Chennai: Hours after he resigned Thursday from primary membership of the Congress, C.R. Kesavan told ThePrint that differences with the party including over remarks by Congress leaders on Hinduism and the 2016 surgical strikes prompted him to take the decision.
Recalling that his great grandfather C. Rajagopalachari had translated the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in Tamil, Kesavan said that there is “a leader who says Lord Krishna taught Arjuna jihad”.
His remarks were directed at former Union home minister Shivraj Patil who said in October last year that the concept of jihad was not exclusive to Islam and found mention in the Bhagavad Gita.
Kesavan said that Patil’s remarks and those made by Karnataka Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi in November, besides Digvijaya Singh’s demand for proof of the 2016 surgical strikes, influenced his decision.
Stating that he was offered a “national-level position” in the party organisation, Kesavan said he “declined” the offer because his “heart was not in it”. “I felt that I should be somewhere where I am in line with my conviction and value system,” he added.
“I mean any right thinking person with conviction values and a certain set of principles. Once you realise that they are not in sync, there is no point continuing.”
Referring to Karnataka Congress working president Jarkiholi reportedly quoting Wikipedia to say that the “meaning of the word Hindu is very dirty”, Kesavan said, “The person said you should be ashamed to be a Hindu. Is this progressive politics?”
He added that his decision to resign from the Congress was the culmination of differences that developed over a period of time with the way the party has been operating.
“In my opinion, any effective party, especially an opposition party, should have a clear well-defined alternative vision and narrative. For some time now, the Congress party’s approach and attitude to issues has not been concrete, cogent, coherent or consistent. They ought to take people’s issue in a pragmatic way, and do things that benefit people so that you can gain their trust and support,” Kesavan said.
The great grandson of the only Indian governor-general of independent India further said that the Congress’ approach and attitude has become “very reactionary, cynical and even at times riddled with contradictions”.
On how he sees the road ahead, Kesavan said he now finds himself in a situation similar to one mentioned in the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
“My two favourite characters are Karna and Vibhishana. Both were very strong people and had convictions about their faith, a certain set of principles and a strong sense of right and wrong. Unfortunately, both were on the wrong side vis-a-vis their value system,” he said.
“Karna chose to remain with the side which was not right for him. Vibhishana left the side and chose another side where he was comfortable with his principles and beliefs. No, I am not Karna. I have moved away from the side which I thought is not right for me. Hopefully, god willing, I’ll find a platform where I can express myself.”
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‘Have respect for Sonia Gandhi’
Kesavan said the nomination of Droupadi Murmu as presidential candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was one of the two developments that convinced him to take this stand.
“When Droupadi Murmuji’s candidature was announced, it was a very proud moment. The first instance of a tribal woman in India being nominated for president. She comes from a very simple background. Transcending political differences, one should have supported her,” he said.
Kesavan also recalled that the Congress supported NDA’s presidential candidate A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2002. “But now, 20 years later when the nomination of Droupadiji was announced, a senior member of the CWC (Congress Working Committee) said she represented an evil philosophy,” he said, alluding to the remarks made by Ajoy Kumar last July.
Another instance Kesavan cited was from January when 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar were named after Param Vir Chakra awardees. “We should remember that, of the 21 awardees, 14 were conferred the award posthumously. These people have defended our nation, sacrificed their lives guarding our nation and all of us. This is an expression of gratitude and all of us should be thankful to them. On that day, a senior Congress member asked for proof of the surgical strike. Do you think any right-thinking person will even be comfortable with all of this,” he remarked.
Kesavan told ThePrint that such differences with the party on a number of issues stopped him from joining Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.
On whether his calibre was put to good use in the Congress, Kesavan said it is the prerogative of the party. “Everyone seeks a political platform to serve the country so that you can leverage your potential. That the party doesn’t use you is one thing, but if there is a fundamental disconnect on what the party stands for and tries to propagate, that’s a larger issue. This is one of the reasons why I said I can’t continue on this path anymore.”
He added that the real test for any party that aims to work for the public welfare is how it takes up issues connected to the people and that is reflected in electoral outcomes. “The last two elections have been proof enough in terms of the magnitude of the mandate, who people trust, who people connect with.”
Denying speculation that he was in connect with other political parties, Kesavan said, “I have made it very clear, I have not spoken to anybody. That is not who I am. I’ve been with the Congress party. I have had many opportunities, and I have thanked Mrs Sonia Gandhi for them. I have a lot of admiration, affection and respect for her. I thank her for all the opportunities in government.
“My journey with the Congress is over because I don’t relate to the way they approach public discourse, or what they stand for, this is not about the other side for me.”
“When I joined politics 22 years back, I joined a national party. Let us see what I do 22 years later,” Kesavan signed off with a smile.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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