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It has been 73 years since we have constituted our country India that is Bharat to a sovereign democratic republic. Thanks to the constitution and to ourselves, we are still a living and breathing democracy. The fundamental requirement of a democracy is a pan national opposition to the government which can and should sense the mind of people and speak to the power without fear. But, do we have such an opposition now?
In the year 2023, India as a country is in a strong wicket. Evenafter the ravaging covid 19 pandemic our economy and the health of the population is more or less recovered and are looking sound compared to the rest of the world. We became the fifth largest economy surpassing the United Kingdom and our future is also looking bright now. Moreover we are carefully managing our relationship with global powers like the United States of America and Russia even in the backdrop of the war happening in the Ukraine. At home, our infrastructure is getting better with greater connectivity via road, rail and air. Projects like Nal se Jal and Aadhaar and its allied services like DBT are improving the quality of life . Some of the above-mentioned factors are the result of good policy decisions made by the current government led by Narendra Modi. With the presidency over the G20 summit this year, Modi and BJP are trying to push their image higher, especially eyeing on the general election next year.
Yes, the 2024 general election is at the doorstep. It has been 9 years of the Modi led BJP government in the center but do we have a solid opposition to counter the juggernaut of the current dispensation? At the national level, the principal opposition party is still the Indian National Congress. But do they give a credible alternative to the current government? Why should the common voters vote for the Congress? To answer this, Congress should make the voters believe that they can offer something different. In a presidential-like election happening with a strong opponent like Modi, who is Congress’ prime ministerial candidate? The current Congress high command system more or less proves that Rahul Gandhi is the supreme leader of the party.
The first question being answered, what is his vision for india? He traveled from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to prove that he is a consistent politician and to rejuvenate the withering cadres of the party workers. The few of the objectives of the yatra were to unite India against unemployment and inflation, and raise voice against hate and violence. Towards the end of it he himself said that he hasn’t seen any hate.
But what about unemployment?
Here comes my next question, what he has to offer something different? India is a young country and its population have big dreams. Can they achieve something if the Rahul led government comes to power? His repeated allegations against the government and its connection with business people like Adani in and out of parliament reeks of an elitist socialist idea. The solution towards unemployment is not demonising businesses. The objective of any business is to make money and it’s not a crime if it is legitimate. The large business conglomerates in India provide millions of jobs and help more Indians to dream high, to become the next Tatas and Birlas. The condescending tone and no understanding of the voters’ aspiration and activist mode of politics will not give him votes. To understand that, just look at the people who were with him in the Bharat Jodo Yatra like Medha Patkar. Her presence in the yatra during election time in Gujrat made the voters understand that Congress is unsuitable to govern it. He should also understand that the people of India will not vote for him neither for his white t-shirt in New Delhi winter nor his expertise in martial arts. Neither are they proud of him discussing his idea about India with experts who have less roots in the ground .
Furthermore, if he believes that only the previous Congress governments only thought about the poor in India, then he should answer some questions there too. After the independence barring the 5 years of Vajpayee, India was mostly ruled by the Congress. Then why couldn’t they provide basic requirements of a common Indian with toilets, power and water connectivity? The commendable job done by the Narendra Modi government resonates more with the common man in India than him.
As the principal leader of the Congress, Rahul should show humility toward the people of India, inspire them to dream big and offer them an alternative to the current one, which will create an environment for the people of India to grow and prosper. And if he still thinks that power is poison, then that proves his unelectability.
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