Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi refuses to do a press conference to answer pressing questions over the Covid-19 situation, or any crisis for that matter, it was great to have former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan offer his expert views in a video chat with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Rajan’s insight on what India can expect economically during these times and what the Modi government should be doing to alleviate the mammoth problems that the coronavirus pandemic has ushered must be welcomed by anyone worried over the extended lockdown, which threatens to worsen India’s dwindling economy.
But other than the economic prescience gained from the half-hour-long chat, it was refreshing to see Rahul Gandhi interview Raghuram Rajan also for two reasons.
One, India’s political class is known to be a megalomaniac and it’s rare to see politicians publicly seek advice on matters that raise anxiety among common people. The interview was a departure from the know-it-all attitude that we too often see in the ruling BJP dispensation. Imagine a prime minister who has never even remotely been associated with the defence forces, let alone serve in the military, boasting about giving advice to the Air Force on how to attack the enemy — as Modi apparently did during the Balakot airstrikes against Pakistan by telling the IAF to use ‘cloud cover’.
The second reason the interview matters is that, at least this way, the Indian public got some perspective on the depth and darkness of the abyss that the economy is falling into, which the Modi government refuses to acknowledge to the detriment of all of us. With some insight from a world-renowned economist on what lies ahead in terms of employment and expenditure, Indians can mentally prepare for the hard times. A heads-up is essential especially because PM Modi has a perverse liking for surprise announcements, which are almost always disastrous — the 2016 demonetisation and the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus being prime examples.
Also read: Arnab Goswami’s attack continues. Rahul, Priyanka, where’s your ‘enough is enough’ moment?
The possible interviewees
In fact, Rahul Gandhi should conduct more such interviews to help people better understand the times we live in. Hopefully, the Modi government will listen too.
Manmohan Singh: In the very opening lines of a recent op-ed, the former prime minister addressed the most crucial aspect of the thin ice that India is terrifyingly treading on. Singh wrote:
“India faces imminent danger from the trinity of social disharmony, economic slowdown and a global health epidemic… I deeply worry that this potent combination of risks may not only rupture the soul of India but also diminish our global standing as an economic and democratic power in the world.”
This is from a man who has been on ground zero, taking care of India for a decade as a Prime Minister, no matter how “remote-controlled” people accused him of being, and who has been the 5th chief economic adviser to the government of India, the 15th governor of the Reserve Bank of India, the 14th deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, the 22nd finance minister of India, and the 16th minister of personnel, public grievances and pensions. He is an alumnus of Oxford and Cambridge universities as well as a professor of international trade in Delhi School of Economics. He really has been there, done that and seen it all. In fact, for his credentials, he remains tragically under-utilised. India truly doesn’t know how to value its geniuses. Perhaps Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh does, which is why he has appointed him to guide his government in reviving the state’s economy after the fiscal lull brought upon the state and the country by the Covid-19 crisis.
Tablighi Jamaat members: The Congress is often labelled as a “Muslim party” that “appeases” the community. With an image as lethal as this in these divided times, it will be heartening to see Rahul Gandhi not shy away and leave it upon his ‘janeu’ to counter the image of “minority appeaser”. He should instead hold a video conference with the members of the Tablighi Jamaat who donated their blood plasma for Covid-19 patients.
It will be insightful for the common people to learn about the members of Tablighi Jamaat who were accused of deliberately trying to spread the coronavirus and still chose to donate their plasma ignoring all the hate directed towards them. Was it to correct their image or did they truly do it out of a sense of duty and charity?
Also read: Indian media is waging a holy war against Muslims. It acts like hyenas
A psychologist: A 23-year-old student from Punjab who had just returned from Sydney jumped to his death from the seventh floor of Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital where he was admitted following complaints of fever and headache. He later tested negative for Covid-19. A 60-year-old man from Noida “wakes up in the middle of the night screaming” the name of his grandson who is stuck in a coronavirus-infected country in Europe. But Rahul Gandhi shouldn’t be asking the obvious questions surrounding depression and anxiety. Many journalists have spoken to psychologists regarding this. What Rahul Gandhi should do is pick the psychologist’s mind over why certain politicians behave so peculiarly — such as stay in denial of the economic hardships people are facing, doing little to alleviate them despite being in a position to, or refusing to be questioned when relevant answers will make the world of a difference.
Arnab Goswami: Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with Republic TV’s host Arnab Goswami will perhaps be one of the most viewed videos of our times. But the interview should be conducted Republic TV style with Rahul’s mic at least two notches louder than Arnab’s and the Congress leader being injected with a serum that makes him go from his usual calm self to Arnab-like delirium where he keeps asking (or rather shouting out) the same question over and over even if the person has already answered it. Rahul Gandhi should also use the mute button for Arnab generously and keep telling him: “The nation wants to know, Arnab.”
Chief ministers of Congress-ruled states: Although Rahul Gandhi is not in a leadership position to be taking stock of how states ruled by his party are faring during the pandemic, he could still hold a joint conference call with Congress chief ministers. This way, the people will know what strategies have been planned once the lockdown ends and how these states — Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Puducherry, and even Maharashtra, are going to revive their economies. Such an interview will also straightaway put spotlight on what the BJP governments are doing. It will go a long way in changing the perception of the public with regards to the Congress’ leadership skills, which are always doubted, despite being better in almost every way, in comparison to Modi and Amit Shah’s.
