One of the most depressing aspects of Indian politics in recent years has been the decline of the grand old party. The lack of dignified, mature and wise leadership is the primary reason for this.One has hoped that the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Rahul Gandhi, would take over the reins from his ailing mother and grow. But the reason best known to him and his mother this has not happened.Rahul Gandhi’s latest accusation that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi indulged in Khoon ki dalali, who hides behind the blood of our jawans is most despicable. Critics have regarded this remark as worse than his mother Sonia Gandhi’s earlier abuse of Modi as maut ka saudagar. Sonia Gandhi paid a terrible price for this—first in her party’s defeat in Gujarat and then in the 2104 General elections. One would not be surprised if Rahul Gandhi’s abuse hastens the party’s burial.
M RATAN, Delhi
Punish Traitors
It is shocking that Opposition leaders, which include Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leaders Sanjay Nirupam, Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram, who earlier supported the Government’s decision to carry out surgical strikes in Pakistan occupied Kashmir have suddenly done a somersault and are talking like enemies of the country.The Government must waste no time to put such leaders in the place they belong to.
G VIJAYALAKSHMI, Chennai
Stop Playing Politics Over Sensitive Matters
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s advice to his colleagues to avoid chest-thumping over the surgical operations the Indian military recently conducted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is in everybody’s interest. The success of the strikes is a matter of national pride and it would be inappropriate of a party to claim credit. Moreover, belligerent pronouncements reflect jingoism and dent the country’s image of not being an aggressor. Organising public functions to felicitate Ministers for the success,for instance , is simply not done.At the same time , a measured level of credit is due where it belongs:To the incumbent Government for ordering the bold step, and to the Armed Forces for executing it with precision. Let’s not forget that the Congress had taken full credit for the 1971 victory over Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh. Following an all Party meeting the Government held after the Director-General Military Operations announced the success, all parties backed the Government’s decision and lauded our Armed Forces. Unfortunately days after, discordant voices began to emerge from leaders of some of these parties. I feel Opposition should stop playing politics over sensitive matters.
VINOD SHARMA, Panki, Kanpur
Old Congress Habit Rahul Gandhi's infamous diatribe against Modi for alleged politicisation of surgical strikes done by the army inside PoK actually reminds one of a number of occasions when the ruling Congress exploited to the hilt the achievements of Indian Army to further its narrow political interests. After the 1971 victory over Pakistan, there were State Assembly elections during the early months of 1972. The Congress let loose a blitzkrieg of propaganda through newspaper ads and road-side hoardings depicting Indira Gandhi as a great war hero(ine), likening her to Goddess Durga. This resulted into a clean sweep for her party at the hustings. People were made to forget the fact that despite 93,000 POWs in India’s hands and a chunk of 12,500 sq. km. Pakistani land under occupation by our brave forces in the western sector, Indira failed to get PoK vacated, she could not carry out the promised destruction of Pak war machinery, and she couldn't even bring to justice the POWs for their war crimes that included massacre of 3.2 million unarmed civilians and 1.2 million rapes of Bangla women. Even JawaharLal Nehru politicised the action of Indian army in Goa, Daman and Diu during December 1961. He got the three Portuguese possessions liberated after doggedly opposing the same for fear of adverse international reaction for years. Since 1962 general elections were round the corner, and he had lost precious political capital after a disastrous agreement with Pak on sharing of waters of Sindhu and Punjab rivers as also his shameless handing over of Beru Bari in W. Bengal to her by taking recourse to a constitutional amendment, the liberation of Goa-Daman-Diu came handy to refurbish his image. High-pitched propaganda depicting Nehru as a great liberator was unleashed to woo the voters. The game gave him rich political dividends. The 1962 elections were won by him hands down. It is indeed baffling to note that Rahul criticises Modi even when the latter has not indulged in any way politicising the army's action in PoK. He is working under a fear psychosis that Modi's brave political decision has altered the Indian political scene to his advantage. |
A Right Move
External Affairs Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj has done the right thing by giving the emphatic speech against Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in Hindi. By doing so she has given due respect to the language which it deserves. When leaders from other countries come to India and give speeches in there official languages, why can’t Indian leaders do so?
BIBHU, Odisha
Baseless Talks
Rahul Gandhi during his public speeches and road shows is attacking the Prime Minister day-in and day-out in the past 2 ½’ years that the 56’-chested-Modi has been working only in the interest of corporates making frequent foreign trips while simultaneously working against the interest of Farmers, Dalits, Minorities and Backward Classes. Surprisingly, Rahul Gandhi and his pseudo-comrades realised the plight of the above classes of people only when they are out of power. It is his indirect admission that the Congress/UPA maintained the plight of such classes of people though they were in power for nearly 60 years. The isolation of Pakistan globally, the global condemnation of Uri attack by Pak terrorists, the global support for surgical operation carried out by the Indian troops in PoK for annihilating terrorists and the boycott of the November-meet of SAARC by most of the member countries are the fruits of foreign visits made by the Prime Minister Shri Modi. Farmers invariably use a number of items in their everyday life which are principally manufactured by corporates. Welfare of Farmers and Corporate Growth is concomitant requirement of a developing economy like India.
T V L NARASIMHA RAO,
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