How long will a party that has ruled – or misruled – India for long decades, blame the ‘system’ for ordinary folks continuing to live a miserable existence?
The Congress has managed to checkmate the Opposition from forcing an early General Election on the nation; neither Mualayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party nor Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party can right now afford to rock the boat. And hence, with the elections a good 15-18 months away the Congress leadership could well afford to sound the bugle of second generation economic reforms, and speak the language of investment and FDI at its show of strength in Delhi last Sunday.
Nearer the election, of course, our resourceful netas will come up with some ingenious scheme or the other to harvest votes of the poor and voiceless sections of society.
Expected to be some kind of a frontrunner for Rahul Gandhi to be officially anointed his mom’s successor in the party, and of course, later in the government, the Ramlila Maidan rally hardly sprung too many surprises. Among the first of the triumvirate to address the meet, Rahul, the Gen-next Congress chief, put his approval stamp on the controversial FDI, reiterated his belief in the yuva of the country, and then went on to express how much his heart bled for the aam aadmi.
The treacherous system!
“The political system”, we were told “is the biggest problem, its doors are closed for the common man, the weak. The closed system hurts… the youth dreams, but the system trips him.”
Grand-sounding words, but the problem is that the Gandhi scion has been blaming this evil, treacherous system on and off right from the time the UPA came to power in 2004.
Now, this being a speech and not a press conference the most crucial question which needed to be raised could not be asked.
And that is: Pray what have you, who have held such an important position in the party, the Congress party itself and the two successive UPA governments it has led, done to change this all evil, horrendous “system”, which has been torturing, cheating and denying the common man his due?
But then the beauty of the overall system that collectively incapacitates all of us, aam and khas, mango, pineapple and leechi people combined, is that our politicians can go on leading us down the garden path and then turn around and shed crocodile tears for our misfortune, deprivation, or whatever. All this without batting an eyelid.
Combative Sonia
After Rahul Gandhi had told us how important FDI was to the nation, Sonia Gandhi too endorsed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s stand on FDI in multi-brand retail, and then did one better. At her combative best, she not only stressed the need for opening up the country to investment, she also told Congressmen not be on the defensive while facing corruption charges.
In an obvious reference to the anti-corruption campaign by Arvind Kejriwal &Co, she thundered: “Our conscience is clear, our record is clean and our intentions are good. There is no need for the Congress to be on the defensive.”
There was more than a veiled message to the BJP; it should put its house in order before attacking the Government or the Congress on corruption.
The point of reference of course was the plethora of corruption charges against the BJP chief Nitin Gadkari.
Sense of revulsion
Those of us who felt a sense of anger or revulsion listening to the mother and son can hardly be blamed. How long will a party that has ruled – or misruled – India for long decades, blame the “system” for ordinary folks continuing to live a miserable existence?
And how can Sonia Gandhi, against whose immediate family members - first Robert Vadra and now Rahul Gandhi – charges of corruption have been raised, take the high moral ground with such a confident and combative spirit?
She did not only this but also warned the Opposition that “those who dig ditches for others find a well ready for them”.
In effect, what she was saying was that all of us – Congress, BJP, SP, BSP, and whoever else – is in the same boat, so be careful before punching holes in it.
Unfortunately, the one single message that came out loud and clear from the Congress rally, meant to announce the arrival of Rahul on the forefront of the Party leadership stage, went thus: You have no need to feel ashamed about all the charges of corruption. And this, not only because “our conscience is clear” but because the Opposition stands exposed too! Bravo!
Corruption is such a great leveller; it embraces the rulers and their rivals alike, without fear or flavour.
Double bravo!
And then there was this gem from Rahul… on the system of course. He thundered, as best as he can: “You are tired of this system. I know you want to change the system. I am with you.”
Wow! Lucky us, the people of India. First Rahul Gandhi’s ancestors created this debilitating stranglehold of a system. But we need not worry. Now he is with us in the mammoth task of cleaning up the system.
But where Rahul impressed me the most was in being savvy enough to stick to the time tested and prosaic description of the commoner as aam aadmi. No mangoes for this member of India’s Family No1!
Responses to rasheeda.bhagat@thehindu.co.in and blfeedback@thehindu.co.in
Keywords: Rahul Gen-next Congress chief, Congress Party, general elections, FDI in multi-brand retail, economic reforms, politicians, Sonia Gandhi
Comments:
She has correctly reflected the mood and frustation of the gullible people. How long we are going to be led by the garden path of delusion from the days of GaribiHatao ( which has trasferred to GaribHatao in Tribal and adivasi belt). First and foremost let Congress revert to true democratic ways from the present dynastic succession. I doubt whether Raghul ever reads leading dailies to gauge the mood of the nation
One of the best articles of recent times. Represents what is in common man's mind agony, apprehension, worry about the future etc. It is really saddening to note the developments taking place. Very well written and the choice of words are so apt that it conveys so much in few sentences. I was born in 56 so have not seen the British Rule. Only read in books. I think the common people are pushed back to the pre independence era. Remember the Paresh Rawal movie Funtoosh were the people are pushed too dasvi sadi. Tenth Century. The Photo say everything. I congratulate the photographer for the photo which I would like to nominate as the Best Photo of this century, as far as India is concerned.
