Some stray dogs are fortunate enough to be rescued by VVIPs and have a free tour of India’s most guarded place and the seat of power, like the Indian Parliament. Kudos to Madam Renuka Choudhary, a Congress Rajya Sabha MP in rescuing a stray dog in the streets of Delhi and giving it an intended ride to the Parliament to garner attention. It was a very noble act that should have gone unnoticed. But politicians are politicians craving for headlines or, in this case, to exhibit loyalty to their masters, and what better way than to choose a dog! A symbolic gesture indeed to be noticed by the top brass.
Ms. Chowdhary, who no longer has political steam, has been confined to the pages of political history along with her party, which was once a force to reckon with several stalwarts. Since the Congress is in death throes in the country, thanks to the novice leadership of the young dynast of the First family, she perhaps thought it prudent to display her loyalty to revive her political career. This became clear when she opened her mouth to bash the ruling BJP government and said, those who bite is inside the parliament.
This is despicable and needs condemnation by the 140-crore people of India who elect their representatives to the Parliament to take care of the interests of our country. They are all respected people, and this is an insult to compare them with a canine. Feel sorry that such a virtuous act went awry. The fact that the Congress party boss supported her act rather than reprimanding her when he reacted and said euphemistically that pets are not allowed outside, but inside. I pity this so-called young, immature dynast of the Congress who blurt out sentences without realizing their negative impact on the age-old party that could have coalesced into a strong opposition.
But a fair analysis of the decay of the Congress party shows us how a reluctant and arrogant leader may be a death knell to the oldest national party. Rahul Gandhi is in politics because he was born in India’s premier political family. I don’t think he himself wanted to be here. His case can be compared to Abhishek Bachchan in the film industry, who made his cinematic debut with so much of hype and fanfare. People compared him to his father, arguably India’s greatest, and a popular actor. So, he was destined to fail from the start unless he himself was an outlier. Even after toiling for several years with occasional success here and there, he fell short of the astronomical expectations and decided wisely to accept his fate and leave the silver screen, appearing once in a while in some side roles.
Rahul Gandhi’s story is similar. He did not choose to be a politician but was thrust by her family for reasons best known to them. Just look at his cousin Varun Gandhi, who tried his hand by entering politics at the age of 24, but Rahul did so grudgingly at 34! But he has no say like his father, Rajiv Gandhi, who appeared on the scene after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Rahul has been surrounded by politicians, media, and security in his entire life. He never looks enthusiastic while delivering speeches or giving interviews, where he is known for his gaffes that he frequently makes. His speeches are written for him and often depend on foreigners to win the election for him in India.
He flies off to a vacation destination or to meet his alleged family soon after any major elections are over; the way people crave to take a break from their jobs they do not like. I will not be surprised if he announces his retirement and chooses an uneventful, solitary life (if allowed) in the near future. But history tells otherwise. Look at Sonia Gandhi, who reluctantly joined politics half a decade after her husband’s death. Rajiv, who was a trained pilot and wanted to pursue an aviation career, ventured into politics after the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi. Indira Gandhi embraced politics after the death of her father. I think the Nehru family has carried the burden of a political legacy far too long. It is time that it stops with Rahul Gandhi. After all, everyone deserves a life they want and not the one thrust upon them. It is not good for them as well as for the country.
The top brass of the Congress party should remember, Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made through hard work. What better example can one look for other than our own Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who rose from selling tea at a railway station to become the most influential leader not only of India but the most popular in the world.
