Author:
Publication: Dosabandit.blogspot.com
Date: April 27, 2011
URL: http://dosabandit.blogspot.com/2011/04/sonia-gandhi-and-her-carefully-crafted.html
Sonia Gandhi entered politics with a touching
story of how she could not let herself escape the inevitable responsibility
of leading the Congress party. After all it was crying to be led by the only
family divinely ordained to do so. The way in which her declaration as party
high command came about and what happened to the immediate predecessor is
but a matter of fine print.
Her being a rank outsider, both in politics
and nationality, a woman, widow of the assassinated Rajiv Gandhi meant she
was the proverbial underdog in Indian politics. Thirteen years later she has
proved she is no underdog. In fact she is in the top 10 of the world's most
powerful list. Nine places ahead of the Prime Minister (PM) of the world's
largest democracy. And the political opposition could only be wishing if only
it did not make the mistake of underestimating her.
One would think that after having been at
the top of the Congress party for over a decade and having manufactured a
convenient power center for herself under the United Progressive Coalition
(UPA) chairmanship for about 6 years now, our media would take some time to
evaluate her leadership, her politics. But try as you might an honest, independent
review of her years in public life is impossible to come across. Instead what
we have is some fawning soft focus features in mainstream media commemorating
such momentous occasions as her 10 years in politics.
The only image of her that is allowed is that
of a suffering, reluctant person who was forced to bow to public pressure
to lead the nation. Election posters of course follow a carefully crafted
image. But what has happened under her command, what has transpired in both
the UPA governments is completely ignored by opinion makers. That cronyism,
nepotism is prevalent in Congress party culture is not news but one of the
identifying characters of the party. Sonia's leadership since 1998 has done
nothing to change that. Instead she appointed her son, Rahul Gandhi, to important
post in the party. The son too has been lending sound bytes of trying to change
the rotten system of ours but little has come of it since his entry into public
life seven years ago.
Under Sonia Gandhi's leadership we had the
bad precedent of the unelected Manmohan Singh being appointed as our PM. Our
democracy is being subverted ever since. Playing with gubernatorial appointments
in states ruled by opposition parties, intimidating non-Congress rules states
through the federal government, using extra constitutional routes for law
making have been happening since 2004. Analysis, scrutiny of such acts however
is missing. Instead we have the curious coincidence of only benefits accruing
to Sonia Gandhi and all criticism being absorbed by other Congressmen. When
the erstwhile "honest" Manmohan Singh was chosen for our PM, Sonia
Gandhi was hailed for her sacrifice and excellent choice. Now that Manmohan
Singh is being severely criticized for raging scams on his watch no questions
are being asked of her. When her appointees like ex Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Ashok Chavan get caught in scams, again no questions must be asked of her.
When UPA coalition partners are accused and being investigated for severe
scams Manmohan Singh should shoulder blame. No blemish should ever reach Sonia
Gandhi.
Then we have the case of her being personally
involved in scams. Bofors is perhaps the longest running scam story. The brazenness
with which Bofors cases were closed was open for all to see. Personal allegations
against her may have been in the realm of conspiracy theories in the past
but that may no longer be the case. Almost every major scam hitting the headline
these days has some link tracing to Sonia Gandhi. The Commonwealth Games scam
has a Robert Vadra link. The 2G spectrum scam has links going to her. Yet
stories in media on such links are no where to be found.
The other image of Sonia Gandhi is that of
a caring, sensitive leader who has the aam aadmi's interests close to her
heart. Yet victims of the horrific 2008 attacks on our soverignity on 26/11
are yet to see justice being done to them. PM Manmohan Singh promised that
to the nation in his televised address immediately following the attack. But
now we have him trying to make peace with the nation that blatantly refuses
to take responsibility in face of a mountain of evidence. The UPA power center
is unmoved. A nation housing vast numbers of poor people suffers continued
price rise burden. Inclusive growth promise that apparently has a human face
is not questioned here.
Sonia Gandhi herself and her inner circle
seems to have carefully crafted a certain image of her. She has the habit
of maintaining complete silence when the going gets tough, instead letting
some members of her inner circle do the dirty job of discrediting all criticism.
But when there is a slight opportunity for media worthy sound byte we have
the benevolent, saintly Congress high command get out of her meditation and
let a few words of wisdom out. When more questions are raised she conveniently
goes back to her meditation.
No opinion maker worth his/her salt has shown
the courage to question and hold Sonia Gandhi accountable of all that is wrong
in the Congress party and the UPA government. She is allowed to enjoy leadership
without the accountability that should go with it in a constitutional democracy.
This continued mismanagement is doing incalculable harm to our nation's interests.
But when wanting to be seen on the right side of power holder trumps need
for honest scrutiny, such abominable cruelty will go unnoticed.
