Rahul Gandhi has done it again. The Congress leader has pandered to his need for validation from, and the desire to confide in, foreign intellectuals with zero stake in India, at the cost of very poor political optics domestically.
In his virtual interaction with former US Under Secretary of State and Harvard University professor Nicholas Burns last week, Rahul Gandhi criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for “wholesale capture of state institutions” and questioned the US for its silence over what was happening in India. Why is this problematic, some may ask. Picture this: The top leader, the face of the main opposition party openly trashing the state of democracy in his country and seeking foreign intervention in the middle of very crucial and hotly contested assembly polls. All this, when the pitch of his very powerful rival is an amplified idea of nationalism and glorification of the country’s values.
This is hardly the first time Rahul Gandhi is allowing his desire to be heard by an international audience overpower the need for smart domestic politics. Back in 2009, Gandhi, who was then an MP from Amethi, had told then British Foreign Secretary David Miliband during a visit to a Dalit family’s home in rural Amethi that this was the ‘real India’ — as if there was nothing more to India than raw misery.
Rahul Gandhi seems to be drawing his inspiration from the likes of Mani Shankar Aiyar who, during a panel discussion on a Pakistani news channel in 2015, had sought the removal of the Narendra Modi government, drawing much flak for his usual foot-in-mouth syndrome. And anybody, with even a remote understanding of politics, can tell you why Aiyar should be absolutely nobody’s inspiration.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi’s liberal supporters do him great disservice
Rahul’s flawed approach
The question is not whether one must be allowed to air her or his views openly, the answer to which in a democratic set-up is an obvious yes. The point, however, is that politics is far more complex, and requires a delicate and nuanced approach. And like it or not, Narendra Modi has changed the rules of the game to an extent that it is near-suicidal to give him full toss deliveries to smash sixes, one after another.
By taking to international platforms to convey his views and draw some pats on his back, instead of trying to speak the language voters in India would want to hear, Rahul Gandhi has constantly given Modi that extra leeway.
Narendra Modi has made ‘nationalism’ the fulcrum of his politics. One doesn’t need to necessarily compete with that or imitate it, but given how voters are lapping Modi’s politics up, it is important to not fall into the trap of giving him a reason to question your commitment towards the country. Rahul Gandhi must resist the urge to take the bait, and fail Modi’s nationalism test, time and again.
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, for instance, Modi sold the retaliatory air strikes in Balakot as his big achievement, something the voters quite happily bought. But Rahul was busy picking holes in this theory, questioning Modi’s ‘chowkidar’ skills over the Rafale deal. The results were there for all to see.
In 2017, as Congress vice-president, Gandhi addressed students at the University of California, Berkeley, and criticised the Modi government for its economic policies and its handling of Kashmir.
His interaction with Burns is the latest in the list of ‘how to harm your politics’ moves.
Look at the optics and messaging of this. Essentially, he’s telling his domestic constituency — which is what should matter to the Congress and him the most — that your government isn’t good enough and hence, you need international involvement to save you. Leaders spend considerable energy and time trying to fend off outside influence or involvement in matters internal to their countries.
And here you are, targeting a PM who is hugely popular, carries immense goodwill and is able to sell his story extraordinarily well on international platforms. You may detest Modi’s politics and his party’s communal fibre, but you cannot deny the grip he has established over the electorate. To deride such a PM and his government on international platforms can hardly going to look palatable to the voters, and will only boomerang on Rahul Gandhi and his already floundering party. And all this when elections in five states are on, in three of which, at least, the Congress has got serious stakes in.
Also read: Assam’s wave of ethnic anxieties now just an undercurrent. That’s what Modi-Shah achieved
The need for international approval
At what point do you stop feeling exasperated with Rahul Gandhi? He has got almost nothing right since he stepped into active politics, and more glaringly, since he began to lead his party (whether as president or de-facto chief). From being erratic to non-focused, disconnected and quite self-absorbed, Rahul Gandhi has stumbled his way through. As well-meaning as he may be, realpolitik isn’t quite his strength, which is precisely what is reflected in his inexplicable obsession for validation from international audiences.
Many in the country don’t take Rahul Gandhi very seriously, as impolite as that might sound. But international platforms are where the Congress leader is heard, and hence, he takes them more seriously than he perhaps should — putting his heart and soul into these interactions and sidestepping all political correctness, prudence and pragmatism. The fawning by foreign listeners gives him the same kick that one extra vote on the EVM gives to other politicians.
