Shah
16:00no
16:00but still
16:01critical
16:02and is
16:02there
16:03but if
16:03you look
16:04at whether
16:04that
16:05so sorry
16:05is more
16:07of a
16:07entertainment
16:08but I am
16:09happy that
16:10entertainment
16:10through
16:11entertainment
16:11criticising
16:13happens
16:13but where
16:14do we
16:15stand
16:15in media
16:16where do
16:17we stand
16:18as a
16:18nation
16:19do we
16:20hear
16:20critics
16:21do we
16:22see
16:22criticising
16:23policies
16:24Gyanesh Kumar
16:25issue
16:25how many
16:26channels are
16:26discussing
16:27how many
16:27newspapers
16:28are writing
16:29one
16:29newspaper
16:30had
16:31definitely
16:31it was
16:32a bold
16:32step
16:33and then
16:33India
16:34today
16:34again I am
16:35saying India
16:35today
16:36discussing
16:36it
16:36but how
16:37many
16:37channels
16:38are
16:38discussing
16:38less
16:39important
16:39things
16:40like
16:40suddenly
16:41they want
16:41to discuss
16:41about
16:42very relevant
16:43matters
16:44Gyanesh Kumar
16:45issue
16:45is about
16:46how
16:47from
16:47I am
16:48saying
16:48if I
16:49am
16:49I have
16:49contested
16:50as a
16:50municipal
16:51councillor
16:51in a
16:52ward
16:52if the
16:53election
16:53is
16:54compromised
16:54if the
16:55voter list
16:56is compromised
16:56what happens
16:58to the
16:58election
16:58what happens
16:59is
16:59what is
17:00happening
17:00in our
17:01country
17:01today
17:01no
17:02you are
17:03right
17:03ma'am
17:03but I
17:03think
17:04also
17:04where
17:05you have
17:05highlighted
17:06what India
17:06today
17:06does
17:07for the
17:08media
17:08there have
17:08also
17:08been a lot
17:09of
17:09questions
17:09sure
17:10but it
17:10is the
17:11media
17:11that's
17:11highlighted
17:11what's
17:12happened
17:12also
17:12it's the
17:13media
17:13that's
17:14spoken out
17:14today
17:14and
17:15you are
17:15right
17:16India
17:16today
17:16is
17:16always
17:17focused
17:17on
17:18the
17:18truth
17:18we have
17:19put
17:19the
17:19spotlight
17:19on
17:20that
17:20because
17:20our
17:20time
17:21is
17:21up
17:21ma'am
17:21and I
17:22started
17:22off
17:23speaking
17:23about
17:23your
17:30stereotype
17:31your
17:31face
17:32a lot
17:32in
17:33Delhi
17:34if we
17:35happen
17:35to speak
17:36one line
17:36in
17:37Hindi
17:37then
17:38suddenly
17:38everybody
17:39will ask
17:39you
17:40oh you
17:40speak
17:41Hindi
17:41or if
17:42you
17:42happen
17:43to
17:43talk
17:44about
17:44a
17:44Bollywood
17:45movie
17:46or
17:46a
17:47Bollywood
17:48song
17:49then
17:50they are
17:50like
17:50the
17:51kind
17:52of
17:52surprise
17:52they have
17:53on their
17:54face
17:54oh you
17:55know
17:55Hindi
17:55songs
17:56you
17:56know
17:56Hindi
17:57movie
17:57I
17:57think
17:57India
17:59is
17:59for
18:00everyone
18:00everybody
18:01Shah Rukhan
18:02is
18:02for
18:02everyone
18:03whether
18:03it
18:03is
18:04in
18:04Kerala
18:04whether
18:04it
18:05is
18:05in
18:05Kochi
18:05or
18:05Delhi
18:06or
18:06Bombay
18:06wherever
18:07everyone
18:07has to
18:08celebrate
18:08that
18:08but I
18:09think
18:09that's
18:09a
18:09surprise
18:10element
18:11if at
18:12all
18:12on a
18:13lighter
18:13way
18:14if I
18:14were
18:14to
18:14say
18:15that
18:15that
18:15kind
18:16of
18:16surprise
18:16happens
18:17when
18:17it
18:17comes
18:18to
18:18that
18:18there
18:19is
18:19there
18:20is
18:20a
18:21perception
18:21in
18:21the
18:22mind
18:22somewhere
18:22in
18:23the
18:23north
18:23that
18:24we
18:24are
18:24not
18:25supposed
18:25to
18:27be
18:28entertained
18:28by
18:29the
18:30Bollywood
18:31or
18:31by
18:31Hindi
18:32see
18:32we
18:32are
18:33for
18:33unity
18:33in
18:33diversity
18:34our
18:34language
18:36whether
18:37it
18:37is
18:37Hindi
18:37whether
18:38it's
18:38other
18:38languages
18:39we
18:39appreciate
18:39every
18:40language
18:40we
18:41don't
18:41have
18:41the
18:41shock
18:42if
18:42it
18:43is
18:43somebody
18:44else
18:44we
18:45don't
18:45get
18:45shocked
18:46if
18:46any
18:47other
18:47language
18:47is
18:48said
18:48like
18:48that
18:48but
18:48I
18:48feel
18:49in
18:49Delhi
18:49that
18:50is
18:50what
18:50happens
18:50that
18:51if
18:51we
18:51know
18:52Hindi
18:52or
18:52if
18:53we
18:53know
18:53this
18:53it
18:54is
18:54taken
18:54by
18:54surprise
18:55Shahrukh
18:56Khan
18:56is
18:56for
18:56everyone
18:57Mohanlal
18:57Mammooti
18:58is
18:58for
18:58everyone
18:58yes
18:59but
18:59thank
19:00you
19:00so
19:00much
19:00thank
19:02you
19:02thank
19:02you
19:02thank
19:03you
19:04so
19:04much
19:04ma'am
19:05for
19:05joining
19:05us
19:06here
19:06at
19:06the
19:06India
19:06today
19:06con