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“Misunderstanding Rahul”

Published

7 years ago

on

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Dilip Bobb

There will be many who will wonder why the title of this post should not read Understanding Rahul. They mis the point, or miss, if you will. Rahul bashing has become a national sport and everybody’s really enjoying it, with varying results. A Congress leader in UP recently got thrown out of the party for referring to him as ‘Pappu’, a sobriquet as closely identified with him as ‘Namo’ is with the Prime Minister. Much of that negative image is clearly self-inflicted, and related to his periodic goof-ups in speech and action, but it has become so ingrained in the national psyche that each move he makes invites instant derision and criticism, the latest being his meeting with the Chinese ambassador over the tension on the border. Forget the right wing trolls—they only add to the white noise—but the chattering classes and people who are politically neutral and open minded tend to treat him with the same wearied antipathy as his political opponents. On social media, the jokes and memes indicate the sense of national disapproval, even disbelief. Does he really deserve such a summarily dismissal?

The Congress clearly messed up in their handling of the situation but should a meeting between an Opposition leader and the Chinese ambassador during a period of tension between the two neighbours amount to treason? That is what the BJP and its fellow travelers in the media would have us believe. The fact that he also met the ambassador of Bhutan was conveniently ignored. Rahul says it was his job as opposition leader to get a better grasp of the crisis. Indeed, the world over, meetings between local representatives of a foreign country and opposition leaders is a fairly routine affair. In America, the relationship between Donald Trump’s family along with his key campaign advisors and the Russian government prior to his becoming President is now an open secret. Closer home, much was made of the February 2014 meeting between then US ambassador Nancy Powell and Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister who was being projected as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate. It was, in fact, a time when Indo-US relations were in deep freeze and, more important, Modi’s visa ban post 2002 was still operational. At the time, Modi was, in effect, leader of the Opposition, a role that Rahul has inherited by virtue of being titular head of the Congress party. So why is Rahul’s meeting with Beijing’s diplomatic envoy being made out to be the equivalent of supping with the devil? Modi was photographed shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Xi Jinping in Hamburg and no one saw the irony. Forget ambassadors, it is customary for almost all visiting heads of state to call on Sonia Gandhi. It has to do with the name, and history of the family she married into, but also connected to her role as opposition leader.  In these meetings she will always be accompanied by someone senior in the party with a background in foreign relations—Natwar Singh and Karan Singh (ex ambassador to the US) were the two regulars, so it is not merely an exchange of pleasantries about the weather.

Pakistan is a different story. With that recalcitrant neighbor, the permanent hostility means there is never a good or bad time for a meet with Islamabad’s representative in Delhi. China is another ball game. It is, in every sense of the word, the second most powerful country in the world—certainly in economic terms, and quite possibly in the military context as well. The aphorism about the inscrutable Chinese is a fact of life; when China decides to push the security envelope vis a vis India, there is always a larger game being played out, one with long-term consequences. In that sense, Rahul meeting with the Chinese ambassador is not as dumb a move as most people are assuming. The atmospherics and the did-he-didn’t-he confusion by party spokesmen made it out to be a political faux pas. But viewed in the context of the rivalry between the two Asian giants and threatening reminders about 1961, it was actually a reasonable thing to do. It would be both stupid and naïve to assume that Rahul was there to score brownie points over the NDA government. He would have, undoubtedly, pushed the Indian viewpoint but essentially tried to gauge what Beijing’s intentions were. It would be equally logical to assume that he would have discussed with the Bhutan ambassador, what Thimpu’s options were. Is that deserving of ridicule?

Here’s the problem. Rahul has blotted his copybook on numerous occasions, made some immature moves and statements and his vacations are always seen as the act of a non-serious politician. That is largely because of history—the political inheritance which automatically suggests he has not had to work at earning his spurs. He can be immature and impulsive largely because he makes up his own mind, unlike his mother who seeks advice from relevant people before showing her hand. There are any number of politicians from both sides of the fence who can be spotted in exotic foreign locales during the peak of summer but the negative focus will always be on RG and his holidays which happen to be kept secret because he there is a serious security threat—when he travels abroad, he is without SPG protection. Certainly, he needs to time his vacations better so he is not absent when there is a major political development or decisions like the Opposition’s choice of President, but equally, who can object to him taking time off to chill. What he needs to understand is that there always will be comparisons with Modi who has not taken a day off since 1969, so he needs a savvier travel agent, or advisor.

That is where he shows how much he is like his late father. Rajiv, in his early days as Prime Minister, was wary of politicians and surrounded himself with his Doon School buddies. Rahul is doing that; his Praetorian Guard is a mix of qualified individuals but none are hardened politicians. Rajiv’s friends were ousted by those jealous of their proximity proving that in politics, idealism and ethics have no place.  Rahul has stuck by his core team but if they are the ones offering him advice and guiding his actions, rather than people closer to his age like Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia or Sachin Pilot, Rahul Gandhi will be in the unenviable position of being damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. The Chinese know all about that. One of the many sayings of their most famous philosopher, Confucius, goes like this: “He who learns but does not think, is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.’’[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Assembly Elections: Haryana voting date changed to Oct 5; results for Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana on Oct 8

Similarly, in Manipur during the 2022 Assembly elections, the Commission changed the polling dates to respect the Christian community’s Sunday prayers.

Published

8 hours ago

on

August 31, 2024

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The Election Commission of India on Saturday changed the polling day for Haryana from October 1 to October 5, 2024, and accordingly counting day for Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana Assembly elections from October 4 to October 8, 2024.

Announcing the decision through a notification, the ECI said that the decision has been taken to honour both the voting rights and the traditions of the Bishnoi community, which has upheld a centuries-old practice of participating in the Asoj Amavasya festival celebration in remembrance of their Guru Jambheshwar.

