A few inconvenient questions for the “Youth Icon”
These “inconvenient questions” have been pending in my drafts folder for a while now…I was reminded of them after reading a recent article by Sh Ram Jethmalani. I hope the “Youth Icon/Messiah/Hope/Pride” etc etc finds a few minutes to answer/ respond to some of them...But first, some context (emphasis added)
Seeking votes in favour of party nominee…the Congress’ youth icon (said), “I have got better experience of politics than those who travel in air-conditioned vehicles; do not eat the food of commoners and do not live the life of a common man,” he said and added he has gained all such experiences.
My questions to you Rahul are:
- Can you please mention the last three times you went anywhere in a bus or a non-air-conditioned car or a non-air-conditioned rail compartment?
- What makes you feel you live the life of a common man? As a simple example, can you please share with us the last three times you stood in any queue (while in India)?
- And finally, most “common” men (and women) in India spend most of their waking hours working very hard to earn a living. To the best of my knowledge, you are into “full-time” politics and your total work experience is less than 10 years. Do you really believe you lead the life of a “common man?”
And while on this topic, here are a few questions from a decidedly “un-common man” – the redoubtable Sh Ram Jethmalani (emphasis added):
1. ..We have no objection to your mother’s ambition to see you installed as India’s Prime Minister. Obviously she did not entertain this ambition either for herself or any of her children in 1991. Are you prepared to take the nation into confidence and disclose the qualifications you have acquired since then to take into your hands the destiny of this complex and most populous and poverty stricken democracy?
2. Do you agree that the best available statesman in the country should fill that post? If yes, how have you convinced yourself that you are the one? We would not mind if your mother answers this question.
3. ..if democracy is all about transparency, would you kindly let the nation know what academic qualifications you have acquired, when, how and from which institutions. It will help if you also tell the curious Indian nation what books you have read during the last five years; have you published any articles or any readable material on politics, economics, terrorism, war and peace? Is there any speech in Parliament, to the local Rotary Club or to a bunch of tiny toddlers with a single quotable quote that illumines or inspires and gives us some clue to your intellectual attainments? We know quite a few talented young men in the Congress party and naturally people would like to be satisfied that you are better endowed than them all. That your mother is Soniaji or your father was Rajivji is not enough evidence.
4. There have been oft-repeated charges of financial impropriety and worse against your family, including by the president of Janata Party, Subramanian Swamy, Swiss magazines and, most unusually in a book on the KGB. Why have you not responded?
If you plead ignorance of all the stuff mentioned in the questions you do not deserve to be India’s Prime Minister any way.
Can we expect any response?
P.S. Against the backdrop of Varanasi, can you please elaborate on the context in which you made the remark that “terrorism can be destroyed in 15 minutes”?
Related Post: Open Letter to Rahul Gandhi from a “not-so-Aam†Aadmi*
Just two simple cross-questions to you.
Do you believe in Indian constitution?
Does Indian constitution require a PM to have any particular qualification?
Just Yes/No answers should do fine.
If a single family is to rule India the why call India a democracy? And where is the socialism which was the slogan of Nehru the person who started this family business?
New set of questions again for Rahul Gandhi. Why dont you put these questions to the people of India who elect their representatives. He is making use of rights to contest elections and lead a party!!!
Madhu Koda came from a very poor background, that does not mean he did anything for the poor common man in Jarkhand, so your question on asking Rahul Gandhi if he is common man or not does not cut ice! I would say it is important to identify with the need to serve the society and i guess he has shown signs of slogging it out to serve the people.
As for comments and criticisims against his family, I would challenge those who comment and ctiticize to prove things rather than asking Ragul Gandhi to react on baseless allegations… get documents in black and white!
As for Subraminiam Swamy, he is a loose cannon, i am not sure about others, i would certainly not give his views and opinions any importance.
cool post..Shantanu! ..one can gain experience by just eating and traveling with commoners for a day? smart brain eh! Now what? Is he has a capacity to remove commoners’ hardship in a day? Is that what he means..than his peeking into the life of commoners ..reminds me of old tales of by gone years! King went to the hut one night and show the suffering of people in his kingdom…
Dear Shantanu..
There is no need to worry about Gandhi family.. If current constitution is not changed, there will be nothing to worry about in another ten years.. and If constitution is changed there will be no place for Gandhi family..
The fact that he thinks that those simple “common” experiences are uncommon enough to brag about shows his understanding and daily “experiences” that he finds common. Rajiv and Sanjiv – both were arrogant, but one was crook and another was naive. I am increasingly convinced that the new prince is just a plain moron who talks about producing 1000 Obamas and thinks that a Manmohan Singh/A K Anthony can replace N Modi in Gujrat.
@Prakash,
A PM must be a member of Lok Sabha/Rajaya Sabha. According to the qualification of a LS/RS member, a person must be of “sound mind”. So here is a cross-question: do you gandhidases consider this moron to be of sound mind? Probably you do, because his last name happens to be a Gandhi.
ha ha..good ones Shantanu! I do not think RG can understand them let alone respond! I think these questions apply to every kiddo that thinks its his/her birthright to enter politics because their mom/dad did not loot the country enough. Perhaps we can ask Jagan Reddy of AP a similar set of questions as he is all set to start a new party that would ‘sweep’ (and people weep) the 2014 elections.
Shantanuji, why indulge in writing to Clowns, no point, he is what he is and probably our Bharath Vaasi will ensure that he will know what he is! No doubt about that, now the trend is very clear than what it was a year back. Let Raul get out and enjoy his life, he is entitled as Nehru’s great grandson, but let him not interfere in the polity.
Jai Hind…Vande Mataram
From your first quoted paragraph (seeking vote), it is clear Rahul Gandhi knows what people like to hear. The soundbytes about others travelling in AC, not eating common food and so on are standard. When an Indian leader criticises others, he doesn’t have to demonstrate any quality himself.
Shantanu – Your questions (and others you have quoted) fall in the same class. Rahul Gandhi might not pass any of your tests, but other leaders will fail equally badly in most of them. It is clear you are asking those questions in a partisan manner targeting only the Congress leader(s). Why not ask a few questions of the other, allegedly morally superior, party and its leaders?
#6 Sid – I do consider Rahul Gandhi of sound mind. Watch out the strong adjectives such as Gandhidas that you used. I am merely impartial. Sadly, I am beginning to think you guys have linked your lot with a party, not with a nation, or a society, or truth.
Thanks all for sharing your thoughts…Hurried response…
@Prakash: You know the answers to the two questions as well as I do…But it is a bit rich to bring in the Constitution when talking about a political dynasty that has systematically subverted it over the years…
If I did not believe in the Constitution, I would have been part of what a certain Ms Roy cutely (but wrongly) calls “Gandhians with Guns” – instead of spending my time writing these posts!
@Ashwin: Where did I challenge his “right” to contest and lead a “party”? But as a voter, is it unfair to demand that he makes his views clear on certain things – esp. given his widespread appeal as a PM-in-waiting?
And by the way, I did not ask RG whether he is a common man – he said so himself (pl see link)…as for the allegations, Sh Swamy is not the only one…Have you read Rajinder Puri on KGB and Sonia’s mother? or is he another loose cannon?
@Prakash (#9): I am beyond getting nettled by “labels” such as partisan (that is mild compared to what I have been called before/elsewhere!)
The reason for focusing on RG is clear…he is the one most projected as a PM-in-waiting by a slavish media and assorted groups…without demonstrating any achievement to establish his credentials.
As far as I am aware, no other party has any such leader/PM-in-waiting.
The closest you can get is Sh Narendra Modi – he more than fulfils the criteria of being a “common man” – as I am sure you will agree. His performance in Gujarat addresses the points raised by Sh Jethmalani in #1 and #2 and there are no allegations of financial impropriety against him as far as I am aware (re. #3).
And finally, I do believe that this political dynasty has done the single most harm to India than any individual politician or party. India needs alternatives – badly. So this is partisan, for sure.
Rahul Gandhi: The Youth Icon
Let me give a snapshot of what a politically aware youth of india think.I am 24 and here is why i think Rahul Gandhi justifies the tag.
