Sonia Gandhi, who is shying away from putting her side in the court in the case of embezzlement, has given a startling explanation in the same case in front of the media. Her statement is that she is the daughter-in-law of Indiraji and she is not afraid of anyone. On the surface, this statement would appear as usual or a hollow buff. However, in reality, Sonia has given the statement very cunningly. It is a political statement and as such it is pertinent to take note of the political context inherent in it. Because it hides her strategy so as to overcome her legal crisis. It is a proclamation that she would face the legal crisis not in the legal way but through the political means. Of course, she stated it without any delay through the actions of her followers. From the day one, Congress has alleged a political vendetta behind this case, but has not provided any legal answer to any of the objections or points in it. However, the common man does not have any inkling of the legal language and operations. The people live and talk by emotions. Hence, the emotional issues can be utilised as escape-way in such political games. That’s why Sonia has adopted that method. While using the word ‘vendetta’, she has mentioned of being ‘Indira’s daughter-in-law’ very cunningly. It forewarns of her next move. What Indira would have done or did?
After the Emergency was lifted in 1977, Janata Government came to power and it appointed a number of commissions for the inquiry into the atrocities committed during Emergency. Indira was the accused in them. Prime Minister Morarji Desai knew that Indira would create sympathy for her if such action was taken that is why Morarji turned his back to these inquiries, leaving them hounding after her. However, Chaudhary Charan Singh, an intemperate and rustic politician, did not agree with it. Hence, he filed an FIR in a trivial matter, keeping Morarji in dark, and ordered arrest of Indira. At that time, Indira was almost broken. Rather, she was contemplating on retirement from politics. At this point, Charan Singh committed recklessness. The drama of arrest was enacted for such a trivial reason that Indira could not be kept even for a day behind the bars and Janata Government faced ignominy. However, Indira foxed the police so much for that arrest that it became a tamasha. The incident became the talk of the nation even as the media was not so much widespread as it is today. Indira asked time for preparing before going with the police and ordered her followers (on phone) to come to protest at her residence. She came out of her residence when the crowd gathered there and she sat on the road demanding police to handcuff her. Police then fumbled and Janata Government had a hard time giving explanations.
This is the historical context behind Sonia’s reminder of her mother-in-law. However, there is a sea of difference between the situation prevalent then and now. The action taken at that time was by government and police and today’s event is a part of the legal proceeding of the court. However, Indira used it for her political goals very wisely. Today, the situation is not the same and the government has not indulged in such foolishness. Therefore, there is not an iota of possibility of a repetition of Indira’s arrest drama. However, Sonia says that she would go the same way. Then, it is necessary to understand what that way is.
At that time, since media reeled under the Emergency, Indira did not have sympathy of the media. Today the situation is reversed. Almost all media houses and journalists are the main political opponents of the Modi Government, that is why even Sonia’s mistakes can be justified and the right actions of the government can also be distorted. That is why no media outlet is ready to talk about the details of the main case to Congress, including Sonia. The suit was not filed by the government. Dr Subramanian Swamy may be in BJP today, but he had filed the suit even before joining that party. The hearing of this case started in the lower court when the UPA Government, under the aegis of Sonia Gandhi, started. Then how can this be a political vendetta of today’s Modi government? The media deliberately did not ask such strategic questions. In short, the media is contributing to the confusion which Sonia wants to create. This is the only predicament of the government.
This is why Sonia’s statement must be taken seriously. Sonia is saying today that she is the daughter-in-law of Indira. It is actually a threat to create an impression that she is a woman and Modi Government is committing injustice to her. It only means that she would do anything so that political sympathy is created for her among the public. The common man doesn’t know the language of the law and this is a ploy to infuse misunderstanding among them.
Bhau Torsekar
(The writer is a senior columnist)
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