Tale of a declining dynasty

The leading scion of India's leading dynasty should realise that cheap antics won't work

Rahul Gandhi recently said the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were "absolutely wrong" and that the perpetrators "should be brought to justice".

This statement seems to be part of his last-ditch attempt to regain his party's dithering ground in view of the disgraceful drubbing at the eight state elections in a row coupled with the declining prospects of the party.

Even the politically naïve know that Rahul was not serious. If he was, the party wouldn't have fielded former police officer Amod Kanth to contest the Delhi assembly election. Kanth was accused of openly helping rioters during the anti-Sikh riots. The Nanavati Commission had even indicted him.

So Rahul’s empty rhetoric simply won’t work, and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims' welfare society has now announced support to BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal in the elections!

The Congress has always protected leaders like Jagdish Tytler and H K L Bhagat, accused in goading violent mobs into killing innocent and hapless Sikhs after Indira Gandhi was murdered. It is precisely these shenanigan ways that have worked to the detriment of the party and helped communal forces attain mainstream acceptability.

But what else one should expect from a dynasty-infested party? Even when there are lots of young leaders with a passion for change, the reins of the party continues to rest with the dynasty.

"I would not have been here, if I was not from a political family," said Rahul. So he himself admitted that it was not merit but being born in the Congress dynasty which qualifies one to be at the top of this party. But like his Sikh remark, this one too sounds hollow.

If the party wishes to regain its inimitable position of playing decisive role in the country's national discourse without being thrown into the political dustbin of India's history, the effete idea of dynasty should end and true democracy should prevail. When will the party realise that a coterie of sycophantic yes-men and praise-singers can't win the hearts of the people?

Rahul has other options. The Harvard- educated man, having run internet companies, seems to possess an acumen for business than in politics. In 2006, he bought two shops in a new mall in Delhi, They house clothing companies Les Femme, Koutons and Nike Sports.

So the young chap will be doing a good service to the Indian politics if he concentrates more on business thereby infusing that much-needed fresh air of democracy into the Congress party, instead of making puerile statements on and off. Wishful thinking, auh?