He is young, educated and has the capacity to get things done(though due to virtue of the name).Indian politics requires an informal central powerhouse(be it congress and bjp) even if we call ourselves democratic.The ruling or opposition just can’t avoid him if he raises a point.
So far, he has taken all the right steps: taken his time to travel the nation, connected with bottom of the pyramid and youth, resisted to pass comments on various issues, kept a secular point of view, challenged raj thakray and his nuisance in their homeground.All this gives an impression to a common man that the guy has a right mindset if not experience.Also, i wish to see a young pm representing India(like obama).
Given the fact that he is critically under the lens for each word/action he speaks\takes, you have to admit he has done well.
would wait for some views
@Ashwin. K.
on your double standard view:
—Why dont you put these questions to the people of India who elect their representatives. He is making use of rights to contest elections and lead a party!!!—
Than what business he and Congress had in Gujarat to criticize Chief Minister of Gujarat. People of Gujarat too has right to elect their representative and N. Modi too has right to contest election and lead a party. or not?
–I would say it is important to identify with the need to serve the society and i guess he has shown signs of slogging it out to serve the people–
Why only Rahul Gandhi? Other too has identified with the need to serve the people of India. What made Rahul Gandhi to comment on Gujarat that there are more riots and less development in Gujarat?Can’t R. G progress with the time? Amithabh B. has to go through enraged by congress over his tourism ad campaign. Why? Only Rahul can identify everything to serve the Nation? Others are too commoner to do so??
–get documents in black and white!—
Can they produce? and refute the charges against them? and come out clean.
Ashwin, you need to wake up! Its O.K if you like R.G. as a politician or whatsoever, but others too has right to dislike him. Or not? You are proving him more like a king or prince by emphasizing each and every little thing he does.
All this discussion is irrelavant. So long as people are willing to buy all that crap he is trying to sell them, why should’nt he go for it. I would go for it, and so would most of us, I think. If somebody is selling you a piece of junk and make money, who would you blame; seller or you. He is simply exercising his right. You don’t have to fall for it.
Gentle reminder and request to all: Pl avoid personal comments…Keep the discussion civil & polite. Thanks
@Rohit
Nice job! You got your PM! Many are still looking for right candidate. R.G. is not in the list of many.
I to can defeat Raj Thackeray with troops employed at my security. And that also after playing politics in the state. Where were they when many have been beaten up in the train, on the road? So common man don’t deserve security. They were no where near to save the lives. They have been watching for dirty politics to be unfold and take advantage in election.
More following comment #6. A person of ‘Sound mind’. A nice point to begin a little more impartial analysis. Let me request all to examine this simple term in detail. Who can be considered of ‘Sound mind’? How about a person who NEEDS a daily dose (2+ pegs up to a quarter) of (foreign made) whiskey? Would s/he be considered of ‘Sound mind’?
Follow this line of reasoning a little further and you might get to the root cause of malady that plagues Indian politics. Over to you guys.
A leader of the nation should be selfless, dignified, impartial, intelligent, courageous, brave, capable and foresighted. Someone like Shivaji Maharaj. Now those who support RG please prove one incidence from his life where he can be termed as above. And please give some genuine examples. Using 1000 policemen for his ride in Mumbai train sounds more of a Prince Charming kind of job, and not of a real Leader.
Just because he is from Gandhi clan, good looking and foreign return does not make him a PM material. So please get real.
@gandhi-das at #3,
As for comments and criticisims against his family, I would challenge those who comment and ctiticize to prove things rather than asking Ragul Gandhi to react on baseless allegations… get documents in black and white!Good. So here we go, the documents in black and white. Here is the evidence that Rajiv Gandhi received money from KGB and thanked them personally for it. Not only that, our prince charming was in contact with them.
http://books.google.com/books?id=9PBjk03E814C&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+state+within+a+state&source=bl&ots=5ZT3BjGMxl&sig=g7LaU8P9jIa2Z9cjAg5AtDxC2tc&hl=en&ei=n7L_TPOBKsP_lgfN9Iy3CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAw#v=snippet&q=Rajiv%20Gandhi&f=false
The book in the quote is “The state within a state” by Dr. Y Albats. She is no hack who would write cheap sensationalism to make money. She is a Harvard Scholar who has the distinction of being the only person outside Russian Government to gain access to internal KGB documents (with Government permission) to write a history of the KGB.
But, wait, it gets better. In December 1985, KGB chief Victor Chebrikov asked from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), ‘authorization to make payments in US dollars to the family members of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, namely Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ms Paola Maino, mother of Sonia Gandhi.’
The details of this payment:
1. Endorsement by USSR Council of Ministers in Directive 2633/Rs (Dated December 12, 1985) of the payment.
2. A CPSU resolution, CPSU/CC/No 11228/3 dated December 20, 1985 containing the payment details.
(It is a pity that Google book preview would not show the page containing these references, you have to buy the book to read it.)
Please go and contest with this “document in black and white”. Please sue Dr. Albats or KGB for making this receipt. After all, Congress culture is all about using whatever state power is there to ensure complete silence. I personally know an Indian American who publicly stated about more than 2 BN dollars in Sonia’s swiss accounts. His basis was an investigative report published by a swiss magazine. Your party went and sued him in the superior court of New Jersey. Few months later the court ruled out against Congress lawyers (off course such news would not be published by the hired symbols of integrity like Burqa Futt).
So, according to Dr. Albats book, these payments had been coming since 1971.’ We exported wheat at extra cheap price to the Russians in 70s and 80s so that they can sell that in high price in international market (a scandal suppressed by Indian media). Now we know where the difference in wheat price went.
I am not going to talk about Mitrokhin archives because I suspect you would not be able to take it. I am also not going to talk about M O Mathai’s long ‘reminisces’ about Nehru and her daughter’s high degree of “self-control”. Damn, I know devotion leads to self-denial and you can not tolerate those arguments against your deity. If you can prove that those documents are somehow forged with the malicious intent to malign the good name of Mata Balidan ki Murty, then go ahead and extract an apology from the writer.
I know the above paragraphs are hard to digest, but then truth about Gandhis is not very popular subject in India.
As for Subraminiam Swamy, he is a loose cannon, i am not sure about others, i would certainly not give his views and opinions any importance.Know who Swamy is, his qualifications and his long battle to fight against Gandhi-cracy and Congress-installed-aristocracy. Since your affection with proof becomes too apparent, what proof do you have about Mr. Swamy becoming loose canon?
@Prakash (#17),
How about a person who NEEDS a daily dose (2+ pegs up to a quarter) of (foreign made) whiskey? Would s/he be considered of ‘Sound mind’?So according to you, people lack ‘Sound Mind’ when they require 2+ pegs up to a quarter of whisky? Go and ask a psychologist. While you are at it, ask the psychologist if accusing someone of mental unstablity because that person drinks 2+ pegs of whisky daily is a sign of sound mind or not. The answer may reveal important clue about yourself.
@Prakash
What’s your point?. If you talk about the test of sound mind than most of President and PM of the world drink whiskey or whatever drink they like! Don’t they drink?
Shantanu,
The comment no. 12 from a 24 year old aptly sums up what the so-called politically aware Indian youth thinks about Rahul Gandhi. I would not have been surprised if illiterate and uneducated people with no access to any kind of information held these views about him. I personally know many young professionals working in MNCs, many of them with fancy degrees from abroad, who think very highly of Rahul Gandhi for reasons best known to them.
Are we not doomed if this is the level of maturity of our political discourse? Whether the charges of corruption against the Gandhi clan are true or not can be established only after proper investigation, but that Sonia Gandhi and her son are mediocre people should be pretty evident to anybody who has not sacrificed his discrimination at the altar of Gandhi worship.
Keep up the good work by raising such questions.
#20. It seems my question touched some raw nerve. This discussion is not about me, it is about PM material, prospective and retrospective.
In any case, if personal attacks from Sid continue, I will probably refrain from commenting here. It is clear the moderator is not able to stop them with a direct mention. The meek warning like #15 will not help. It would be better if the moderator pointed out what is not acceptable.
@Prakash (#23),
Well, the Whiskey episode started by you was definitely not to the point and totally uncalled for.