Rahul Gandhi operates at an esoteric level. He thinks his beliefs and roadmap are all that matter, and winning and losing elections is not the point. Which is precisely what he wants to convey through Miliband or Berkely or Burns. Unfortunately, however, for any political party to survive, let alone thrive, winning elections is imperative, and international attention or platforms to speak purely incidental.
Some other politicians may still be able to pull this off without much damage being caused, but for a leader who is already the weakling, this is complete harakiri.
There is no bravery in waxing eloquence against all that you perceive as being wrong with your country on international mediums. But there is every bit of bravery in resurrecting yourself, doing the necessary course-correction, playing it smart and developing the wherewithal to win elections and take down the Goliath. It would do Rahul Gandhi well to remember this. It isn’t his country he is letting down by censuring it internationally, but his party, its members and every dedicated voter of the Congress.
Views are personal.
Edited by Anurag Chaubey
Rahul Khan much as @The Print & other Tukde gang members are the very definition of failure!! These people live only as parasites for this nation & it’s majority!!
We await the day when @The Print & other Tukde members show us their real nationalism…………………. for Pakistan of course!! because they can’t be Indian!!
Else the communal fibre is only with Tukde gang led by this idiot Rahul or those who voted for Pakistan but stayed in India to drink Gaumutra!!
This is a stale thinking. Our journalists praise Mody for whatever he speaks, even if he tells some untruth and unscientific things and criticise Rahul even if he tells the truth. This is only because Mody wins (?) elections and Rahul does not. The real reason is these journalists are scared to endorse truth and criticise the untruth lest that would offend the ruler and the ruling party.
BJP has lost so many state elections. in the last
3 – 4 years which every one knows. However, it regained almost all of them through backdoor methods. This kind of journalist didn’t have the time and courage to criticise that !!
Yes, winning election is important in a democracy. But we must start speaking the truth. I think Rahul is doing that. Whether he should win or lose depends on the people of the country.
Why are you and your language is so soft for the blunder of Clown Prince? You guys so much scared of 10 JP?What the hell they are using to scare you all?Not in power, what’s that medicine 10 JP is using to keep the entire lutyens under their feet? Quite amusing. You guys couldn’t show your spine when Mamata Banerjee said openly that Muslim vote bank should not be split. Was it not a communal polarization? The PM had to explain people of Bengal and India that how venomous that statement was. He also exposed the lutyen chaploosis hiding meekly to speak on that. The PM also said , had that kind like Hindu voters must unite kind of a statement comes from BJP even a ward member, all these 10JP chaploosi media could have blown it out of proportion. Guys expose these left wing Commie 10 JP steno whenever you get a chance.
Did we come across any such articles when Narendra damodardas modi used foreign / western platforms to deride past govts, political stalwarts etc.? So why blame the INC or the Gandhi family now? Whether we like it or not, most Indians / asians seek such recognition / acceptance from the Western / developed world. So why point fingers on the easiest punching bag of the day ( Congress party & the Gandhi family). Also, could we identify ONE liberal / unbiased institution / media house in India who would conduct such a program for the opposition leaders? So when no such opportunities exist in India why blame those who seek international avenues?
No!! Only Brown British & de-racinated Indians need to kiss foreign white rears!!
No nationalist or person who understands the splendid Indian/culture does that!!
You generalissing on Asians is NOT correct!! In Alaska meeting, China has successfully shamed America & that lame dementia patient Biden’s record on human rights & democracy!! This amply demonstrates that only slaves look for western approval, no one else!!
Fortunately Or Unfortunately This Guy Is A Failure In Indian Political Arena.His Mother is Lending Her Shoulders To Prop Him Up But Without Success.So He Is Trying Every Trick Up His Sleeves To Be In The Arena.
In these comments, I see a lot of misuse and misrepresentation of Nationalism. Nationalism is just love for your country which propels you do the impossible when you are up against the wall – ask me. I can tell you.
Nationalism is not exclusive of globlisation, inclusiveness, empowerment, diversity and humaneness.
Tail piece: Nationalism is not an ogre. I find that even a large section of the media is complicit in misrepresenting Nationalism, either by default of by design.
