What ideally should have been the festive season in our country at this point has turned out into a Corruption fiesta. The Navaratri, Dussera and Diwali frenzy has been overshadowed by the CWG, 2G and Adarsh hysteria, with Kalmadi, Raja and Chavan being the main villains as against the age old Raavana. Unfortunately these new era villains can't be burned on the lines of what we do with Raavana every year, but make no mistake their offences are no way mean in terms of magnitude. And the manner in which the oldest party of our country (read Congress) has handled these situations, truly embarks the reason why they have ruled our country for 50, 60 or all those innumerable years. If there is one word which aptly describes the approach of Congress Party in handling these fiascoes or for that matter many such situations over the years, it's the word 'SHREWD', and mind-it when I use this word its certainly not with a negative connotation. That's how they have been all these years and that's the very reason why they have been the most consistent and numero-uno political outfit for so long, also thanks to a reasonably considerate lot of politicians they are blessed with and not to forget the presence of ever so dominating and flamboyant Gandhi scion.
Where other political parties might have succumbed to the relentless opposition in handling such allegations and scams, Congress has been very prudent and precise in their execution. With CWG scam looming over their head for so long, they did what every government excels in, ordered a high profile probe, which in all probability will go on for ages or at least till the point where not only the opposition forgets the scam but even the public loses interest in these financial muddling and the same is happening with the 2G and Adarsh scams too. But what is interesting is the fact that when it comes to addressing such highly inflammable corruption charges against their party members, it's not the upper strata of the party which convenes the media or the parliament but it's rather the more low profile and unknown faces that are given the charge of addressing such scenarios. Ever heard Sonia Ji or Rahul Baba talking about CWG or 2G or any other scam? Never! They always keep their image clean and never indulge in the dirt sputtered by their fellow ministers; rather they concentrate more on pointing fingers on the leading figures of the opposition parties for their supposed involvement in various scams and thereby landing them (opposition ministers) in awkward situations.
No wonder despite the relentless outcry from the opposition and the media they stuck with the Kalmadis and Chavans, the main culprits of CWG and Adarsh debacle, for a smooth and successful Obama's visit. And even before Obama left the Indian skies, Congress were quick to axe both the tainted leaders in one go. On the face of it, it seemed that the government was trying to salvage India's pride by not giving much air to such controversial issues at a time when one of the world's most powerful leaders is visiting our country. But another angle behind this sudden axing was also to counter the huge uproar which the opposition might subject the government to in the winter session of the parliament which was starting from the very next day. And this axing move at the final hour actually left the opposition gasping for air, as they were not sure how to handle this master move taken by the Congress led government, which according to them (opposition) was their main agenda for the entire winter session. A perfect example of political shrewdness exhibited by the Congress high command!
But after much ado the opposition woke up and forced its way into the parliament with the alleged Rs1, 76,000 crore 2G scam and demanded an instant axing of its main protagonist Mr. A Raja. On the other hand Raja and his (DMK fame) mentor Karunanidhi where in no mood to entertain any such thoughts and were constantly claiming Raja's innocence on this matter. This scenario definitely put the Congress party in a bit of dilemma because the minister in fray this time around wasn't a Congress minister as against the Chavan and Kalmadi. And axing him (Raja) wasn't that straight because it was directly impacting their coalition at the center. They again adopted their ever so successful formula of 'wait and watch' and it worked again for them, their savior this time being the fairest (in color), fattest and smartest lady down south, AIADMK supremo Ms Jayalalitha. She announced an unconditional support to the Congress at the center, if they immediately axe Raja. And with this Congress again found itself in the best of situations, with none of the two parties (DMK & AIADMK) wanting to give an inch to the other, as they are not only eying the hotspot at the center but they are also aware of the probable gains they can reap from an alliance with the Congress in the soon to be contested State (Tamil Nadu) Assembly elections. So if Jayalalitha was quick to foresee an opportunity, DMK veteran Karunanidhi wasn't far behind, he immediately asked his protégé A Raja to resign, thereby vanquishing any chances of AIADMK taking their position at the center and also keeping high hopes for the forthcoming assembly elections. Yet again Congress had to do nothing and they were out of this soup much to the dismay of the opposition parties.
In the nutshell howsoever puzzled and envious the other parties may be, there is no denying the fact that if there is one party which knows the in and out of politics and all the tricks in the book to run this enormously hyperventilating country then it's 'CONGRESS'. Be it Nehru, be it Indira, be it Rajiv, be it Sonia or be it Rahul or for that matter be it any non-Gandhi Congressmen either, they all know the nuances of handling the most complicated of issues with a lot of finesse. Some may call their ways Shrewd, some may call them Mean and some might even call them Nasty but going by the track record of all the political parties post independence, if you are not following the Congress Way, more often than not you are on the wrong way!
Perspective - It's not a criticism nor an appreciation, but it's just an observation on how things run and work the Congress Way!
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Though I do not like to read or to stress out my mind reading anything even remotely near to politics, I would say that your blog is actually very well written and once someone starts to read it, it doesn’t feel that the topic is boring nadn one would want to go till the endJ
ReplyDeleteWell written and the way the topic has been put to paper is very good…this is why politics is called so..its a matter of who holds the wits and has the patience to go the longest mile..its about playing your cards the right way….and this is what the congress is doing successfully for over last 50 years…..and corruption is the new mantra…its high time something is done before the damage becomes irreversible.