In any case, if personal attacks from Sid continue, I will probably refrain from commenting here.Please teach the moderator on how to detect “personal” attacks. The problem with the likes of you is that you try to act wise when you try your pathetic attempts at sarcasm, but when you yourself get the vitamin you begin to feel the pinch, right?
Dear Jayant
Agree with you broadly.
Disagree on your suggestion: “Whether the charges of corruption against the Gandhi clan are true or not can be established only after proper investigation”.
At the MINIMUM, the corruption established by examining the statement of accounts disclosed by Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. That he used BLACK MONEY in the crores but disclosed less than Rs.25 lakh expense is obvious.
Second, please read BFN (http://bfn.sabhlokcity.com/) – chapter 4, to find out how ALL political parties are deeply corrupt, how the laws of India expect corruption from elected representatives. In my direct experience with Congress it is the most corrupt organisation one can possibly imagine.
Rahul and his entire family (after Nehru) is TOTALLY SULLIED.
The mediocrity question is another matter.
Yes, it is shocking to hear of educated people sing praise of Rahul Gandhi. One wonders what education they’ve had which provides them with no capacity to discriminate good from the bad.
Regards
Sanjeev
HS Deo,
It was his father, Moti Lal, who started this family business. He wanted to see his son as CONg president so Gandhi made Sardar Patel withdraw (first of many such withdrawals forced by Gandhi on Patel) to make JL Nehru President of Lahore CONgess!
@ Shantanu,
We haev talked on this issues few times and per say have no issues with asking questions, but do have issues re interpretation of those answers.
I have read both Subramaniam Swamy and Rajinder Puri’s allegations on Gandhi family. I only have one question: it is indeed fair to ask for explanation, but do so on the basis of concerete evidence rather than heresay in books and inferences made by 3rd party!
Also challenge the two learned gentlmen if they do have concerete evidence, why not make use of the rule of law that prevails in the country rather than trying to get personal TRP’s and to further ones agenda’s in politics. Both these gentlemen are well know for their political associations in the past. What happened to the famous words from VP Singh “He has the Swiss bank account details of Gandhi family – and he would reveal to the nation and make sure the monies are brought back to the country” VP Singh went on to become the PM of India, Arun Jaitley – Law Minister of India and now opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, Arun Shourie was Union minister and is a RajyaSabha MP…. many other have only made use of these allegations to further their political careers but not really brought the truth to the forefront as they claimed in their allegations. Hence the question n the challenge to provide evidence!
The reason for labouring the point is ever since the death of Indira Gandhi, Nehru-Gandhi family bashing has become a fancy and there are enough pointers to suggest the right wing is trying to tarnish the contributions of the family to Indian polity, which i think on balance have had a positive contribution (also have made massive blunders).
Rest when we meet ……
@Indian,
I doubt you would challenge Raj Thakray in his homeland even if you have so much security.Beyond guns, you need political might to do that.I reiterate, Rahul hasnt earned it but then he has it.
@Jayant, i do not question your level of maturity in politics.I am sure you are “the one” with all the knowledge out there.Just that it is all one sided.I dont blame you either.
For a second, keep aside all the allegations on Gandhi family etc.
If you dig deep, no body would come out clean, atleast he is clean on the surface(unlike Mr Modi).
Rahul has no controversy on his head(or may be i am not aware of it) and so far, what ever he has done, done it with a plan.All those acts,speeches et al which atleast shows he is thoughtful(sound mind).Plus great PR skills.
Lets see what propaganda he takes up in the build up to 2014.
@Rohit
Right! you doubt! Congress cannot protect their citizens. They need to be so and so from congress family. We all need political might to protect our lives! I got it! Than I condemn Congress more than ever!
Where was he when taxi drivers and common man where on roads! I Could not see him anywhere till more than one year. It was all political stunt by Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai when elections were lurking!(with 2000 #’s of security)
And if Raj Thackrey comes out of his den again, you may not see the scene of Rahul Gandhi climbing the train! And that is what reflected in UP and Bihar Elections. In Bihar, Rahul Gandhi has to say sorry to the gathering of the youth and took exit! It is in captured in Video!
You may have your own way to look at it. But many has different perspective! I am with the youth of Gujarat and Bihar! We need development not Nehru- Gandhi family policies!
@Rohit (#28),
For a second, keep aside all the allegations on Gandhi family etc.Why? Because that is uncomfortable to answer?
If you dig deep, no body would come out clean,Really? So you did dig deep, and found that “everyone” is not clean?
... atleast he is clean on the surface(unlike Mr Modi).So Rahul is not part of “everyone”? What does that mean that he is clean on surface? He was never part of any administration and none (except whom you may call right wing authors) in the media write anything other than haggiography about him. How is any scandal supposed to touch him if he is not part of administration? The mere fact that his party runs an administration that set new examples of corruption every week and he (or his mamma dear) keeps mum tells a volume about his “cleanliness”.
About Modi, here is a challenge. If you have irrefutable proof that Modi was indeed involved in anything illegal, go and prove it in the court. The case is running for last eight years. Else accept that you simply do not know anything about it and stop giving the impression of “unclean” about him. It smells of double standard when you will ignore “third party” documentation about some men and then will accuse a man of something illegal despite nothing against him was proven yet.
Rahul has no controversy on his head(or may be i am not aware of it)– Yes, awareness is the word.and so far, what ever he has done, done it with a plan.All those acts,speeches et al which atleast shows he is thoughtful(sound mind).Plus great PR skills.Let us see a few examples of well-“planned” highly-executed “PR” efforts and “speeches” from a “sound mind”.
1. He declared that he wanted to mass produce hundreds of Obamas to improve India. Obviously, the viability of the plan is beyond question because he posses the assembly line.
2. He declared that dynastic policies are bad for democracy. One may wonder what is his legitimacy if dynastic politics is taken out of Indian democracy.
3. In Dwarbhanga university, he promised students that no political discussion would take place and then proceeded to discuss about Mr. Modi’s communal politics. Students were naturally aghast and forced him to leave the premise. If this is well executed PR effort, spare us.
4. He goes to Gujrat and a woman questions the prince about Congress politicians that are comparable to Mr. Modi. The clown prince’s answer: Man Mohan Singh and A K Anthony. Modi is a person who rose from a mere poor boy serving tea in the roadside stall to the head of an administration which served most efficient governance to it’s people. Singh, a privileged student, seasoned bureacrat and a famed economist, headed an administration that is creating new low in terms of corruption and inefficiency everyday. Only a moron can bring in this comparison.
5. The clown prince went to Bihar and thundered that Bihar has improved but the situation of Biharis had not improved. What the hell does that mean? Is Bihar an entity separate from Biharis? I can imagine the wave of articles in the MSM if a non-dynastic politician made the gaffe. He got away with it in the media. People however know what he is and they reflected their thought in the ballot box. Result is? Congress lost whatever they had in the last election.
As I said, awareness is the right word. I hope you will answer.
I know quiet a few Gandhi admirers are frustrated with increasing criticism of Gandhis. It is harder to take when they were bought up with the assumption that nobody will criticise the deties. The problem is that India has changed since nineties. Consider this:
1. After liberalization, many things changed, even in the rural areas. New ideas crept in, new ideologies found base. In this environment, loyalty is carrying increasingly less premium.
2. A nascent (but corrupt) capitalism helped middle class to expand and have a voice. Ten years back, what was barely audible is distubringly high today (in blogs and twitter world). Most of the investigative books/journals that view Gandhis in critical light are banned in India (including the one I mentioned above). Internet opened those forbidden fruit for us. I was a Nehruvite till I read them. The reason I criticise Gandhis harshest because I admired them most at a time. We will multiply in time, that is a promise I am confident about.
3. As socialists lost their tight grip in most places (other than academia), there are people like Shantanu who brings in previously revered figures under the scanner to see if they really deserve the worship they used to get. Very few today buys that Gandhi alone brought independence or Nehru was great patriot or Indira was indeed the reincarnation of Durga (as AB Vajpayee called her in 1971).
Your deities do not stand up to the scrutiny. That is not our problem. It is yours if you can not reconcile.