Very true. One does need a modicum of nationalism else you end up getting ruled and exploited by foreigners as India was during the past few hundred years. Between ultra nationalism and complete absence of any kind of nationalism, the former although not ideal is preferable.
Absolutely correct Col Viswanahan!
The congress created Indian eco system incl. Media survives to this day! They are undoubtedly complicit in misrepresenting not just Nationalism but also the Hindu community!! This is very much by design by these Brown British, radical Islamo-leftist fascists!!
One thing common between BJP and pseudo liberals – both need Rahul G for their survival.
Why no Muslim is defending paapi pappu otherwise no true indians like this asshole
@Raj Jayaraj: Muslims defend only their own Umma BS!!
Useful idiots like Rahul who have passed their sell by date are thrown in the dustbin!!
So true to the Congress mentality of being slaves of westerners, and they don’t seem to be able to shake this off. Not in this life time. What more can be expected of a party so full of itself and its history and spineless members of the party.
AnuCha: Does giving interviews to foreign news outlets or having a dialogue with foreign leaders – Western and non-Western – amount to “mentality of being slaves of westerners” ? India does not exist in a vacuum and the alarming developments in India and its rapid march towards fascism and one party state under an autocrat is something the world notices. More so as Hindutva fascism is being exported to NRI communities and rearing its ugly head in many Western countries.
In any case, given the fact that Führer does not talk to the press and his excellent Delhi university education does not seem to have prepared him to take simple questions, it is only natural that the vacuum is filled by others with a non-Delhi University education. More so when the few articulate and educated members of the Führer’s errand boy corps – south Indians like Jaishankar & Nirmala Sitharaman – are not allowed to speak .
RaGa does not lose credibility by speaking to anyone, the Western press or Western leaders.
Jokers should be treated as such
Nobody has ever accused Rahul Gandhi of having orchestrated a pogrom or having incited communal conflict. Given the state of Indian politics today and the many politicians with pogroms and violence on the CVs, RaGa has a clear conscience – at least when it comes to maintaining peace in the populace.
But alas, in the India of today, shedding the blood of Muslims or Dalits or harassing Christians counts as an asset and fetches you votes from Hindus, especially in North India. That is the path that the BJP wants to tread. RaGa has not chosen to walk the path that can lead to a further weakening of the very tenuous unity of India – despite the sporadic flirations with Hindutva lite. I guess therein lies RaGa’s appeal – in an India where fascism is triumphing, RaGa is decidedly not the fascist.
Lol. Define fascism
You shouldn’t give such remarks without having knowledge of ground zero. How many Muslims, Christians and Dalits are in crisis?
Face the reality, I don’t know your nationality and probably need not as you people comments on such core issues. Indian constitution is really capable and Judiciary is more and more effective to handle those situations.
See, India is a one of the few countries in the World where coloquel language used to change after every 100 km. Each are small towns or village is full of multi religion and multiple languages, so there may be some issues and those issues are solved by local people and they stay as before.
So, commenting on such sensible issues without having proper knowledge is very very bad attitude
Ohhh just shut up are u a Chamchaa of Raga. Or a Hindu hater.
Mr/Mrs Kili………very commendable valiant attempts to defend your paymaster. But not good enough. No worries though, there is only so much you can do to prop up a loser.
There is space for you on the other side. Think it over.
LIAR!! Congress has done Hindu genocide several times!!
They also kept voters of Pakistan in India!!
It’s utter idiocy of news media for it can’t give up their obsession on this immature and naive politician. There are so many young, upcoming politicians who are eager to do something give them some name recognition. Or just write some other topic like how people of becoming more socially conscious in southern states and at the same time getting fooled by corrupt regional politicians.
@Venkat Rangachari: Absolutely correct!!
Cheers from the North of India!!
Indian education system doesn’t allow students to develop critical thinking and reasoning, so judging on people’s comments one can say that people don’t understand him(a well educated open minded person), but his point is to open people’s eyes on what is happening behind the veils , and as he had said before Indian institutions and professors are not allowed to talk to him.so by talking to foreign media he is trying to convey his message and hopefully one day people will understand him.
So you think people of India suddenly became fools the day they elected Modi Government on 2014.0get well soon…
@Nirmala: You seem to be lacking any skills what-so ever!! So get them first!
Else, do get well soon!!
He is just an overgrown 51 year old child who never grew up to become a man. A wastrel and an intellectual pygmy, it gives him a coke high to have professors listen to him, of universities he could never dream to get admitted to. The guy is just simply a useless, black sheep and will go down in the wastebin of history.
