Rahul Gandhi’s 30-minute chat with ex-RBI governor Raghuram Rajan on a video call has made the former Congress president look better than any interview or press conference he has ever done.
He would do well to engage in many more such interactions on video call chats and put them out for public consumption. He could have such chats with Congress chief ministers and workers, with experts around the country and the world. This format suits Rahul Gandhi for many reasons. For one, it is not designed to make him face tough questions.
Raghuram Rajan is not going to make Rahul Gandhi look bad. That’s not his job. He’s not a journalist. And Rahul Gandhi is not on test to prove himself. For once, Rahul Gandhi is asking questions, thereby acknowledging he doesn’t have all the answers. This makes him look humble, especially in contrast to Modi who projects himself as the man with all the answers.
Raghuram Rajan is a talented Indian economist Prime Minister Modi shunned. And Rahul Gandhi is asking him, how much money will it take to help the poor? Rs 65,000 crore, says Rajan, and it’s doable. Such a conversation is far more effective opposition politics than what Rahul Gandhi has been doing so far.
Brand Rahul Gandhi has been so down and out that even if he says something wise it does not carry much weight. But today, the headline is that Raghuram Rajan tells Rahul Gandhi the poor need Rs 65,000-crore package. Now if Rahul Gandhi starts to persist with this demand from the Modi government, it will carry weight.
Also read: If Uddhav Thackeray bows before Arnab Goswami’s dare, he will only weaken himself before BJP
Controlling the narrative
Right-wingers on social media are quick to make jokes out of anything Rahul Gandhi does. Today, all they can point at is the clock on the wall behind Raghuram Rajan. The clock, they claim, shows the conversation lasted over an hour. But only 28 minutes have been put out. In other words, there’s been editing and possibly re-takes. That’s great, it shows Rahul Gandhi is learning from Modi.
Scripted events, produced like TV serials or films, is how Modi likes to communicate with the people. And not through press conferences.
Modi does give interviews once in a while, which often appear scripted, not least because the journalists interviewing him are so obsequious one feels embarrassed for a section of media. Largely, Modi likes to stick to scripted events to communicate “directly” with the people, wherein he decides what he speaks.
Modi is a politician with decades of experience and can certainly handle any question the media throws at him. One might recall the aggressive The Indian Express interview he gave just before the Lok Sabha election in 2019, an opportunity he used to lash out at liberals.
Modi doesn’t like surprises in interviews because he wants to be able to control the narrative coming out of the interview. It’s the headline he is bothered about. Is this really the headline he wants to make?
When you let someone ask any question they want, they may not ask you the questions that show you in a good light. Indeed, a good journalist won’t ask Modi how you work so many hours a day. A good journalist allowed to ask Modi anything will want to know why his government allowed the export of Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers till 19 February when the coronavirus pandemic was rearing its head.
The infamous Karan Thapar interview of 2007 shows this clearly. Modi walked out when Thapar was virtually forcing him to express regrets for the 2002 Gujarat riots — or clearly say he doesn’t want to express regret. Thapar could have asked him anything about Gujarat’s development after that but the headline would have been ‘Modi refuses to regret 2002’. By 2007 Modi wanted to pretend 2002 never happened. He had already moved on to projecting himself as a development messiah.
Also read: Raghuram Rajan bats for quick reopening of economy, says India can’t support poor for long
A lesson Rahul didn’t learn in 2014
Modi’s walking out of the interview with Karan Thapar has clearly had an impact on how he perceives the media. It has meant that Modi doesn’t put himself in a situation where he could be grilled by a journalist. So either it’s one-way communication (social media, scripted interviews, speeches and events) or through interviews where he knows the questions beforehand or at any rate, knows the journalist won’t ask tough questions.
Rahul Gandhi also had a defining bad interview moment. The questions Arnab Goswami asked him in 2014 weren’t that tough, but Rahul Gandhi came across poorly. At one point Rahul Gandhi complained, “We have had a 1-hour conversation here, you haven’t asked me 1 question about how we are going to build this country, how we are going to take this country forward, you haven’t asked me one question on how we are going to empower our people, you haven’t asked me one question on what we are going to do for youngsters, you are not interested in that.”