@Jayant
It is easy to fool young, than experienced adult citizen who has seen the time of Nehru, Indira, Sanjay and Rajiv Gandhi. To charm the youth has been there from the time they wanted Rajiv Gandhi as PM.
Bring youth in politics so the youth of Nehru-Gandhi and congress family can become PM and their leaders..and let the blunder unfold…!Rajiv brought his friends in his party and parliament!didn’t he? Why?
Gujarat has become wise from the time Britishers were in rule! They remain in the fore front to bring changes in the country. They don’t bow and bend to unnatural power! I am not belittling other state by saying this, but sooner or later every one will wake up!
He and his mother have been looting India for a long time now. In 22 years, sonia has given just 2 interviews, she is afraid to meet the press, she is the only one after quattrochi to know who got Bofors money. This family is fraud, anti Indian, mafia Italian.
@Indian,
Call it a political rhetoric, Rahul did go there, boarded a train , made a hyped and loud statement.Everybody does it.But he did it grand.People disliking Raj Thakray(including anti-congress) must have felt nice for a second.Dint see any BJP leader coming in.Heard kalraj mishra said something but he is too senior for his voice to reach ground.Guess we are on the same pro-development front yet on different stage.
@Sid,
You went deep, line by line.May be reading it as a whole would have given different perspective.Or may be not.
You really want to see Rahul in a scandal, i can sense it in your writing.So kudos to him, he is atleast smart enough to stay away from it while many can’t.
You can write about any politician who you think is clean on the internet and i can bet you will find your answer(may be not in court but then there is nothing in court against rahul too,unlike modi).So by such standards, he is relatively clean.
I really admire development done in Gujrat and Bihar.And no matter what rahul says wont deny the fact.Gujrat is a model state and bihar is an inspiration and if these chief ministers continue the same, i dont want Congress or rahul.I am that open.
Apart from comments in Bihar, i am fine with all above statements.You can have your rigid mindset on everything he says/do/plan.I am fine with that too.
Also, on a national level,to run a country, i think rahul has the right mindset,strategy, his personal image(may be thats why he is not marrying), connect ,vision and Secular approach thus seen so far.See he thinks of Obama as an example, he is talking BIG (when i say vision).
Your idol, Mr Modi is an excellent administrator.May be he should run West bengal too.But he is absolutely not fit to run this country.He is right wing fundamentalist and you too know it.
@Rohit
Why Congress was not ruling party in a state? Why CM and many ministers were mum when many were on the roads? Where were all these security for common man? When it can be available to Rahul Gandhi, why not to common man? is my question.
Its shows the level of maturity what people felt! Even the most fearful person can walk with chest out when this many security is available. It is common man who has no chest! They have to wait for ruling party hero to come for their rescue, other wise how come picture will become watchful!
It is congress who hyped N. Modi as PM. He or BJP never said anything like that! Congress wanted to put country in fear by bringing name of N. Modi as PM. They knew many would not like him as PM and will adhere to Congress! He got highest support of Muslims from Godhra. Congress is in the trash bin for whatever wing they belong doesn’t matter! Only matters is development and progress!
@Rohit,
I can imagine why reading line-by-line is inconvenient to you. If Rahul supporters are so specific they will not be supporting Rahul. So, the bottom line is you will set aside any truth that is inconvenient to you and support the new messiah, right? Even at the expense of your nation, you have to see him rise to the power.
I expected you to come up with the answer to those five facts I typed (none of them are lies or hyperbole) and show how a 40-year old responsible man with maturity and intelligence can make those public gaffes. Even George Bush junior did not make that many public gaffes. And you are trying to sell him as the new hope.
After this infantile and emotional response, you guys will complain if I call you Gandhi worshipers!!! We live in interesting times.
@Sanjeev Sabhlok
I am not contesting the involvement of Gandhis or the Congress party in corruption. What I meant was that the evidence for the charges of corruption against them may not be available to everyone. But one just has to see one impromptu speech or interview of the present Gandhis to get an idea of how developed their mental/intellectual faculties are.
@Indian
I still see no reason for the educated youth to be so enamored by dim-witted Rahul Gandhi. Perhaps this whole bring_in_fresh_blood rhetoric is just to pass the reins to the sons and daughters of old Congress leaders.
@Sid
Rahul Gandhi’s qualities like “right mindset”, “strategy”, “connect”, “vision”, “secular approach” etc. that are apparent only to Gandhi worshipers will always elude ordinary mortals like you and me because we are devoid of devotion(bhakti).
@Rohit
Entertaining indeed!
Rohit said that Rahul Gandhi is not marrying-reminds me of our PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee… there was chaos in Parliament related to high price rise of commodities. And one of the congress member said- How does he knows about high price rise when he has no family!
Nobody said that it is derogatory to say this to PM.
Your post is surprisingly mild.
This creature and the “family” need to be thoroughly dissected.
Unrelated post:
————–
Just see how many twists are developing in the 2G scam and how adroit the ELM is in shifting the blame back to the NDA, after a brief respite.
Despite the CWG mess, Bhopal Gas tragedy aftermath, EVM mess,Bihar election debacle, interlocuter mess, Adarsh society mess, Satyam / Maytas silence, impending disaster in AP KKangress, 2G etc etc, the crooked KKangress survives. This is the worst central govt in our history.
@Indian,
Your question is valid.And here is the answer:There is no value of life here.In Godhra, common people were set to fire but CM was safe.This question can be applied there too.But then,that is not my point.Its just that Rahul’s political stunt pleased my sentiments(even if you would have done it, you might have got my vote).
@Sid
If you read(again) whatever i have been saying, i don’t intend to put aside any thing inconvinient, nor being a blind follower.Just think it’s you who should open up to some contrary opinion.
Anyways, your so-called “five facts” showcasing Rahul’s gaffe are too insignificant parameters to judge anyone’s responsibility, morality or intelligence.Obama,Dynasty,Modi Communal charges(isnt that in court already), Manmohan Singh, situation of biharis..You cant be serious.What if he is earnest.Oh, maybe you don’t want him to be.Wake up Sid!
Also, Modi has some grave charges against him in court.I would love the editor to come up with a topic on him.
About that line, at the expense of the nation
I dont expect Rahul to be absolutely clean, but for sure, he is lesser of the two evil
@Rohit,
I see. You have claimed not to be a blind follower, but that is exactly what you did. You have looked at all the allegations and used words like “let us put aside …”. If you were not the blind follower you would have attempted to answer my questions on Gandhi family.
My basic point is simple. Get a public figure to make those public gaffes. And then tell me if that invokes deep respect for him. What will happen if Varun, another Gandhi for whom I have no love for, made those gaffes? What would be your reaction if Arun Jaitley made them?
The very facts that those “planned” PR attempts of a “sound mind” resulted into an outcome that is exactly opposite to the one intended tells me volume about the immatured gangu teli packaged as legendary raja bhoj (figuratively speaking).
What if he is earnest.– So you are now reduced to importance of being earnest for his defense? How do you know that he was being earnest? Since when does political figures started being earnest in the public place? What has “being earnest” anything to do with the fiasco in Dwarbhanga where he lied to gather students and started giving politcial talks? Oh, BTW, since you know he was being earnest, can you request him for an “earnest” explanation about the reason he indulged himself in partying immediately after 26/11? You were not aware of it? No problem, refresh your memory here: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/21442/LATEST%20HEADLINES/Rahul+in+party+mood+soon+after+Mumbai+crisis.htmlAlso, Modi has some grave charges against him in court.I would love the editor to come up with a topic on him.– So if charges against Modi is under investigation then it is the court that has to say something, it is not the responsibility of a blogger/editor. I noted with interest that how “unclean” Modi became Modi with “some grave charges” after few challenges.About that line, at the expense of the nation– Ha ha ha…. compared to which evil? Modi? He is clean until convicted in the court, remember? There does not exist an iota of Adarsh scam in Gujrat administration, neither he has tolerated one under his watch.I dont expect Rahul to be absolutely clean, but for sure, he is lesser of the two evil
Now I have to agree that there is one area where he beat Modi. Unlike him, Modi could not claim of fake “phoren” degree. Awareness problem again? Yes, a known side-effect for being aware of Gandhi-chalisha only. Do not worry, take a look at Aditya Sinha’s op-ed on this topic:
http://expressbuzz.com/Opinion/Columnists/rahul%20gandhi%20spin%20doctor/57345.html
@39. Rohit: Will you please explain your assertion:
“There is no value of life here.In Godhra, common people were set to fire but CM was safe.”