Well said Sandeep!
Tomorrow pappu like Manishankar iyer once said will ask Pakistan, China to attack India & make him PM. Atleast now the lutyen’s media, liberals must accept pappu is not an Indian in heart.
M.Sridhar: One really wonders how this shameful dynasty hasn’t yet received the treatment given to their brothers Gaddafi’s & Saddam Hussein!!
“Shah of India” inviting foreign interference to place him in the throne, mommy always told him that the throne is his when he grows up but Indian electorate is not giving it to him, very unfair?
BTW this is precisely what Indian liberals do, they run to foreign liberals and spread negativity about India.
The Congress party missed the bus long time ago. This guy RG too has been left behind. For their, all these validations from external agencies and individual is not going to make any difference as the Indian media paid or otherwise is constantly showing him mouthing a whole lot of bullshit which has not and will not go down well. If there is anyone giving him any credit, those are individuals who are scared of their past wrong deeds of which the party head has record of, or those who have stood and still stand to gain from the loot the party has made over the past few decades.
Each time i think modi is bad n i shudn’t vote for him. RaGa gives me one more reason why i shudnt vote for RaGa. He has no clue whatsoever, that deliberately inviting foreign powers to interfere in a country politics is a serious foot in mouth move which will further downgrade his already downgraded image among our people, if Bjp tries to take advantage of this then it will only be his own fault. Iam quite surprised why the bjp left this golden opportunity to target him ? Maybe, becoz they r too focussed on Mamta banerjee in Bengal then targetting RaGa which appears to be true given modi is on a campaign in Bengal. This in itself is shameful becoz they dont even consider him a worthy opponent to give reply to what he does or doesnt in his leisure time. At a time when farmers r on roads RaGa cud have very well supported them by giving dharnas, shoulder to shoulder but all he has done make mistakes after mistakes
Rahul Gandhi argument is stupid. If it is not congress rule in India then it is not democracy. Suddenly India is a Banana republic. And folks who voted for BJP the majority are traitors and stupid. And he seeks their votes. Does this sound like a “Definition of Loser”? Are there no true hard core politicians left in congress who can bring in their adult game to this? Even I am a congress supporter, I am totally baffled by this approach. Burn the house you live in if you don’t get power. How smart is that?
Your article is unkind to RaGa and congress . According to one of the congress leaders , who was quoting from the internet , Modi is stupid . If so , the voters who brought him into power , twice , must be idiotic .
And RaGa needs highly intelligent voters , in addition to all other facilities , to win . And later he found them in Kerala . Too bad , his 10 year UPA government, headed by his mother’s stooge , couldn’t get them in 2014 .
The stupid , bigoted , communal majority of this country needs to understand how imporyant it is for the minority to be incharge .
The one great thing he’s accomplished is unite this stupid majority .
May he flourish , in the same rich vein of strategy , farsightedness , and wishful thinking .
Another proof,RaGa only thinks for him and himselves,not about India.He wants,India direct by the directions of USA,Europe and,Chaina.Sorry to say RaGa,that is the reason mejority of Indians reject you.Pls change your mind or apply for nationality of these country.
Another proof ,RaGa only thinks for him and himselves,not about India. He wants,India direct by the directions of USA,Europe and ,Chaina. Sorry to say RaGa, that is the reason mejority of Indians reject you.Pls change your mind or apply for nationality of these country.
Some decent articles from the print otherwise they are worth banning.
Where does Rahul Gandhi get these brilliant ideas? Kaushik Basu, Raghuram Rajan?….these people prove that the way we define intelligence is deeply flawed. Over the past few years every forecasts by these gangs have not worked. Anything out of their sphere of expertise they become stupid. They are losing their grip in India. Now they are desperate and trying to get foreigner’s influence India’s internal politics. I hope these foreigners don’t meddle in India’s elections. They then cannot complain about Russians influencing US elections.
What makes you think that USA/west or China for that matter don’t try to meddle in Indian elections??!
Nakli (fake) gandhi with shattered hopes and frustrated ambitions just pulling on without ammunition to find political space.
The greatest disservice done is by the so called journalist, chasing bones thrown by the current dispensation. When Modi calls out ” black life matters” that’s not interference to these paid journalist. Modi as a CM was banned from travelling to US and Europe, why was that. It happened in India and why were they shutting him off.
