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Modi isn’t the only master of surprises. Rahul has learnt to use the weapon too

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Rahul Gandhi’s hug can be criticised, ridiculed or rubbished, but its visual is going to last till the 2019 election results.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a past master in frequently deploying the political weapon of “surprise” in his 24×7 politics. Now, the president of the Congress party Rahul Gandhi is playing catch up.

Surprise, rather shock and awe, have been powerful political weapons. Their impact is not measurable, but they have often changed the nature of relationships, within the country or even internationally.

Internationally, Nikita Khrushchev’s visit to the UN and banging the podium with his shoe in 1960, Mao Zedong’s launch of cultural revolution in 1966, the Tet Offensive by Vietnam’s “Vietcongs” in 1968, Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China in 1971, and Mikhail Gorbachev’s dramatic announcement of glasnost and perestroika (policies of openness and restructuring the economy) have changed the course of world history.

George W. Bush’s famous “shock and awe” attack on Iraq to current US president Donald Trump’s still inexplicable summits with North Korea’s autocrat Kim Jong-un and Russian president Vlamidir Putin are also some recent examples.

Within the country, Modi is known to be in constant search of something dramatic. Some of his advisers say that he often asks for something “big” that can be announced – from a national “run for unity” on Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary to International Yoga Day!

The hug and its appeal

Whether Rahul Gandhi’s scintillating somersault from the opposition to the treasury benches and his sudden hug to Narendra Modi was a preplanned move or impromptu is not the point. The act can be criticised, ridiculed or rubbished, but its visual is going to last, at least, till the 2019 election results, if not longer.

Although the Prime Minister tried to run down that stunned moment by his usual demagogic speech, the day would still be remembered for that embrace, which changed the contours of the election campaign. Imagine, David, instead of slinging a stone at Goliath, suddenly walks up to him and hugs him, thereby, disarming him completely. That day, Rahul was a Gandhian David.

This image is going to haunt Modi throughout the next 10 months. Whether he and his campaigners describe Rahul’s action as childish, unbecoming of the party president, or unparliamentary, it has stuck. This is because the action came at the end of his appeal: “You have a lot of hate towards me, you have a lot of anger towards me, to you I am a Pappu, you can call me all sorts of names, but I have not an iota of anger, an iota of hatred towards you, I am Congress… I have learnt that no matter how much you are abused and attacked, your heart must remain full of love”.

It is not possible to counter this appeal. The more Rahul is attacked, the more he will bounce back. It is a repeat of history. Indira Gandhi was routinely ridiculed as “Goongi Gudiya” by Ram Manohar Lohia, but when she counterattacked by sacking Morarji Desai as finance minister and nationalised the major banks, she stunned her critics. It was not a “love” weapon, but surely a “surprise” missile.

A favourite weapon

Modi has used the “surprise” weapon frequently, demonetisation being the best example. It still haunts him and his detractors. His first surprise move was the dismissal of the Planning Commission from the ramparts of the Red Fort. In the last four years, he has used this weapon so often that his bhakts now warn his critics and say “just wait for a surprise”.

Few of the “surprises” seem to have been neutralised in advance. For instance, some people thought that he would wage a war with Pakistan to generate nationalist euphoria. Some others thought (and still think) that he would bring Nirav Modi or Vijay Mallya back to India and make them face trial just a few weeks before the elections. There are others who still anticipate that he will “eliminate” Dawood Ibrahim and will display his brave fight against terrorism.

There was also speculation that he will deposit Rs 15 lakh in citizens’ bank accounts. Indeed, there are so many reforms waiting to be undertaken, some of them dramatic, that they will provide Modi with the “surprise” missile. He has created a huge social media network, armed with hyperactive trolls, who will promote those “surprise” policy surgical strikes.

David versus Goliath

Although it is early to speculate on the outcome of the 2019 elections, it is surely not going to be a boring confrontation between a nondescript Pappu and a giant Modi. Modi’s aggressive politics, and Amit Shah’s Machiavellian strategies have created an atmosphere of fear even within the BJP (to which Rahul referred and said that only love will defeat the politics based on hate and fear).

The mahagatbandhan has many Davids – from Chandrababu Naidu to Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal to Kamal Haasan, and Mamata Banerjee to Mayawati. All the non-Congress opposition parties were apprehensive of Rahul and the Congress. But with Rahul displaying the “surprise” element, the equation has changed, at least for now.

Modi, however, has several opportunities to display his “surprise” weapon again – Independence Day could offer him that chance. Modi has perfected the art of keeping the opposition guessing and worried, and he is not someone who will give up. The only thing that has changed is that the opposition too has learnt to use the weapon of “surprise” now.

Kumar Ketkar is a former editor and Congress member of Rajya Sabha.

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3 COMMENTS

  1. Would Ketkarji ever summon courage to write that he misled the parliament about the secrecy clause of the Rafeal deal.

  2. Kumar Katkr is greatest tout sycophant From last 15 years he honestly licking boots of Sonia Gandhi he got membership award of RS Now turned his attendant on Rahul Gandhi he is rising start may he will get minister ship award when Rahul become PM people think irrational way so his logic Rahul surprised public by hugging Modi is illogical only pleased Rahul he wrote article

  3. Prof PK Sharma,Freelance Journalist,Barnala(Punjab)

    Sir, your write-up has kindled at least an allusory ray of optimism and smile when you said that” there was also speculation that he will deposit Rs.15 lakh in citizens’ bank accounts ” ! Indeed,this sentence is the very soul of this piece appealing to all sections of society and attracting every citizen of India’s instant attention !

    What a silver lining so far as citizens’ fortunes are concerned ! It will be a windfall for the innocent and well-deserving masses of India who voted overwhelmingly for NaMo and his BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha Polls !

    Ketkar Sir, you must have been mistaken while penning down “there was speculation…….” ! Why do not you rectify your ” tense ” error pertaining to the past tense? Infact, you wanted to say ” there is a speculation” but slip of pen or finger at the keyboard resulted in the
    expression” there was ” !

    If this correction turns true, I can assure you that entire Barnala Assembly Constituency voters will vote enblock for NaMo !
    Sir, my family having five votes, too will blindly press lotus symbol if it implies a windfall of Rs. 75 lakh !

    Please go in for a modified version of the article promptly with this past tense correction because still ” there is a speculation ”
    expression will sound very amusing, musical and elating to electorate’s ears all over India !

    Moreover, what is the harm in hoping against hope, may be this hope may translate into truth, who knows ?

    Prof PK Sharma,Freelance Journalist
    Pom Anm Nest,Barnala(Punjab)

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