Your reply is addressed to “Indian” still I would like know what actually you mean by the above.
@Rohi
Give your vote to who so ever, I am not bothered. And IF, anyone would have done any sort of such things may be for people not for the vote.
You are equating two situation Godhra and Raj,.. seriously!!. It dont require any reply but let me say what I understand. What ever happened in Godhra was unpredictable and everything happened in just one night. Here Raj Thackrey was givig his speecehes day and night and beating and torturing people under the nose of CM and its minsters. For Godhra CM is answering the question in court why he acted late and what happened to CM of Mumbai?
–But then,that is not my point.Its just that Rahul’s political stunt pleased my sentiments(even if you would have done it, you might have got my vote)—
Its your choice and your sentiment! I have seen many political stunt of Congress in my state and Stunt and charm never pleases me! So I dont vote for Congress! For me what matter is CM giving service to the Nation not a service to Nehru-Gandhi family!
@Sid enjoyed reading given link expressbuzz.com.
A statement of a imature brain should be ignored.I was a congress worker,but I left it when Sanjay Gandhi acted as ring leader in parliament.He demolished the immage of Gandhi as well as Nehru and Indira watched it silently.She had no other option as important politician left the congress after emergency .Oppertunist took the power after they left congress.after Indira Rajiv got a Sympathetic vote. None of the Neheru family were well breed in Indian politics,after Indira.
Sonia is still a foreigner, When she speaks in Hindi a touch of Italian father ,preaching in Church comes in .to me she seems to be an agent of Pope in disguise. Rahul was burned in Aircondition hospital ,stays in Air condition house and moove in Aircondition cars.Perhaps he does not know the other M.P who moove in A/C, how much
they have toiled for it. Most of them have stuied in Lanten light,walked to their school.Khoon pasina ek karke delhi pahunche hain.
Has Rahul read Gandhi`s ` My Experiment with Truth` or Nehru`s ` the Discovery of India` or `Chanakya Nitisastra`.I think he has not.He may
be excused for his Ignorance . But Ignorance has got no Excuse>the Voters know it.
@Sid,
I have put across whatever i had in mind about Rahul and after analyzing the viewpoints of various seasoned people here, i am still not convinced as to change my point(i know it doesn’t matter but still).
Let me sum it up why
The prime reason people do not like him is purely for his family reputation over the years.Rahul sans family is just another budding politician.The family has ruled almost 90% of the time and are responsible for all the misfortunes, but then, should be credited for the great Indian growth story too(which i dint see).The other reason being more liking towards BJP(prople buy there religious ideology, religious deities).And some think Rahul is inexperienced(but not immature).
Also, every politician will have a history of gaffe’s and i think you were critically analyzing Rahul as it will have absolutely NO impact on a politically neutral people.I, being biased, find them insignificant(not baseless mind you).
About Dwarbhanga, he got carried away.he should’nt have.Write him a mail and he will apologize(give it a try, i have heard he is prompt).
About being earnest, i wanted you to evaluate him thinking what if he really wants to change the dynasty politics, play a secular politics etc, but i was asking a lot!
I have nothing against Modi as proof, Tehelka has.They are as grave as Hitler had.But for you, tehelka must have written crap.Nitish too did not allow him to campaign in Bihar.Lets see what the court has to say, that will change my views for sure.
Rahul having a phoren degree might be true,should he leave politics?.You said, “Since when does political figures started being earnest in the public place?”.No body comes out clean and even your favorite political figure will have such charges.Atleast he does not have alarming, humanitarian charges on his head.About the opposition, BJP has no leadership, a communal stand they try to escape but in vain, no youth politician to look up to(no future atleast for 2014).
@Indian, I do not defend Congress nor i am their spokesperson.I am just a guy who thinks Rahul will deliver and has some reasons for it.I am also keen to know what his opponents think of him.But till now, apart from Sid, its all been his family.
@KSV SUBRAMANIAN
Those two sentences are different context.The former means absolute disregard of individual life/rights/respect in India.The latter is my comparison to situation in maharastra where CM was ineffective when people were beaten up.
@Harish Panigrahi
Keep ignoring
@Rohit,
A number of people thinks calling Rahul as immature is a bit too much. The problem is that most have concluded that Rahul is the future of this country and are determined to “put aside” (as you have used the phrase several times before) all the public gaffes. Truth is, if I have to see all the media hoopla and then look at the series of public disasters he created, I see a 40-year old arrogant man who is still “being groomed” for this job. I will put my question again, this time in bold, What would be your opinion about a random politician who does not have a Gandhi surname makes those public gaffes?
Also, every politician will have a history of gaffe’sReally, they do? Let us hear about this long list of ex-PMs: Manmohan Singh, AB Vajpayee, Devegauda, IK Gujral, Chanra Sekhar, Rao, LB Shastri, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh. I purposefully excluded Nehru-Gandhi family, because apart from Indira, all of them made disturbingly arrogant behavior and got away with it in the media. The “martyr” father of this clown prince epitomized this: slapping a chief minister, calling respected economists in the planning committee jokers and calling a metro city a dead city. The list is not exhausted yet.
Democracy is not a system to throw out crooked politicians out, but it is definitely a system that will throw out a politician who appears to be too arrogant in public. Rahul’s Dwarbhanga fiasco is the signature of this arrogance, a politician is not the one who is supposed to get carried away in a public place. If that is the case, then a bigger question would be whether he has the mental stability to lead a big and complex country like India. So, yes, if we accept your argument of “being carried away, then we are back to the question of “sound mind”.
i wanted you to evaluate him thinking what if he really wants to change the dynasty politics, play a secular politics etcYou are young, please explain to me what is “secular politics” and why is it so sacred to you folks? While you are at it, please explain how and why Rahul is the best hope for this supposedly sacred “secular politics” in India?
I have nothing against Modi as proof, Tehelka has. They are as grave as Hitler had.But for you, tehelka must have written crap.– Tehelka made some paid sting, they were not accepted as proof by the court. So they are crap, according to the respectable high court. Knowing Tarun Tejpal’s history (his father was in Panjab Congress, he himself ran PR for Congress in Panjab before) and this article ( http://tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=Ne300509mrs_gandhi.asp ) in his “independent weekly” where he put Sonia Gandhi as one of his Gods (personally, after reading this, I realized that there can not be a more apt term than Gandhi-das for these devotees of this new Goddess). What does that tell you about his “independence”?Nitish too did not allow him to campaign in Bihar.– Nitish Kumar did not even ask Advani to campaign, what does that prove?Lets see what the court has to say, that will change my views for sure.– http://www.dailypioneer.com/301467/Report-on-Modi-cleared-by-SIT-most-heartening-Advani.html what are your views now? Oh, I am sure, pioneer is not a secular establishment.BJP has no leadership, a communal stand they try to escape but in vain, no youth politician to look up to– I am expecting you to answer to two questions:1. If a party with “no leadership” wins 90% of all the seats contested in a state election and a party with 40 year old “youth icon” loses more than 50% seats they contested, then “no leadership” is a good thing, no?
2. About the communal stand – if you don’t mind, can you show me how random Muslim appeasement constitute secular politics in your vision? If BJP’s political stand is communal, then so is Congress’s. Because BJP fights for Hindus and Congress appears to be more concerned for Muslims, as a Hindu I am willing to prefer communal politics of BJP to that of Congress. Bigger question is, as a Hindu, why would not you?
Finally, since you clearly know that clown prince is prompt with his emails (it is yet unclear who is “grooming” him for writing answer to his emails), would you mind asking him about the very mature action of his partying immediately after 26/11?
“Bigger question is, as a Hindu, why would not you?”