The author is a political observer and writer. Views are personal.
Whilst I strongly advocate interviews with the likes of MMS And Raghuram Rajan, I do not see the need for interacting with people like Arnab Goswami. It might earn Rahul Gandhi a few TRPs but to what purpose? Arnab will never concede to Rahul’s views and will remain an ass with a brown ring around his nose-he has his nose so deeply embedded up Modi’s posterior.
Whatever may be the errors of omission & commission of Modi-Shah duo, their loyalties have never been outside India. That matters more than everything else.
Zainab, you call yourself as a political observer? I suppose it needs a small change, ‘political parody’
News channel are not a voice of public they are reporting there own agenda ? Who will ask questions if they are against public ? Public will reply
Ms Zainab, it’s a pity that you call yourself a political observer. I think I could have read a more balanced write up on similar topic by Rahul Gandhi himself. The print sounds more like an Anti BJP rhetoric. To maintain readership, the Print needs to pink slip some of the observers it seems.
Stupidest praising effort for RaGa. He is the best political comedian and no one can beat him.
Now your tries to make him look mature doesnt change reality.
Completely agree with you. Rahul Gandhi ji press conference and interviews has been refreshing. These efforts has had an positive effect on people like us who watched. We could see geniune concern for India and its a treat to watch such efforts. Keep up the good work !!!!!
All the qualifications of MMS, but it would have been good to know what is the quAlification of RAGA, his sister and mother? Hote come they are the only best in the grand old party?
What public service RAGA or his sister have done except for MODI bashing in last 6 years.
Dear author,
Do you ever read comment section
My advice to you is, please don’t humiliate yourself for the advancement of some immature politician
Very biased…..Perhaps financed by Congress as they are desperate. Rahul/Sonia are responsible for damaged reputation of Congress party. Raghuram has his own agenda.
Truth will prevail….BJP and Modi can only do good for India….they have my full support.
Hellow journalist from single source, we also remember his interview with Arnab before 2014. .. please mention that as well…
This author is well paid my moron Rahul Gandhi… I don’t why this idiot thinks people are so dumb to believe whatever shit he writes….
ThePrint should encourage Zainab to convert Rahul into a good journalist. We all know that RaGa is simply not PM material.
One joker interviewing another. Has any economist did good for India or the world? Raghuram Rajan and Amritya sen have filled their personal coffers. Raghuram Rajan is a Congress stooge who allowed loot of banks during his tenure as RBI governor. He is unwanted in India, so is Rahul.
Let Rahul Gandhi interview the Jamaat men who spat and misbehaved with our corona warriors. Also those who absconded and hid, instead of voluntarily coming forward for quarantine. 4persons volunteering plasma does not exonerate the thousands infected by Jamaat. Of course Zainab and her ilk can only see the rare good deeds of her community and trumpet them.
Rahul Gandhi is making up for the deficiency of Sekhar Gupta’s The Print
Raghuram Rajan is a jaded media hungry text book economist who presided over the burgeoning of NPA’s and did nothing to control inflation..Manmohan Singh was a dumb and deaf Indian version of NERO with no spine and no voice in his tenure as PM..His lasting legacy will be the shame of Sharm al Sheikh where he capitulated to Pakistani diabolic pressure..As for interviewing the tablighi the author shows up her penchant for shamelessly playing the victim card..she is not the first and certainly won’t be the last.. RaGa interviewing Arnab Goswami..? That’s a laugh..even now Pappu would have nightmares of the llast time he faced Arnab the bad boy of English News..or maybe Raga is too dumb..alongwith Antonia Maino the liberatti press are forcing Pappu to step up and play the game he clearly abhors and is not cut out for..the more pappu op4ns his mouth the more he trips over himself…aided by brain dead sycophants like the author
It seems madam is yearing for a govt over which they can exercise veto power, just as they did before 2014. Alas, u have to wait for 2024, unless some major catastrophe strikes earlier.
“It will be insightful for the common people to learn about the members of Tablighi Jamaat who were accused of deliberately trying to spread the coronavirus and still chose to donate their plasma ignoring all the hate directed towards them. Was it to correct their image or did they truly do it out of a sense of duty and charity?”
Do the “common man” expect Tablighi to own responsibility for the spread of Virus?What will he achieve by the interview?
Madam, your views also seems to be one sided , favouring one side, as political observer views has to be balanced else your views looses relevance for a reader.
How do you know that the central government is not taking views of economic experts and others to resolve issues?? People will have to drop lutyens mindset…
I am asking this question in all seriousness. I didn’t follow even after reading the entire article, if this is a serious piece or supposed to be sarcastic.
So many people have told me that theprint is actually a biased and sponsored news medium by anti BJP brigade. I haven’t accepted it so far but after reading this and many other articles which targets only Modi and BJP, I am compelled to believe that it is. Not a fair news portal at all.
He should ask this question.Why politicians don’t have a retiring age?
Most countries had a two months notice.Have women premiers between better in handling the crisis?Has the age of the premiers have any effect on how they have handled the situation?alAn old premier may have risk aversion due to his age or elections or any other reasons and this may be affecting his decisions
One can go back even in history for examples .
The question to answer is,’Why don’t politicians retire?’