All what said is fine. More than a billion nation seems to enjoy bashing the Nehru/Gandhi family as if they are the Dictators of tyrrany since ages past under whom they are caged and there is no rescue. Are these billions and more are insects without brains to suffer so long? If not, why did they not elect the best alternatives so far. Also examine the whole world and identify which is the best nation system to follow; or suggest what Rashida has to offer. Indian democracy has all the strengths and Indians despite their faults are highly wise to get what could have been the best for them. Just review the happenings all around and you would pat the Indian democracy even under the spell of Congress is the best to happen so far. Yes no doubt we have to tread miles as our problems are of mammoth order, but let us move with confidence ahead. 2014 is opportunity for change. Use it to topple the ones you think is not suited.
Ms.Bhagat is quite right to blame the congress for the system failure. But I take issue with her characterization of the poor as being helpless. A few decades ago this might have been true. No longer so. Most of todays rural populations are well served by media and are in a position to access news and information. They have changed governments in most states and thus areaware of their power. If they buy into the promises and blandishments of the politicians they are doing it knowingly and are not fooled. I would go a step further and say that they find the current system to their advantage- come election time and they can pretty much get what they want: Reservations in schools, colleges, jobs etc. far from being the victims of the political games, they are willing participants. Perhaps they feel let down when they learn that the politicians have been amassing wealth beyond imagination. They have the power to change it. They should eschew crumbs and act in their long term interests
This article in BL is one of the best I have read recently.
Congratulations for well worded and precise article. Daily whenever I
see TV news etc I say to myself " OMG when the country will be freed
of this mother & son " combo weapon. I am shocked to see even people
of great stature falling at their feet, dancing to their tunes. Even
Karnad who has been "conferred" (questionable) with Jnaan Peeta
dares to shout at other authors question the very basics of writers
independence / liberty. It is pay back time dear.. What has
haappened to the COUNTRY..and what is in store. Sometimes I believe
Subramanian Swamy accusing the mother of being an agent.
The photo selected says it all. The mother & Son wave ( one in right
& the other in left) and the PM's hands have been tied up OR glued so
that he does not wave by default.
GREAT COUNTRY..!!
OMG SAVE US SAVE MY INNOCENT FELLOW COUNTRYMEN & WOMEN..!!
M S RAO
Enjoyed the article. Well written but who will do clean up when
majority ruling class including to the level of peon in government
job is taking bribe?
It is top to bottom corrupt so we need someone like MK Gandhi, Sardar
or Shashtri who can not be corrupted.
Do we have one or willing to lead without party raj?
There shall be only two or maximum three national party instead of so
many state level one.
India should have adopted American presidential system instead
British defunct corrupt(Baxis) system.
But corruption is every where, only thing in USA still it doesn't
affect common man and law enforcement is working, judiciary is
minimally corrupt and police and people follows rule of law say 90%
or better where as in India 90% do not follow the rule of law.
Jai Hind
Prafull Purohit
Indians are free to articulate and are equally free to decide whom they wish to govern the country. All political parties at State and Panchayat levels are culmination of collective say by the public. So is the case at the Center. Each Indian has contributed to what India is today or it is not today. Each Indian knows well that the corruption is bad but he prefers to live every aspect in his own dealings day in day out at every instance where he is agent of corruption while accepting or giving. Indians by nature accept the wrong doings till it serve their self interest . They never revolt. They never raise their voice even in their domestic walls; forget what all they are supposed to fight just outside their walls. But they find a kind of sadistic succour to blame someone as it provides them like dipping into Ganges for cleansing their skins. Their mascot for punching at present is Congress/ Sonia/Rahul etc. Well, analyze how best we billions contribute for better India.
This piece rightly expresses the angst of people in general. By
running the govt. through remote control (well BJP by opposing Sonia
becoming PM in 2004 gave Sonia-priyanka-rahul-robert combo this
opportunity), Gandhi family has smartly maintained the distance
between bad governance and themselves even if Gandhis-led UPA is
running the government.
That's why rahul comfortably claims that the current system is
rotten...and he's with public...and not with this rotten system that
is largely their family creation...from emergency to appointments in
judiciary to garibi hatao...being a journalist you know it better
than me.
I'm equally shocked to know the party with difference (BJP) is
shamelessly defending Gadkari...the kind of opposition we have,
Congress can afford to be corrupt and arrogant...they didn't need to
bother...
Thank God...we're not a two party system (as suggested by many).
Imagine..if you have to choose between Congress and BJP! I'll prefer
options like Nitish, Kejriwal.
Congress party members have always been smarter. During Independence movement, the country was lucky to get a generation of leaders that was also honest and unselfish. Once the nation became independent, personal poverty hit the members of the party and they realized that they can get rich using the Congress Brand name.
Their strategy and tactics are very simple. Make sure everyone is corrupt to an extent that can be used to keep them quiet or to threaten them. Invest money to corrupt the poor electorate, numb their good sense, and break their moral fiber. Use power to involve the business houses to convert them into the obligated rich. Raise several bulldogs to bark and scare honest questioners. Apply the paws of power and jaws of justice on crooks who might dare to copy the method and unseat the incumbents.
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