Sid, there are Hindus and then there are self-loathing Hindus. Going by some of Rohit’s comments, he seems to be in the latter group. Which would explain his pooja and blind bhakti of secularism (and equating whatever Congress does and says as “secular” and whatever BJP does as “communal”) without an iota of understanding what secularism means and what is its history and how it should be implemented. Ask him about Uniform Civil Code and why Congress is against it, and it will become clear how “secular” Rohit is.
Might interest you. Thanks.
An open letter to Mr. Rahul Gandhi
http://www.blogs.ivarta.com/An-open-letter-Mr-Rahul-Gandhi/blog-395.htm
#46 quote “BJP fights for Hindus” Really? Could you list instances where it did? Here are a few I will list where it either didn’t fight, or lost so badly in the first round that there was no second round. 1. Public humiliation of Shankaracharaya….How well did BJP fight if it did fight at all? 2. Banjerjee commission. Did BJP fight? How well did it do? 3. Kashmiri Pandits..Did BJP fight? How well did it do?
Not for nothing did Shourie say that Congress and BJP are not different. BJP is good at gathering Hindu votes just like Lalu P. Yadav was good at gathering Yadav votes, and congrees is good at gathering Muslim Votes. The first two do nothing for their supporters. Congress does just enough to keep their support warm.
@X (#49),
I am not a big fan of current BJP myself. I was a fan of their politics when they supported my viewpoints. Later they dumped it like a stillborn. Yet, there exist leaders within it who stands for something. In English, they say that if you do not stand for something you will fall for anything. An adherence to the political Hindutva was the only possible bond that made BJP a strong federal party once and now that they have let it gone they fell to the level of Congress.
It is tempting to blame Advani/Vajpayee for their fault but Hindu attitude is largely responsible. Several times, I have heard others arguing that the Hinduism RSS/BJP/VHP is proposing is over-simplification and incorrect. Thus, their point goes, they will not support BJP. Hinduism is not a centralized concept. It is quiet possible that more than a billion plus Hindus have more than billion plus perceptions of Hinduism. Still if a political solution for Hindus is to be found then BJP is the strongest starting point. But there are very few Hindus who would buy it. As a consequence, BJP thinks that it can not gather Hindus together and tries to outsmart Congress in the appeasement Congress that Congress itself invented.
So now the situation is that if BJP does not work for Hindus, Hindus would not support it and if BJP does not get Hindu support it is not interested to work for Hindus. It is a chicken-and-egg scenario that is benefiting likes of Digvijay Singh/Ahmed Patel/Rahul Gandhi.
But enough on BJP, if you want to discuss we should pick up another thread.
For now, keep this thread clean for the clown prince.
@Rohit
There is nothing to think of him if as long as I am concerned!. He stands there only because of his family and Congress!
#50. I notice there is no list like you provided in #9. Don’t give me that garbage about BJP being the only party for Hindus and don’t pretend that this is off-topic. If Hindu attitude is responsible for BJP’s antics, then it is responsible for Rahul Gandhi’s display politics too. You cannot fault people for BJP’s wrongdoing if you fault Rahul for congress politics. They are all in the same game. Better get the scales off your eyes.
#50 By the way, discuss Rahul Gandhi’s gaffe to your Heart’s content, but I can assure you that he will never never praise Jinnah!
I hope you will say Yes to my question that there are so many intelligent people in India than you. They are not getting any popularity like you.
@X(#52 & #53),
I notice there is no list like you provided in #9.– Because the discussion is on your idol, not BJP. But then if you can understand it then you would not have the Rahul-devotion, would you?Don’t give me that garbage about BJP being the only party for Hindus and don’t pretend that this is off-topic.– Would you mind showing me how bashing BJP is related to Rahul Gandhi? Your only reason for bringing in BJP in this discussion is that just because I have criticized “the” Gandhi you need to paint me as a BJP supporter and shift the focus of the discussion to BJP’s politics. That would help you avoid the uncomfortable questions about your deity. Is not it? I am not falling for it.If Hindu attitude is responsible for BJP’s antics, then it is responsible for Rahul Gandhi’s display politics too.How? Please explain how Hindu attitude motivated clown prince to lie to students in Dwarbhanga. Or if you can not do that then please also explain how Hindu attitude helped him to reach the conclusion that terrorism can be eliminated in fifteen minutes.
You cannot fault people for BJP’s wrongdoing if you fault Rahul for congress politics.– In your hurry to save the idol you forgot that there is an important difference between how BJP is run and how Congress is run. There is no family, there is no Gandhi name and there is no foreigner at the top of the affairs in BJP.By the way, discuss Rahul Gandhi’s gaffe to your Heart’s content, but I can assure you that he will never never praise Jinnah!– Exactly when did BJP praise Jinnah? If you want to open a separate thread to bash Advani or Yashwant Singh, by all means please do so. I am not retained by either of these politicians to defend them.Let me be clear. I worship Sri Krishna or Sri Rama, not BJP, not Advani, not anyone with surname Gandhi. If you want to take revenge for criticizing the clown prince, then you actually have to raise a debate with me on the very God I worship. And bashing BJP in return of Rahul’s bashing is not going to help here because my heart does not cry for BJP. I provided the response on #50 to explain what I believe about BJP. You want to hang that party, go ahead and do it, why should I care?
#55 Dear Sid, you wrote ” In your hurry to save the idol you forgot that there is an important difference between how BJP is run and how Congress is run. There is no family, there is no Gandhi name and there is no foreigner at the top of the affairs in BJP“.
Think again. If you wish to see how it might have been family even in BJP, read this link, a letter written by (once a) BJP activist and a red hot nationalist.
Let us not fool ourselves. Let us look at politics with open eyes.
@Sid,
It shouldn’t be a problem if people have concluded Rahul as future PM the same way you have concluded he is moron and arrogant without giving a second thought.Since the gaffe’s were so close to your heart that you evaluate responsibility,maturity,intelligence and arrogance levels based upon it, let me have a look once again:
1. He declared that he wanted to mass produce hundreds of Obamas to improve India.
–>Isnt that something BJP does not want.Why, because he is not Hindu?
2. He declared that dynastic policies are bad for democracy. One may wonder what is his legitimacy if dynastic politics is taken out of Indian democracy.
–>Even he is not legitimate, does that make it a “gaffe”?.This is what most of the people were saying in their comments.
3. In Dwarbhanga university, he promised students that no political discussion would take place and then proceeded to discuss about Mr. Modi’s communal politics. Students were naturally aghast and forced him to leave the premise. If this is well executed PR effort, spare us.
–>It’s hardly a gaffe.It is best thing to do when you get carried away.Modi walked out of an interview with BBC back in 2007.Since you said above for Rahul,”If that is the case, then a bigger question would be whether he has the mental stability to lead a big and complex country like India”, how fit is Modi to run a nation?Do i question his mental stability too.
4. He goes to Gujrat and a woman questions the prince about Congress politicians that are comparable to Mr. Modi. The clown prince’s answer: Man Mohan Singh and A K Anthony. Modi is a person who rose from a mere poor boy serving tea in the roadside stall to the head of an administration which served most efficient governance to it’s people. Singh, a privileged student, seasoned bureacrat and a famed economist, headed an administration that is creating new low in terms of corruption and inefficiency everyday. Only a moron can bring in this comparison.
–>I have respect for Mr Singh.He is as clean as one can be in politics.What proof do you have against him?.Modi started his career with RSS, playing all religious politics to rise up.He was considered a hardliner infact.The court will acquit him of charges due to lack of proof but at the end, under him, Godhra happened.Corruption is there in BJP and Congress alike.What we talk here is Individuals.What kind of gaffe does it seem to you.i do not understand.
5. The clown prince went to Bihar and thundered that Bihar has improved but the situation of Biharis had not improved. What the hell does that mean? Is Bihar an entity separate from Biharis?
–>Bihar has shown progress with 11% GDP, highest among states.The point he made is, Bihar still ranks lowest in the country and is still a “Bimaru” state(Bimaru is an official term).I don’t expect him to stay mum when he campaigns and neither the opposition.But the point is not convincing.