Just like Modi, Rahul wanted to control the narrative. In both cases, two very different politicians had the same concern: can we talk about what I want to talk about?
An interview is by definition a situation in which the interviewer decides what questions will be asked. The interviewee is on test. This makes it a very powerful thing for a journalist to be allowed to interview a top politician. Someone like Modi can’t give someone else such power over himself.
Modi learnt his lesson and stopped putting himself in such situations. But Rahul Gandhi has kept repeating the mistake. He does press conferences and interviews where he isn’t able to set the agenda he would like, ends up making gaffes, and the BJP quickly cuts short videos, often out of context, to show him in poor light.
“I have no problem in giving TV interviews,” Gandhi told Ravish Kumar of NDTV in an interview in 2019, “The worst thing that can happen is I will make mistakes but it’s human to make mistakes,” he said.
Sure, but then don’t complain if people judge you for the mistakes and don’t vote for you. Truth is, making mistakes in an interview is not ok. That’s the sort of thing that turns elections.
Also read: ‘Ek Congress neta’ — Why Narendra Modi never addresses Rahul Gandhi by name
Poor optics overshadow good content
Recently, Rahul Gandhi did a Zoom press conference on the Covid-19 crisis. He said all the right things. He was consciously making a shift in his tone from the angry young man always out to bring Modi down. He now wanted to be the mature opposition leader doing constructive criticism. This was a step in the right direction. He also said all the right things: lockdown is but a pause, where’s the testing, where’s the PPE, look at the suffering of migrant labourers, and so on.
But as usual, the optics became the focus: Rahul Gandhi trying to figure out Zoom, repeating the word strategic again and again, the poor lighting, and so on. Once again, the optics tend to overshadow the content. You may not necessarily get this impression from watching the 9 o’ clock news or reading the newspapers, but the site of image-making and destroying of politicians today is social media, from WhatsApp to TikTok.
That’s why Rahul Gandhi needs the power of scripted video, following in the footsteps of Modi. They can help you edit out those very human mistakes and look like a leader.
The author is contributing editor to ThePrint. Views are personal.
Very nicely written, subtle way of saying rahul gandhi is not as good actor as our great pm
I do not know whether the writer of this article is going to read our comments or not . Almost all comments are against his projected narrative. India loves modi and we are lucky to have such great man as our prime minister .
Our PM speaks from heart , gives 100 percent effort in service of india.The haters are selected few, segregated from rest of india are visible clearly . Someone is trying hard to become PM as it is his family business to remain in politics. It’s not his father’s jagir. The author is trying to portray a picture of somebody as pious , innocent mind but his efforts are futile.
To this writer: After reading the comments, did you see the writing on the wall? If you did not, then you are as dumb as Rahul Gandhi. If you did and still do it, then you are being taken care of by the Dynasty very well… But these days are numbered.. remember.
I have one doubt in my mind always, whether they have given money to you or only you want to spread leftist agenda or hate against Hindus, Maximum of your news are fake, you are doing it deliberately we know, but you all are doing this for money or something else
The truth is that we Indians love to follow cult figures….somehow, a sizeable majority (especially the middle class segment) loves brash, chest-thumping, authoritarian figures that speak like heroes in Bollywood films….striking ‘masterstrokes’ and asking the public for “sacrifices” and to endure hardships. Never mind that such exhortations and “bold decisions” have often proven to be disastrous….we also love to follow the media in ridiculing personalities that offer alternative viewpoints, especially when the majority of opinions are stacked against such personalities (whether fairly or unfairly, it does not matter). All this enables unscrupulous politicians and opportunistic journalists thrive in their lies and deceipt, while the weaker sections of the country suffer immeasurable hardship.
Hi time caucus see the Nehru brand as damaged goods. Accept that government has done a “Job “ on the continued reliance on just a name. Time to move on. There will be plenty of time to pay respects to the great family later
It’s now known that the 67 min interview was heavily edited, to eliminate stupid comments and faux pas’s , by only person capable of it…… it’s certainly not Raghu. Any number of attempts to project rahul as some kinda thinker and strategist have fallen flat and hard. He simply doesn’t have it in him. That fact has to be accepted. Well informed and articulate leaders of Congress are either throttled or are leaving the party.
