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Eric Hoffer, late American philosopher and social critic, had once said, “Our frustration is greater when we have much and want more than when we have nothing and want some. We are less dissatisfied when we lack many things than when we seem to lack but one thing.” Today, every word of this statement runs true for Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LOP), in the India parliament. The one thing that he lacks today is the power to run the nation, something that he assumes is his right by virtue of being a scion of the Gandhi-Nehru family.
Today, he thinks it is a natural progression for him to occupy the chair of the Prime Minister of India given that three generations of his family have already held that office earlier. It does not matter to him that his party is finding it difficult to remain relevant in Indian politics or that his own political and professional credentials raise a lot of uncomfortable questions. He is impervious of the mood of the nation or what majority of the people think of him. If he is exploited or has to team up with elements that are inimical to India, both within and outside the country, he does so without batting an eyelid. His compelling sense of entitlement and rising frustrations override all these hard truths that only point towards one thing – his unsuitability to lead the nation.
The elusive chair of the Prime Minister seems to have taken his frustrations and disappointments to a level where even the nation does not matter for him. His recent statement made at the inauguration of the new Congress Headquarter building has to be seen in this light. He stated, “The BJP and RSS have captured every single institution, and we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian state itself.” How can a LOP, which is a constitutional appointment and in many ways part of the government itself, speak in such a manner? In doing so, he has undermined the sovereignty and integrity of the nation itself. It amounts to a call to rebel against the democratically elected government of the country. It has to be construed as an attempt to provoke and destabilise the current government and thereby the nation. Any attempts to justify it as ‘freedom of speech’ can only be termed as gratuitous and inane.
Article 12 of the Constitution of India defines the term state. It includes the Government, Parliament, and Legislature of India and each state, as well as all local authorities and other authorities under the control of the Government of India. The ‘other authorities’ refer to judiciary, police, defence forces, CEC, CBI, ED among many others. So, any call to fight the state implies fighting all these. In short, it is a fight against the nation itself. This call is no different than what a Naxalite in Chhattisgarh or an insurgent in North East or a terrorist in Kashmir seek from their cadres. If all such hostile elements are termed as anti-national, should the same not apply to LOP and his party too? If an elected leader, occupying a constitutional position, speaks in such terms, many will label it as treason.
It is no secret that repeated disappointments and frustrations can lead to bankruptcy of soul and mind. In George Foreman’s words, ‘Evil lurks where disappointment lodges.’ Is Rahul Gandhi not exhibiting this trait by hobnobbing with India baiters and known India haters on a regular basis? He took the unprecedented initiative of signing a MOU with the Communist Party of China in 2008 on behalf of his party. The government of India was not a party to the same. The contents of the document have never been made public. During the Doklam crisis of June-August 2017, Rahul Gandhi was hobnobbing with the Chinese ambassador on his own. His mother, Sonia Gandhi, was co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders – Asia Pacific (FDL-AP), an organisation affiliated to George Soros that favours an independent Kashmir. A lot has already been said about Rahul’s anti-India tirades in different forums during his visits to UK and USA. The nation is bound to sit up and question all such actions when Rahul talks about fighting the state.
It is no secret that politically Rahul Gandhi has been a disaster for his party as also for the nation. Under his leadership, the party has lost three national and scores of state elections since 2014. Perhaps, it is the proverbial last flicker that is being played out in his case. He has nothing more to lose. So, he is firing like a loose cannon on all cylinders. Politically, both he and his party know that they are no match to the BJP. In fact, Congress today languishes behind many regional parties. So today, in a last-ditch effort, they are following the approach that smacks of ‘power at any cost’, damage to the nation notwithstanding.
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