Pranab Mukherjee’s presence and prominence ran contrary to Rahul Gandhi’s iftar attempt as a goodwill gesture towards Muslims.
Rahul Gandhi’s hurriedly organised iftar was a near disaster. The number of genuine rozedars – who observe the fast – was, in fact, few. Invites were restricted and given in pecking order of hierarchy and status, contrary to the true spirit of Ramzan and Islamic concept of egalitarianism.
In the absence of Sonia Gandhi (who is still abroad), the much-touted show of opposition unity was missing. Both Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav were conspicuous by their absence. Rahul seemed more indulgent towards Pranab Mukherjee.
The Congress veterans say Mukherjee has already played his cards by going to Nagpur, and is now no longer politically useful for the party. The minority wing of the AICC has slipped in giving Rahul an important feedback that the former president’s image among Muslims has taken a severe beating following his Nagpur adventure. For many Muslims, the description of K.B. Hedgewar as a great son of India and a commentary on the 600 years’ rule by ‘Muslim invaders’ has put Mukherjee in league of P.V. Narasimha Rao.
In a nutshell, Mukherjee’s presence and prominence ran contrary to Rahul’s iftar attempt as a goodwill gesture towards Muslims.
Opposition no-show
The other unstated goal of Rahul’s iftar was to showcase opposition unity. That too remained unfulfilled.
Although Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati sent her high-level emissary in the form of Satish Mishra, there was no senior leader from the Samajwadi Party (SP), not even Ram Gopal Yadav. Is the SP cold to the idea of the Congress eyeing a slice of pie in Uttar Pradesh, where a grand anti-BJP alliance is being worked out among the SP-BSP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD)?
Political grapevine has it that “Uttar Pradesh ke ladke” have had a bitter parting since February 2017 when political strategist Prashant Kishor had played a go-between. Were the post-poll Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) invoice(s) responsible for the bad blood between “Uttar Pradesh ke ladke?”
The much-hyped opposition unity at this stage is a mirage. The real test of unity among opposition will come in early December when the state assembly poll results of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will be declared. If the Congress gains in these three BJP-ruled states, as predicted by some pollsters, Rahul-led Congress will get a boost. The ensuing euphoria and the sense of ‘we have arrived vis-a- vis BJP’ have every potential of putting off non-NDA parties like the BSP, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the SP, and other Third Front protagonists.
It is an open secret that the Third Front leaders are hoping for a weak Congress to repeat 1996 United Front experience in May 2019. It may be exceptionally wishful, but the SP, the BSP and the TMC have no desire to fulfil the Congress’ ambition to take the centre stage of national politics. An iftar over khajoor and sherbet, followed by biryani and kebab, have little or no potential to gloss over personal ambition and one-upmanship.
The five-star culture
Post-iftar, the skewed guest list, rather non-inclusion of community leaders, became a big talking point within the Muslim community. Some Urdu newspaper editors asked why the party had only invited those considered close. After all, when iftars were held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, or Hyderabad House, and even at 24 Akbar Road, great care used to be taken to identify an assortment of community leaders, scholars, intellectuals and clergy from across the length and breadth of the country.
At the Taj Palace iftar, even representation from Delhi’s Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri was missing. Credible leaders of the Muslim clergy had, in any case, passed an informal fatwa against political iftars, dubbing it as against the true spirit of Ramzan and Islam.
The Congress’ choice of a five-star hotel is interesting. There is a time-tested Congress convention to avoid “five-star culture.” In fact, when Abhishek Bachchan debuted in the 2000 film Refugee, an invitation was sent to Sonia Gandhi. But it was politely communicated that the Congress president does not visit ‘extravagant’ five-star hotels because the party philosophy revolved around simple living and high thinking.
Rasheed Kidwai is an Observer Research Foundation visiting fellow, author and journalist. the views expressed here are his own
Has every party thrown by an individual or a group Ben a success. No mention of the menu, no indication of whether this was a stag event. Why not just consider it to be a selected get together of people. The event will be forgotten even before the invitees digest the food.
The writer Rashis kidwai has। a great pain & discomfort for Pranab da wirting dr hedgewaar as great son of India. Next line gives the reason for it.. 600 years Islamic invasions as put by Pranab da is not acceptable to rasid. He wants that Pranab da must have glorified the Aurangajeb and Babar .for him Akbar is great after killing। 50000 Hindus but not the dr hedgewaar.
The Rahul-led Congress attempt to forge alliances have an uncanny similarity with the Air-India disinvestment–no bidders came when part equity was offered;now cent per cent equity transfer of the airline is being considered to attract bids.In Karnataka Congress is the junior partner.In Kerala the only Rajya Sabha seat it could bag has been gifted to a regional party.Similarly all regional satraps will demand their pound of flesh thus upturning the notion of Congress as a national party.The ill managed Iftar made Pranab Mukherjee share space with Dinesh Trivedi and Satish Mishra–both second rung leaders of their respective parties.By skipping the event the leadership of the emerging Federal Front have shown Congress its place–as the junior partner of the anti-BJP tie up.Tejaswi Yadav has put a question mark on Rahul’s Prime Miniterial ambition.He said it openly;others are keeping their ambition under wraps.
Why invite human beings belonging to peace religion who chant anti Hindu sentiments five times a day.24 × 7 with all declaration alahooakbar meaning there is no god except ala and that Hindus r kafir who must be killed just bec WE reject Islam ka ala muhammad ?