Narendra modi speaks. From his heart that’s why he is so effective. Shivam why do you think that all indians are foolish and they will believe you ?There is no comparison between modiji and rahul rahul sounds foolish and superficial.
There isn’t much problem with Rahul Gandhi but it’s people of India who are eager to find fault with him. They want their own guilt of choosing Modi to gloss over by blame it all on RaGa or not having plausible alternative.
Leader all over the world made mistakes including Obama,Bush & no need to mention Trump here. Even Modi made many hilarious gaffe & incorrect statement,many times on official announcement.
I don’t think created image make much difference in politics but it’s how one can emotionally connect with people. And many times leader evokes negative emotions to feed their political desire. Modi knows that weakness of people of India. But to nurture negative emotion isn’t helpful for country. But playing with fire.
But I would like the leader who accept his mistakes,ready to learn from it & eager to take advice. I prefer a leader who doesn’t play with people’s emotions but work on strength of people like what Mahatma Gandhi did. Knowing all answer isn’t just impossible but blatant lie & humiliation of people who ready to believe in.
So however erring Rahul Gandhi has been projected by conniving media he might be better for India while leader like Modi won’t be able to do good & may be disastrous for very nation he is holding on.
Haha one conversation by RG and the sympathetic journalists from this author to TN Ninan are all wishing how this interaction had never happened!
Nothing is permanent. Rahul Gandhi’s time will also come.
That will be a black day in Indian politics. Yet another loot and plunder of this country with appeasement politics will rule the roost. I pray that that day never comes.
Never.
A donkey can’t turn into a horse.
This is purely paid article…
So much edited video! 60 minutes video edited to 30 minutes! That too with Raghuram Rajan, a congress supporter NRI!
Well written rahul gandhi pr team. Thing is even if he tries to, he can’t have it.. Because he doesn’t have it. He need not compete with modi. He rather can’t compete with anyone. All he could get is name and nothing else.
So Rahul can not do interviews. Rahul can do conversation which needs to be edited. I think he shout Pod casts like Man Ki Baat. He will not have any reason to worry. Pre recorded and pre edited. Solid content with all the required logic and jargons. So in the last 20 years we have established this. This is called development and empowerment (women ;))
It’s a good read. The BJP planned and branded him pappu. If we need a credible opposition we need a strong and credible opposition leader. India is no facist country and so we need an opposition party. Both the BJP and congress are corrupt so we need a strong opposition party.
I a core congressman
But Rahul is doing all these drama as he is no where to go for vacation.He lacks committment,sincerity and willingness to sacrifice like Nehurji did.If Congress us to have a future it should be with out him.His sister sells the portrait donated to to the party by Hussein to the highest bidder.once lock down lifted and able to travel he will be gone for larger time.
The article appears like the statement of purpose of an applicant for a PR manager job. Antonia Maino and Raul Vinci have tried for the past 18 years to prop up this gentleman we call Rahul Gandhi in the role of a leader, but have failed.
Wonder what made the author think that he is able to change the narrative that couldn’t be changed by pseudo journalists who sold their trade for money in nearly two decades and managed by people who have an understanding of the PR trade!
Why it hasn’t worked is that Raul Vinci is truly incapable. The poor chap must be himself tired of this circus. In fact we should pity him for being born in a family that is forcing him to do what he clearly isn’t capable of, and does not want to do. He has enough money and resources to live the rest of his life in Bangkok, or London, or wherever else, so please let him be. The ‘youth icon’ is nearly 50, let him retire…and let a true leader emerge out of Congress. We are a large nation, and Congress a very old party. There will be someone inspirational, someone who can challenge the current dispensation with true leadership. I have hope that the Congress can come together and find their inspiration and inherent energy outside of the poor, honest, obedient, truthful, down to earth, receptive RaGa.
This country needs a credible opposition and opposition leader. Both of which are not available today. Not in terms of parliament seats, but in the real sense…someone to challenge PM Modi on merit, not on journalistic narratives, but on true merit.
I don’t understand this…
You are promoting a “leader” who is ignorant and has no confidence (RG) at the same time downplaying a leader who is confident, who has a strategy and above all has loads of experience in running Governments….