The Commission had received representation from National President, All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner, Rajasthan, for rescheduling the date of polling of October 1 for Haryana Assembly election as for generations numerous families of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana have observed a long-standing tradition of visiting their native village Mukam, in Rajasthan during the Amavas in the month of “Asoj” for their annual festival in Bikaner district, in the memory of their Guru Jambheshwar.

This year, the festival will take place on October 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar would be travelling to Rajasthan on poll day, denying them their voting rights, the notification read.

In the past, the Commission has also adjusted election dates to respect the sentiments of various communities. For instance, during the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2022, the Commission postponed the polls by a week to accommodate devotees travelling to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

Similarly, in Manipur during the 2022 Assembly elections, the Commission changed the polling dates to respect the Christian community’s Sunday prayers.

Likewise, in the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections, the Commission rescheduled polling originally scheduled on Devuthani Ekadashi, a day significant for mass weddings in Rajasthan.

“In UP Assembly Elections 2012, poll date was changed due to Barawafat. Coincidentally, the revised polling day would also resolve any concerns of a six-day holiday by taking a one-day leave on Sep 30, 2024”, the ECI said in a notification.

Meanwhile, the former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda reacted to the postponement of the Haryana election date and said, “It is the Election Commission’s right, they have extended the date.” BJP has already accepted defeat in Haryana, adding that he said when the Haryana government wrote a letter to the Election Commission, he had said at that time that the BJP had accepted defeat.

BJP leader Anil Vij welcomed the decision of ECI and said the commission took action on BJP’s application and changed the dates. “We intended that on the earlier election dates, people would have got 5 holidays and there would have been chances people go for holidays or urgent work and this could have led to a decrease in the vote percentage”, he added.

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Woman alleges BJP workers harassed her on Vande Bharat train flagged off by PM Modi, Congress reacts

This video is a witness to the conduct, character and face of the BJP.

Published

9 hours ago

on

August 31, 2024

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Reacting to the harassment of a woman by the BJP workers on Vande Bharat train flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, the Congress has slammed saffron party and said this is the conduct, character and face of the BJP.

Sharing the video of the incident, Congress said, “Narendra Modi today flagged off the Vande Bharat train from Meerut to Lucknow. Then BJP leaders occupied seats of this train. When a female passenger aboard a train was going to get food, BJP leaders misbehaved and assaulted her. This video is a witness to the conduct, character and face of the BJP.”

According to reports, an incident occurred on the newly launched Meerut-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express today, where a woman and her companion claimed to have faced harassment from BJP workers on board the train.

The woman described the ordeal, mentioning that they were confronted while trying to access food in a train coach. Allegedly, a man obstructed their path, asserting that the cabin was exclusively for BJP members and refusing them passage.

Upon their attempt to retrace their steps, a heated dispute and physical altercation ensued. The woman expressed, “We were trying to pass through the cabin to get food when a man stopped us, stating it was the BJP’s cabin and we were not allowed to pass through. When we tried to return, they began arguing and pushing us, questioning our frequent movement within the cabin. We also have connections to the BJP, but individuals like these tarnish the party’s reputation.”

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed condemned the behaviour and said, “This is completely unacceptable. The train is public property, not a personal or BJP asset.”

Meanwhile, the Railway noticed the incident that happened on the Vande Bharat train. In a statement, it stated that the Railway Protection Force requested the passenger to submit a written complaint with video evidence, but the woman did not submit a complaint and got off at the next station.

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Two more leaders quit BJP over selection of candidates for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections

The BJP faced strong resentment from party workers from Jammu North, Jammu East, Paddar, Ramban, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Chhamb and Akhnoor constituencies over ticket distribution.

Published

10 hours ago

on

August 31, 2024

By

In a major setback for saffron party, two more BJP leaders, including a district president, stepped down from the primary membership of the party on Saturday, citing their resentment against the choice of candidates in their constituencies for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

The saffron party is facing resentment over its ticket distribution in the Union Territory immediately after it started releasing the list of candidates for the Assembly elections on August 26, with party leaders and workers protesting in several districts of the Jammu region.

In a related development, hundreds of BJP workers took out a rally in the Khour block of the Chhamb Assembly constituency in the outskirts of Jammu against fielding former MLA Rajeev Sharma from there.

Two of its rebel leaders have already filed their nominations as independent candidates from Ramban and Padder-Nagseni Assembly constituencies, which are among 24 constituencies going to polls in the first phase of the three-phased elections on September 18.

The state party’s Samba district president Kashmir Singh said: “With a heavy heart, I am submitting my resignation from the primary membership of the party for which I have worked for 42 long years. I was compelled by the circumstances after the party gave ticket to a person who had come from the National Conference (NC) and vociferously opposed our ideology for decades.”

The BJP has fielded former minister Surjit Singh Slathia, who joined the party in October 2021 after quitting the NC, from the Samba constituency which was opened in the general category after being reserved for the Scheduled Castes for 28 years.

However, Singh said he would take back his resignation if the party leadership decides to change the candidate and give a ticket to any senior member of the party, otherwise he said, “I am going to take forward this struggle and file my nomination papers as an independent candidate against him.”

Another BJP youth leader Kanav Sharma also resigned from the party to protest against the ticket to a “corrupt leader”.

Kanav Sharma, Jammu district president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, said he is a third-generation member of his family associated with the organisation and its ideology but the decision of the party to give ticket to Yudhvir Sethi from Jammu East is not acceptable to his conscience.

The BJP faced strong resentment from party workers from Jammu North, Jammu East, Paddar, Ramban, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Chhamb and Akhnoor constituencies over ticket distribution.

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