There is a proverb in English as well as in Hindi: “People who live in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones”. Or, Sheeshe ke gharon mein rahne wale doosron par patthar phenka nahi karte.
Our esteemed politicians, who are now into stormy campaigning either for themselves or for their party candidates for the Lok Sabha election 2014, must ensure that prior to levelling charges against the opponent, they themselves are clean.
This season has witnessed the sudden rise of Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who otherwise till now had been lying low and was virtually inactive in politics. What prompted her to get into an aggressive mode? The Congress has tried to convince the common man by saying that her entry has acted as a morale booster for the party and for her brother the ‘crown prince’ Mr Rahul Gandhi. She has been projected as a saviour of Congress by the party, but facts narrate a different story altogether.
After stepping into active campaigning, Priyanka didn’t let go a single moment from attacking Mr Narendra Modi. On pretext of safeguarding her brother Rahul, she made scathing attacks on Modi. But, if one carefully observes the entire trend, it’ll be clear that she resorted to such kind of negative campaigning only after the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra of amassing wealth illegally.
Manish Tewari’s Apology to Nitin Gadkari
The most unfortunate part of our democracy is that all the political parties take the common man – the majority voters of this country—for granted and consider them as fools, with short-lived memory. So did Priyanka. She convinced the electorate that she has stepped in for ‘Congress party’s sake’, ‘to save the nation from a person whose hands are blood-stained and wants to become the PM’ and ‘to protect the secularism of India’.
Despite, the BJP and the AAP having attacked Ms Sonia Gandhi or Rahul on several occasions in the past, Priyanka never came out in public as a messiah to save her mother or brother. But it was only after allegations were levelled against Robert Vadra, did she become vociferously vocal. On pretext of protecting Rahul, who’s representing the Congress in Amethi, she fired salvos at Modi. Even a person, with the least political understanding can say that it was only to protect her husband, who allegedly has amassed a huge wealth. The entire Congress machinery got down to save the ‘son-in-law’.
But, Modi, an astute politician never said that Vadra should be sent to jail. Instead he said, whatever action needs to be taken should be within constitutional framework.
Trafficking of Cows through Trains
Priyanka attacked Modi by saying that the latter’s government gave land to industrialists (read Adani and Ambani) in Gujarat on a throw-away price. But, what about Mr Vadra? Investigations have revealed how Vadra purchased land in Haryana at a lower price and later made money. So, Priyanka ji should be careful while throwing stones at others. She might hurt herself and her own people.
One of the most trusted lieutenants of the Congress and Sonia Gandhi – Mr Digvijay Singh never missed an opportunity to throw barbs on Narendra Modi. On Women Day, Singh said Gujarat Chief Minister cannot “respect and take care of his wife”. Was Digvijay Singh campaigning for Congress or peeping into other person’s private life?
And, now what is it? The same Digvijay Singh has been found to have an affair with a married TV anchor, which began way back when his wife was alive. He had to admit this, after a few photo clippings went viral on You-tube. So, as an aam aadmi, may I ask a question, “Why couldn’t Mr Digvijay respect the sanctity of his own marriage and take care of his wife, and had to indulge into an illicit relationship”?
Be it Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra or Mr Digvijay Singh—the custodian of morality, please ensure your own status before throwing stones. You too are living in glass houses.
-The opinion expressed in this column is solely that of the writer – Nameless Indian