Is this your idea of democracy?
Just asking…
How in good conscience can the so called “liberal” writers , peddle dynasty? Puppy is not only a dynasty, but a really mediocre one.
How much you get paid for writing this crap and throwing it on the face of the citizens of this proud country? Damn turncoats!
Am sorry. My English teacher did this to me. Nothing personal OK? Your title is wrong and could have been differet. Editor and not you?? . The headline is wrong. You did not mean Rahul can do press conferee. You meant He must not do any LIKE Modi.
Mr. Vij, be an independent and impartial journalist. Don’t always bat for Congress. Ask your beloved Gandhi’s to give control of Congress to some capable leader as there is no dearth of leaders in Congress party. Present Gandhi’s don’t know anything about Indian value system as their upbringing is totally different. Also they are not well educated and well read and so their knowledge is very limited. So Congress should encourage capable regional leaders and to begin with first they should get rid of all left leaning advisors.
It’s purely a hopeless article and poor attempt to show Rahul as mature politician which is hundred and ten percent wrong… You can’t compare Rahul with Modi… Rahul is nothing but just a joker… Fullish and “tukde tukde” journalist like Rabish kumar only praise this Gandhi… Modi jee is brighter like Son rahul is Dark Black vacuum of Congress Party which will dissolve under his leadership, and will complete Mahatma Gandhi’s will to dissolve this dirty party…
We are no longer dependent on the left of centre journalists to give us objective analysis. Social media and Google have liberated the Indian reader from the captive grip of those big names in journalism who were more sympathetic to the Congress.
The above article by Shivam Vij too confuses the need to ask searching and critical questions in good faith which a journalist is expected to do – from bad faith questions based on pre-judging the issue.
I have seen the Karan Thapar interview and his superciliousness and prejudice is what I can recollect clearly. We don’t need such journalism. Thank you.
But Rahul Gandhi’s scripted interview of Raghuram Rajan with 90 minutes of video, edited and cleaned of the usual gaffes, is not so bad. It’s irritating to keep hearing over and over again, a new word like ‘strategic’, recently learnt by Rahul Gandhi. It’s better he scripts his interviews.
As they say, once a blind bhakt, always a blind bhakt. You are critiquing the author for the same “crime” that you are accusing him of committing. The blind bhakt tribe look like dead men walking.
Shivam Vij, you got paid handsomely?Keep supporting dunb bacchu like Rahul that will get you somewhere.
Pappu Gandhi chup baithi…hamare prime minister ko apna Kam karne do..tum Abhi chote bacche ho
Efforts of the writer to make Rahul Gandhi look good is praiseworthy. However a leader is not known not only through interview but his or her vision for the country which this gentleman called Rahul totally lacks. His only vision is to be PM of the country because he belongs to a particular family. He also feels how Modi can snatch his birth tight. So he will abuse Modi on any forum often lowering the prestige of the nation itself. I feel pity for those who tries to find calibre in Rahul to become a good leader. For this reasons it may not surprise me if they start looking for similar virtues in Priyanka and Robert Vadra. These people may start mentioning very soon that Rahul being single will prove a great PM like Modi and Vajpayee.
No matter how much Lutyens news traders try to showcase Rahul as modern day Einstein ,fact is Rahul is a dim bloke. And he is where he is purely coz of nepotism and dynasty. Any free thinker in left ecosystem was systematically destroyed by Gandhi -Nehru dynasty in collusion with journalists like you. I mean for Christ sake man you guys can’t find no one of merit other than this super dolt dynast. You guys deserve worst than what you actually getting. Stop being an open publicist for Gandhi dynasty and at the same time branding everyone else godi media,Bhakts. Shameless is how Indian left should be described.
Original length more than an hour. Look at the clock. This is not just scripted but also edited. Still looks OK. Not going to help RG anyways tlrather helps promote Modi.
RG should call it a day and leave politics . This is best thing for Congress and some natural leader emerges from Congress and can start fighting g fascist BJP.
” Shoe I am ” is so HAPPY with the interview that “his” Prince has given. That like a pig he is rolling in the FAMILY ” you know what “.