The writer is biosed and I’ll informed . His criticism of HE Pranab Mukherjee is totally out if place and misleading . He seems to have th remind set of a road side illiterate person if not A jehadi
The Cost of Modi’s travels in the Government cost could have helped to open 40% Newcompanies
Rashid kidwai is a seasoned journalist. I do not want to contradict his view ln toto. But if congress can manage bohenji and make seat sharing in Mp and Rajasthan , Akhilesh will have to concede seats to congress in UP . Otherwise his Muslim vote will be worst hit.
If visiting RSS simply blow away 50 years of persona of Mukherjee for Muslims, then Muslims has become most virulent intolerant creed . The self imposed isolation and inbreeding led to conflict with whichever community they are in contact with…
I think it’s a good article to objectively observe how the intellectual Muslims in India are able to get away by mixing their religion with politics with aspirations of some rightist Hindus in the firm belief only”they”, the Islamic standard bearers who talk of Islam and it’s purity , are secular. The writer only shares one side of the story. The effort to give space at a national level by Congress to Muslims again is being ignored by such disparaging articles.
RaGa is a sad man. His mother n minders are sadder still. There seems no one in Congress who has any political sense least of all RaGa who looks n acts just short of the loony bin n should not be in politics at all as he messes up everything he does.
Another is Pranabda who sounds as if he he just got off the boat from rural Bengal. How he managed to become president or why he is politically important is beyond me. Nor does he have a political base but all of a sudden he is important n spouts comments praising Hedgewar. Poor man must be thinking of his retirement accommodation. RaGa at least has his mansion in Naples.
The bjp is no better with it’s tired old n doddering ministers n CMs like Yogi whose fall back n favorite whipping boys are the poor mughals who have been extinct for hundreds of years. Does the man have no other today issues in his state? But in Modi n Shah the bjp has 2 rough n ready street fighters n they’re making the difference n absorbing the slack from the rest. Against them you only have a complete dimwit like RaGa so where’s the fight? The fight can only be if Modi n Shah self destruct in thier blind belief that this is a nation of fools. They have no other danger. Didi Maya n the rest are all like hyenas waiting at the fringe of the kill to see what juicy peices they can grab. In the centre of the arena fighting for the spoils are two vicious tigers and a lost lamb in lion’s clothings pushed into the arena by a mother who doesn’t realize the harm she is heaping upon her dimwitted middle aged son by pushing him into a fight he is not equipped for. So where’s me n you going.? That’s the question.
While Rahul Gandhi seldom gets anything right, and is considered a disaster himself, the writer of this article, also exposes his bias, by portraying the ex President as an untouchable, post his Nagpur event. It is laughable that a journalist cannot digest the fact that in a democratically elected country, a person is free to address any gathering provided it has legitimacy. These same journos holler about FoS for JNU hooligans conspiring to break country.
What’s wrong with The Print ,don’t you have anything more important than such trivial issues? Be sensible
It would be a disaster as Rahul is a disaster if not a mischievous if not very dishonest in EVERY UTTERANCE.
पत्रकार महोदय भारतीय हैं या खाली मुसलमान।इनका सारा लेख यही बताता है कि ये अभी तक अपनी मुस्लिम मानसिकता से बाहर नहीं निकल पा रहें हैं और अभी भी यही सोचते हैं कि कांग्रेस ही इनकी देखभाल करती है।इनको यह समझ आना चाहिए की हर राजनैतिक दल आप लौगो को इस्तेमाल और सिर्फ अपने मतलब के लिए इस्तेमाल करते हैं। क्या आप लोग इस वोट बैंक के जाल से बाहर निकल कर एक भारतीय नागरिक होने पर गर्व महसूस नहीं करना चाहते?
भारत की जमीन पर पैदा हुआ हर इंसान पहले भारतीय हैं बाद में अपने धर्म और राज्य का हिस्सा है।
ये राजनीति के इफ्तार सिर्फ चोंचले बाजी है जो सियासत और धर्म के ठेकेदारों ने अपनी दूकाने चलाने के लिए बनाई हुई है।
Kidwai seems to be an out of job journalist desperately trying for gharwapasi Wish him luck as he tries to get his achche din back via 6 DDU Marg.
1996 was a failed model, holds no promise for India. Like its earlier editions, a rump being supported from outside by the Congress, waiting impatiently to return to power, harms governance and the country’s progress. India has now had successful coalitions, led by both the BJP and the Congress. Economic data does not support the thesis that these were wasted years. 2014 was a unipolar moment. The ruling party’s frantic outreach to estranged allies suggests its next government in 2019, should it come to pass, will also be a genuine coalition. 2. For Didi & Co, it would be wise not to get distracted by a premature snatch for the top job. The results will indicate who has the best claim to it.
This sentence…. “In a nutshell, Mukherjee’s presence and prominence ran contrary to Rahul’s iftar attempt as a goodwill gesture towards Muslims.” & last 3 lines in predigesting Para …..are the biggest give away….!
Totally exposes the “neutrality” of the writer of this piece ….though, he is known to be close to & sympathetic to 10 JP & Congress .
The write-up appears to be a lament or a complain …rather than an objective observation.
The whole Iftar “drama” was simply a political move for a particular Vote-Bank and has nothing “secular” about it !!
Overall , a sad commentary on the direction which “100 year old party” (??!!) is taking the polity and the role main stream media is playing towards propagating it.