If Manmohan Singh can at least now withdraw his words that Narendra Modi coming to power would be a disaster for the country, it would bring him accolades. As a free man now, he should summon the courage and do so
There is much more in general elections than the counting of seats and the formation of new Governments. The seat-count emerging after the final tally shall be analysed subsequently by researcher and scholars, for years together. The results are indeed startling and shall have a lasting impact not only on the national political scenario but in all probability the international scene as well.
While the winners are now realising the stupendous responsibility that has been thrust upon them and must be deliberating on how to respond to the explosive expectations of the young and old alike, the losers are supposed to review, re-assess and prepare a roadmap to revitalise their workers and parties.
The pre-election scenario witnessed the frequent use of foul and rather abusive language by some of the established party leaders. Taking a cue from them, even small-time politicians had the cheek to utter publicly obnoxious sentences like, “All of Modi’s opponents should go to Pakistan”. Another minor leader threatened that “we are 42 per cent here, and shall chop Modi to pieces”. Both of them were retained as candidates, and one has won the seat and will represent his constituency in Parliament.
On the afternoon of May 16, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi called a Press conference. Mr Gandhi spoke a couple of sentences, dull, drab and dreary in tone and content. Ms Gandhi read a couple of sentences mechanically. The worst humiliation was inflicted on the media persons present there; they were not permitted to utter a single word, what to say of asking questions and getting some clarifications. It was an occasion where the Congress displayed unbridled arrogance. In fact, the entire nation wanted the leaders to show grace in defeat and to congratulate not only the winning party but also Mr Narendra Modi.
The Congress wants India and the world to denigrate Mr Modi for the Gujarat riots, but wants everyone to lionise Indira Gandhi for the Emergency and Rajiv Gandhi despite the 1984 massacre of Sikhs. If the Congress had not encouraged casteism, caste-based parties would not have flourished to such an extent as to grab power in several States.
Not only this, the Congress has abandoned its pre-Independence approach to establish religious amity and social cohesion that was so dear to Mahatma Gandhi. It has also taken every step to encourage minorityism and for minor electoral gains, broaden the trust gap between two major communities of the nation. The worst sufferers have been the Muslim community of India and the States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
It has clearly emerged after the present election that the voters have acquired far greater maturity than several of the political outfits. It has not rejected Ms Mamata Banerjee, Mr Naveen Patnaik and Ms J Jayalalithaa. They are heading regional parties but not the caste-based ones like that of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ms Mayawati, lalu Prasad and Mr Nitish Kumar. All of these four parties have been wiped out rather totally. Their caste equations stand shattered; they are unwilling to acknowledge that their time is up and that they would be nowhere in 2019.
Remember how proudly lalu Prasad flaunted his M-Y formula and how Mr Kumar thought that he should move from the Dalits to the Mahadalits. Indian democracy stands strengthened as people have now rejected all the four outfits having analysed their performance for more than two decades. Mr Kumar now intends to emerge as the ‘moralist’ who, after owning the responsibility for the total electoral rout, relinquished the coveted position of the Chief Minister.
This is the same Mr Kumar who refused the token aid from the Government of Gujarat for flood relief to the affected people of his State and shocked every sensible Indian. He suffered ‘Modiphobia’ much before several others. Mr Kumar was highly ambitious. He had realised that Mr Modi could be the real hurdle in his dream march to 7, RCR. He never thought of traditions, hospitality, or social norms when he withdrew an invitation for dinner extended to the leaders of the BJP who were then in Patna. He threw to winds all norms of democracy and decent political behaviour when he resisted the visits of Mr Modi to Bihar to canvas for the BJP in the Assembly election.
If Mr Manmohan Singh would withdraw his words that Mr Modi coming to power would be a disaster for the country, it would bring him huge accolades. It would also indicate that he respects the people’s verdict. Now that he is a free man, could he gather courage to do soIJ