Congress, accusing “Khoon ki Dalali” and beyond...

Congress, accusing “Khoon ki Dalali” and beyond...

During a rally last week, the vice president of the so called grand oldest Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi, accused the prime minister, Narendra Modi government of hiding behind the sacrifices of Indian soldiers. He did not stop at that and went on further to accuse Prime Minister of "khoon ki dalali". Many termed it as histrionic reaction, a Kejriwal style to remain relevant when popularity of Modi government is on the rise post first surgical strike of its kind in PoK. All it started by Sanjay Nirupan and Digvijay Singh and then Gandhi, himself picking up the threads and calling government’s actions as "khoon ki dalali”; meaning government is profiteering from the blood of our brave soldiers. The follow up press conferences by Kapil Sibbal and Hooda were no less dramatic defending the indefensible. The general masses and the intellectual felt like lowering their heads in shame witnessing such a low level of politics when the people and politicians were needed to stand united as a solid rock while Pakistan is trying to de-stabilise the nation by accelerating terror strikes on the country. My interpretation is that if the things continue in the same order in Congress and the ruling BJP do not falter drastically in future, the Congress might be disseminated to the extreme margin during 2019 parliamentary elections. Does this good for Indian democracy? Certainly not! In a healthy democracy, constructive criticism of the government is necessary for the existence of a Parliamentary system. Otherwise, as the saying goes; the power corrupts and the absolute power corrupts absolutely. Also, if the Congress party continues to hit self goals and lowers itself to totally insignificant position, the splinter groups of regional parties having their own multiple claimants for the position of prime minister will use opportunities to play partisan politics to extract fulfilments of conflicting regional goals which will totally disarray the political order.

So, what the Congress party should do to remain relevant as a principle opposition party today and to simultaneously emerge as principle challenger for power in 2019 elections? The party has to seriously ponder over the state of affairs. Is Rahul Gandhi capable of leading the party to sizable gain of seats in 2019 elections? Is the Sonia Gandhi-Rahul Gandhi and even Priyanka Gandhi combine capable of providing a coherent leadership to direct the party to a respectable perception change by Indian populace? Does the dynastic tag of Nehru Gandhi family left enough potency to attract the new India voters comprising of the largest younger population in the world? Does the Congress left with any values for democratic ideologies?  Is the party not full of sycophants; “yes” men, each willing to submit to the mercy of high command to find favour only to fulfil their own political aspirations? Do they possess enough courage to give constructive and rational advices to the party leaving aside personal whims and fancies and theories of vote bank politics? I find a negative answer to all these questions. Then, what course of action is left to Congress? It comes to suggesting an impossible possibility in the present scenario. Change the captain of the ship! The suggestion is to conduct a vertical and horizontal just overhaul of the party; a fresh party elections in a democratic way and evolve a democratic party functionaries minus the Gandhi family. Yes! Minus the Gandhi family! Let Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka relinquish the dynastic claims to top party posts and surrender the associated powers and finances it carries together to allow the party evolve as true democratic party. And remember; never play the old in-famous coup like the un-ceremonial ouster episode of Sitaram Kesri. You may be having the control of the party finances and other secretive powers but the “Nation India” is above the family and powers. If you, the Congress party want to gain the past glory, you have to consume the bitter pills. You will remain and remain at a much higher pedestal than today in the annals of history of Indian politics.  But, as I said, these are impossible possibilities. The lust for power and money is greater than the nation in today’s politics! So, keep fingers crossed!