You see, your so called gaffe’s are blind interpretation that hates Rahul(I say because you address him as clown prince, moron) for no personal agenda.I notice how easily you use the word “arrogant” for an incident where he went off the topic.I kept this word for Varun Gandhi, who says he would chop any hands raised against Hindus.Don’t you find that arrogant or you find that modest.
Tehelka interviewed top leaders from RSS(former alliance for Modi) and they said that he gave a free hand for the killing spree.All those were established politicians at their level.Why would they destroy their entire career, is a question.SIT is yet to file FIR against Modi(may be never will) and is awaiting documents from state government for another case on Modi for the murder of a congress leader in godhra.We all know what proof will modi provide to SIT for his case.Anyways, SIT has just given its recommendation and the court verdict is still not out.(SIT is a referral entity).
I am young but i am not naive.I will certainly not give my vote on the basis of Ram Temple.The so called Hindutava has fueled fear in Muslims instead of improving quality of life for Hindus.I have some liberal muslims friends and they admit to this fact.It is such kind of politics played by BJP and their allies viz RSS,VHP and Sangh Parivar that have been imposing hinduism on society either by burning churches in Orrisa,killing muslims in godhra, attacking pubs in Bangalore, couples on valentines day.In each of these cases, atleast one arrest from these parties have been made.In their internal report after 2009 elections, they too acknowledged this fact, and hence are trying to rectify.BJP views are openly said in forums by the likes of Varun Gandhi which shows the root.
If you blame Rahul for defeat in Bihar, give him credit to 2009 elections where he swept the nation.About the partying, he can do whatever he wishes to.The party was not thrown by him nor he publically declared it.Is that the only thing bothering you.
You also mentioned “they say that if you do not stand for something you will fall for anything”, neither you have stand for BJP nor Congress, try Shiv Khera’s new party.
@X (#56),
As I stated before, this is not a thread to discuss BJP politics. So I used an old thread to respond (comment #26):
https://satyameva-jayate.org/2010/03/08/bjp-poll-strategists/
@Rohit,
–>Isnt that something BJP does not want.Why, because he is not Hindu?– Anyone who thinks of mass-producing someone would solve India’s problems is not in correct state of mind. Where is BJP and “is not Hindu” is coming into it?–>Even he is not legitimate, does that make it a “gaffeâ€?.This is what most of the people were saying in their comments.– Let us see what the meaning of gaffe is. According to dictionary.com, it means: “An unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator;”. If my mom is the head of a company and she installed me as a successor then if I go to public saying that dynastic succession is bad for management then that is a gaffe. Got it?–>It’s hardly a gaffe.It is best thing to do when you get carried away– Ooopsss. I am asking you again about the mental state of a politician who get carried away in a public place.Modi walked out of an interview with BBC back in 2007.– There is a reason why Modi walked out of the interview. It was not a BBC interview, it was an interview with Karan Thapar. Thapar invited him and promised him that he would not put any question related to Gujrat riot. Then Thapar broke the promise in front of the camera. So Modi walked out on him. After all, he has not run out of the studio the same way Rahul has run out of an university in Gujrat after facing some tough questions.how fit is Modi to run a nation?Do i question his mental stability too.– I guess two Gujrat elections already answered that question.–>I have respect for Mr Singh.He is as clean as one can be in politics.– Unfortunately I do not. How do you know that he is clean? The man who saw multi-billion dollar scam and shut his mouth in the name of coalition politics is called an opportunist, not a “clean” politician.Modi started his career with RSS, playing all religious politics to rise up.He was considered a hardliner infact.– So is playing religious politics a crime? Why is secular politicis so sacred to you? You have not answered this question yet.The court will acquit him of charges due to lack of proof– If you know him to be guilty then why do not you submit that in front of the court? Life is not a Hindi movie and we do not have a banana court system. If you have the proof, go ahead and submit it.but at the end, under him, Godhra happened.– So according to you, burning 76 Hindus alive inside a train compartment is a RSS conspiracy supported by Modi, right?What we talk here is Individuals.– Yes and their individual abilities in handling governance and public appearance.What kind of gaffe does it seem to you.i do not understand.– In case, you have not understood yet, understanding is your real problem.–>Bihar has shown progress with 11% GDP, highest among states.The point he made is, Bihar still ranks lowest in the country and is still a “Bimaru†state(Bimaru is an official term).– So if Bihar has 11% GDP then how is it “Bimaru”? Which recent ranking put Bihar in the “lowest” after it gained highest in GDP ranking? Where did your idol made “that point”? Finally, Do you even think before typing the oxymorons?You see, your so called gaffe’s are blind interpretation that hates Rahul(I say because you address him as clown prince, moron) for no personal agenda.– If someone acts like a moron I can not call him God, sorry.I notice how easily you use the word “arrogant†for an incident where he went off the topic.– If someone calls a meeting and leaves it in the middle without making any apologies I would call that arrogant. If you do not call this arrogance then you need to re-learn the public manners.I kept this word for Varun Gandhi, who says he would chop any hands raised against Hindus.Don’t you find that arrogant or you find that modest.– I really do not care about that Gandhi. If you are really emotional about it, do you read my views about that fanatic moron who thinks that making few incisive speeches makes a good Hindutva leader: https://satyameva-jayate.org/2010/05/26/doosra-sanjay-gandhi/ comment #3.Tehelka interviewed top leaders from RSS(former alliance for Modi) and they said that he gave a free hand for the killing spree.– Perhaps you did not read everything that I posted about Tehelka. First counter them and establish it’s credibility as an independent news magazine.SIT is yet to file FIR against Modi(may be never will) and is awaitzineing documents from state government for another case on Modi for the murder of a congress leader in godhra.– SIT has submitted it’s report, if you have not read about the links I supplied then there is no point in continuing this discussion.We all know what proof will modi provide to SIT for his case.Anyways, SIT has just given its recommendation and the court verdict is still not out.(SIT is a referral entity).– It is a court appointed entity that has some very seasoned investigators and it has submitted it’s reports to the court.... i am not naive.– I am afraid that is a very serious self-delusion.... by burning churches in Orrisa,– excuse me? Which church got burned? If you have the proof please submit that.... killing muslims in godhra,– In Godhra, Hindus were burnt alive. And then you are claiming to be informed and mature.attacking pubs in Bangalore, couples on valentines day.– Neither RSS or BJP has anything to do with it. Try this: http://www.dailypioneer.com/155516/BACKPACK/SMALLSCREEN/SMALLSCREEN/SMALLSCREEN.htmlPRINTIn each of these cases, atleast one arrest from these parties have been made.– Show the list please. I have never put anything without a valid link, let us have some proofs otherwise you are a liar. But then like your deity, facts may be a bit of a luxury for you.In their internal report after 2009 elections, they too acknowledged this fact,– Please show me their internal report. Where is it being sold?and hence are trying to rectify.BJP views are openly said in forums by the likes of Varun Gandhi which shows the root.– Where did Varun Gandhi say that these are BJP’s views?I can not find anything wrong in the statement about any hand that is rising against Hindus need to be chopped. I will say the same thing. May be it is Hindus like you who would kiss the same hand that is rising against Hindus.
If you blame Rahul for defeat in Bihar, give him credit to 2009 elections where he swept the nation.– He did? I thought there is a coalition government at the center. Ahh, must be a RSS conspiracy behind it.About the partying, he can do whatever he wishes to.The party was not thrown by him nor he publically declared it.– I am not aware of any other politician (and a PM in waiting) partying immediately after the biggest terror attack in our country. If it does not bother you then there is something that is terribly wrong with you.neither you have stand for BJP nor Congress, try Shiv Khera’s new party.– I stand for Hindu nationalism and whichever party supports it, I will support them. And since I am deep within my own activism, I do not need a “naive” Gandhi-das advising me the party I need to join.If you have the capacity to answer the question I raised, then answer. Otherwise attend the Gandhi puja ceremony.
@Rohit
I am not concerned about who you think as a PM, but abusing
Gujarat and Gujartis are the part of your talk I am replying:
Read this 2010 news: BJP is winner in Godhra and muslims are standing in support of N. Modi and BJP. You have a goggles of 2002 that Rahul Gandhi,and Congress leaders still wears it whenever they visits Gujarat! Abusing N. Modi has become handy tool where congress is not winning!