The fact that pretty much no one in India cared that Modi was banned from travelling to the US and Europe, and voted him in twice with majority, the second time with a RESOUNDING majority, should tell you that Indians beyond the 0.5% fancy-pants crowd do not care what the US and Europe think. And in any case, the day Modi became PM, US and Europe revoked their bans. Not very committed to “values” then, are they? So neither Indians, nor the US, nor Europe care about this banal witch-hunting. So it’s time for the durbaaris to get real.
According to author all that matters is poor optics and electoral outcomes. People and country be damned. Where do you find such fancy words “Modi’s nationalism test”? It’s not Modi’s nationalism test that RG failed, it’s common sense test and people’s trust test that he failed.
What is the author trying to do? , Trying to being a political advisor to Rahul Gandhi or an objective critic trying to push politicians towards taking positions in the interest of truth and public at large…???. We have enough media outlets analysing the moves of the political dispensations in garnering popularity. A political parties may indulge in such analysis; but not a public media like PRINT, which is expected to criticize in an objective manner in the interest of truth and public interests. I am disappointed… !!!
RG always criticize Modi or RSS not BJP. He should be criticising BJP policies not individual. There is ample areas like fuel price rise, small savers low interest rate, price increase, high GST, farmers plight, death in J&K etc are not being addressed effectively by congress or RG. Rahul Gandhi is still learning politics, I do not know if he can learn it in another 20 years.
Rahul Gandhi’s thinking is essentially identical to that held by many dynasts be it in India or Pakistan. Rahul Gandhi probably feels that by virtue of his ‘noble’ ancestry from the Nehru-Gandhi cabal, he is entitled to rule over India even if he had none of the virtues of leading a country the size and complexity of India. His recent speech in Kerala that his NYAY dole of a few thousand rupees per month would solve Kerala’s economic issues goes to show how naive and unrealistic his political opinions and policy narratives are. I am a committed Sangh partisan but also believe that Congress does have many talented people in its ranks and it is vital for Indian democracy that these people are able to get elected to the parliament to ensure Modi sycophantism and NDA authoritarianism are kept in check. For this, the seasoned veterans in Congress and the ambitious, neo-liberal, libertarian youngsters break away from the Congress to resurrect a Swatntra-esque political party space to give such voters a viable choice. One-party domination in a democracy is a threat to the country and leaders must rise to prevent this.
Show me one opposition leader from any Democratic country seeking foreign intervention. Shouldn’t RG be talking to Indian intellectual rather than talking to a foreigner? Shouldn’t he be interacting to people of India? It’s not the first time and not going to be the last. Earlier he insulted North Indian voters who until now made sure his family gets elected. What if South India also start rejecting him? Where would he go then? Italy I guess.
And to the author: it’s not ok to seek foreign intervention in domestic affairs. Its essentially a betrayal to your country and to your voters. We are not Syria Iraq or Nigeria unless you think so.
I really admire Rahul Gandhi as a politician. He can offer better to the country, if he comes in power. As a politician, he seems most honest, diligent, and young leader. His honesty is shown when he admits that I do mistakes and I believe who is so sacrosanct in this planet never make mistakes. At least, he is admitting that… And it’s a sign of honesty!!!
We should ask ourselves – Do we need validation from outsiders? If Rahul Gandhi feels he needs it, it is his choice. It is to be observed that it is during the reign of congress that we Indians felt that we were not good enough, our products and services were sub par and that we require international validation- a pat on the back by outsiders to tell us that we are good. This is obviously what he has been taught to think.
But the situation is changing. people are now proudly showcasing products, services and skills from India. Rahul Gandhi doesn’t seem to understand this and that’s why he is highly unlikable, untrustworthy and unreliable.
Rahul Gandhi’s maturity is not real but pepped up one by his party men. In a real sense, he cannot deliver his thoughts with the clean script and he fails miserably. The country’s democracy in trouble; this is the narrative from think tank groups in foreign country and relate that to Indian voters how they will vote. The narrative by external forces will not be heard seriously in India; except, of course, the media who may want to keep debating about with narrowed audience. Modi’s nationalism with Rahul Gandhi foreign intervention… the voters here are not fools. Also, everything that Rahul says needs not be related to the vote. He should have his own sense of what he should talk about.