A video was recently circulated on the social media. It featured Rahul Gandhi tying a scarf over his face. Instead of the forehead, he covered his entire face and this became another centrepiece of ridicule and laugher. His supporters will blame the media for too much of a scrutiny on him. However, the fact of the matter is that the Gandhi scion has made many such blunders in the past. When UPA was in power, he tore an ordinance on convicted politicians which caused huge embarrassment at that time to the Manmohan govt.
Politics of Rahul Gandhi is mired by photo opportunity mixed with picture perfect moments of sheer ridicule. The stays at Dalits home or a road show in UP to revive the party or supporting farmers movement comes with a signature style childish comments. The suit boot Ki Sarkar jibe or the retort of ‘Khoon ki Dalali‘ like impromptu comments in rallies have failed to connect with the masses. His grandmother Indira had coined ‘Garibi hatao’ which had resonated with the population then. But that war cry was supported ably by the leadership of Indira Gandhi which catered with a symbolic aura. Even if Indira Gandhi has shown us some of the darkest days of emergency, she was taken seriously for her leadership hues. When it comes to Rahul Gandhi, utter seriousness in the name of leading the country goes out of the window with his presented personality and antics.
Recently as the Congress tried to politicise the Mandsaur farmer agitation in futile, Rahul Gandhi suddenly in between is going on a tour to Italy. His grand mother Paola Maino resides in Italy, and meeting her is said to be the reason for the said travel.
However, he has added that his solidarity for farmers and the agitation would get his support from Italy. This aspect has being the biggest lacunae in Rahul’s leadership as when the party required desperately, he disappeared in the whims of sabbaticals or retreats.
And Congress’s Response To Rahul Gandhi’s Italy Visit is Totally Awesome
Congress spokesman Sujrewala was categorical in saying that taking care of grandparents is in accordance with the country’s cultural ethos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q409Ga1u4Ng
Nevertheless, BJP was quick to scoff at the development by terming Rahul’s Italy visit as a summer vacation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x76lfEWHmxY
“Will be travelling to meet my grandmother & family for a few days. Looking forward to spending some time with them,” said Gandhi, who will be celebrating his 47th birthday on June 19. He did not mention though for how many days he will be away.
The problem is not about the trip. It is the timing that matters. There are three significant events in the country which the Congress has to take a stand or fight for it. The presidential elections, the farmer crisis and the ever continuing evaporation of Congress bastions in the country need the leadership of the party to take attention. At this juncture when a consensus on the opposition presidential nominee is to be finalized, Rahul has preferred to be away from the situation. This is also coupled with the fact that the Congress has lost the Himachal municipal polls with BJP capturing it first time since independence.
This is not the first time when so called breaks and sabbaticals have interjected Rahul Gandhi’s political career. On the contrary they have gate crashed quite conveniently when the party was in doldrums or some issue was flaring in the country. He had also been to London for new year celebrations. But his stint in Thailand was the most talked about. Referring that as a much needed sabbatical and self introspection, he had disappeared for about sixty days and the Congress party was in complete huddle over facing the press and the people over the same. This repetition of going abroad at those crucial junctures have completely taken away the trust factor and the potentials of his leadership and have ensured that the masses do not take him with utter seriousness.
If we compare PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi, there undoubtedly is a glaring difference between their policies, understanding, stature and track record. PM Modi has an exceptional governance record which strikingly is compared to Rahul Gandhi’s inexperience of not having held any office. Nevertheless, another aspect which separates them both is the time they devout to politics. PM Modi is a full time politician and this somewhere is the foundation of his accomplishments. Gandhi on the other hand has rendered politics as a part time business which surely takes away the sheen and shine of his limited political participation. The leadership in the Congress party may need a surgery or a revival of sorts. But to begin with basics, they need a leader who takes politics seriously and not fiddle around with it under the grabs of vacations and sabbaticals.