News in Short:—The arrest of Teesta Setalvad’s one-time aide, and former Citizen for Justice and Peace (CJP) activist Rais Khan is significant, because next link in the investigation could be Teesta Setalvad herself. They have been charged with fabricating false evidence, causing disappearance of evidence and trespassing a burial place. All four accused are presently on two-day remand. It is almost certain that Rais Khan is going to name Teesta as master mind behind exhuming act. —
@Rohit
Also I would like to know of Antuley and Digvijay Singh fueling the mind of Hindu and Muslims at the cost of brave officer Karkare ..and P.Chidamabarm Home minister blaming migrants in Delhi for crimes? How are they better than…any BJP, RSS, Sena and BJP?
My take: it is Congress who would never like peace between two communities!Vote bank Politics at it best!
A new info about the icon:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/16/wikileaks-rahul-gandhi-warned-us-hindu-extremism
I quote:
In controversial comments likely to cause a storm in India, Gandhi – considered a likely prime ministerial candidate and a scion of the country's leading political family – warned Timothy Roemer that although "there was evidence of some support for [Islamic terrorist group Laskar-e-Taiba] among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim community, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalised Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community".Now, assuming that the diplomat is truthful (there is no reason that he/she would not be), who has an argument for the maturity of this “sharp” and “sound” mind?
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rahul-stands-by-his-comments-on-hindu-terror/137740-37-64.html?from=tn
“I think Rahul is dividing India on communal lines. He thinks if he speaks against Hindus, Muslims will vote for him in Uttar Pradesh. This is most unfortunate for the country’s future,” he said.
http://ibnlive.in.com/blaze/rajdeep-sardesai/answer/1.html
Please answer the question Rajdeep is asking! They want to know can we equate Hindu with LeT terror?. Because Rahul did and not only equated but..
I have never used this words before but now I say Rahulbaba grow up, its 40 now!
More magic unveiled: “Peace Party demolishes Congress in Uttar Pradesh ”
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/a/905
A brief excerpt from Tavleen Singh’s article, “Rahul on terrorism”:
Extracted from an email by Radha-ji, titled: “Rahul Baba is not even original.”
After a long pause, he said, spelling it out slowly and very deliberately, “the danger to India, mark, you, is not communism. It is Hindu right-wing communalismâ€.I thought the first PM was merely a highly educated sepoy. Now I know that he was paranoid too.
Adding one more question here..What do you have to say about these guys (members of your “Fans Association”)?
From the Kashmir Dispatch:
http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/rajdeepsardesai/1/62421/rajdeep-sardesais-open-letter-to-rahul-gandhi.html
I happen to check the blog today!..I submitted a long reply to Sid way back but it din’t upload..Anyways, it seems the mood hasn’t changed..It’s still the Anti-Rahul wave blowing with even the Author pooling in too..
Rahul’s analysis is like interpretation of Holy Quoran, Al Qaida has their version and rest of the world having theirs (with all respect).
What ever he is doing is before the general public too see and comprehend. Guess this word by word analysis is working in favour for Rahul Gandhi..since majority finding him alone in the battleground admist many “authors”.
Btw, i sense congress having an upper hand over mayawati in U.P
Rohit (#71),
In case you again feel like to check the “Anti-Rahul” blog, here is the response:
There is nothing wrong with someone sensing something as long as it does not turn into dementia. But it is not your fault. Your deity sensed 74 dead victims as well as number of rape victims in UP. Now there is nothing wrong with that, everyone has the right to think what ever they want. But then he went to national media with the figure solely based on his senses. Then hilarious consequences followed.
As I said, there is nothing wrong with sensing anything. But only immature morons would claim their dreams as facts. I know you are sensing that your Gandhi-God is “sharp” and owner of “upper-hand” (whatever that means), the facts speak otherwise. And one just needs to read the newspaper for that, sensing is not needed.
To add more fuel to the fire, now even the washington post finds Rahul’s gaffes embarrassing. Sigh!!
Adding these 2 excerpts here for record:
Rahul for PM? Seven reasons why he is unfit to lead by R Jagannathan:
..First, is he responsible? Does he take ownership of anything beyond his claim to the big chair?
..Second, a leader is always visible to his people. He is open to dialogue and learning. Has Rahul shown any such capability? When was the last time you saw Rahul Gandhi answering even questions at a press conference?
Has he had anything to say on any burning issue facing the country? On India and Pakistan? On crime?
…
Third, a leader must have some experience handling something. ..But Rahul? Has he held any job in his life? Why did he decline Manmohan Singh’s offer of a ministerial berth when it was offered? Was it to evade responsibility?
…Four, does he ever take hard decisions? Or even socially responsible ones? Why haven’t we heard Rahul Gandhi leading a campaign against female foeticide? Why haven’t we seen him take a stand against crime and corruption?
…
Five, does he ever listen to people who don’t agree with him?
…Six, does he have the capacity for hard work?
…One gets the impression that Rahul Gandhi is a part-time politician, who will probably run the country from behind iron walls, emerging only when it suits him.
…Seven, Rahul Gandhi does not even demonstrate the will to rule. …
Rahul Gandhi has shown no will to rule. If he is not keen on taking up the job, he has not said so. If he is keen, he has yet to show it by responsible action.
AND
Dear Rahul, give yourself a b’day gift, get Diggy to zip it by Anshul Chaturvedi
…
Dear Rahul
…this small set of observations is addressed to you:
…
The biggest questions facing the political system have been questions of integrity. This is not to say that this is a Congress issue alone – there’s hardly any political organization that’s not part of the rot – but for someone who is apparently all set to run the country, it would be nice to know what you thought of the CWG management, or of the 2G spectrum scam, or of Adarsh. Or, for that matter, of Osama. The reality is that I have little clue; if I have to resort to Google to get an idea of your having said anything on the political issues of the day, well, that’s not how I’d like to know my PM-in-waiting.
…
There’s no reason why anyone who can command a majority support in the Lok Sabha should not be Prime Minister, be it you or anyone else. Neither I nor anyone else need have a point of view on who can and who cannot be PM. But, please, let it not be handled as a running joke. Let the party celebrate your birthday; but let it not pitch to the country the spectacle of the prime ministership of India as a birthday present, all gift-wrapped, waiting for you to unwrap it. Seriously. Some things look better earned than gifted. Better to achieve greatness, even if a trifle late, than to have it thrust upon you – and that too, by Diggy Raja.
I am not sure if Amul baby (Rahul Baba) not being the PM is helping India a bit. In fact Bhahrat is worse off because he and his mother are the de facto power and they have absolutely no responsibility. They are at the helm and speak not one word about the issues facing us. Or more serious order a crackdown on unarmed men women and children and blithely claim ignorance.
In between they furtively run away from India to some unknown foreign location and fly back. The citizens of India deserve better.
If either of them is official head rather than ‘unofficial’ then it would be impossible for them to feign ignorance or go incognito. All this power without accountability is suiting the Mom/Son duo quite well.
See this news :
“There’s legal bar on Rahul becoming PM: Swamy”
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2120964.ece
“Dr. Swamy, however, argued that there was a legal bar on Mr. Gandhi becoming the Prime Minister “arising from Italian law which made him a citizen upon birth. He has never renounced this inherited citizenship and that he has travelled on Italian passport all over Europe on an alias.â€
Dr. Swamy said Mr. Gandhi should “learn from the experience of his mother whose attempt to become the Prime Minister in 2004 was aborted when the then President of India Abdul Kalam wrote a letter (which is still to be published) which was read by two witnesses present when Ms. Sonia Gandhi received that letter, namely Natwar Singh and Manmohan Singh. It should now be perfectly clear to Ms. Sonia Gandhi as well as her two children that there is no legal way by which any of them can ever become the Prime Minister of India.â€
Look @ “Rahul on policy issues” box http://bit.ly/jAQjTB “Becoming a PM” & RSS are “policy” issues? And why incl. Defence policy as blank?
Quote of the Day: “I do not want to give specific answer to any specific question” No points fr guessing who http://j.mp/10JjxqO