They say desperate times call for desperate measures. But how do you measure a desperate time first? A disaster or a tragedy can definitely be a time to exert such measures to save your life. But, what about politics, especially in a democracy? When you don’t agree with the ruling party and people continue to make you sit in the opposition? Well, then should you ignore the people and look beyond your borders? Beseech the world powers to speak? Only God knows, then you might wish that they should remove your rival and replace the seat of power with you. Ironically, you project yourself as an avowed votary of democracy, but people can see through the hypocrisy.
Well, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi doesn’t seem to be much worried about it. Hypocrisy or no hypocrisy, he appears to be adamant about doing all he can to get rid of the BJP government at the Centre (and elsewhere) in the name of saving the democracy. Even though he knows that the only way a government can be removed in a democracy is by going to the people. For that, every five years (in normal circumstances) elections are fought in India, and the next available time to contest the polls is 2024. In the meantime, anybody would suggest that Rahul Gandhi should work for the people, strengthen his party and emerge as a better alternative to rule the country. Sadly, he continues to expose himself with his recklessness. If domestic issues are too intricate for him to perceive, foreign affairs he must certainly refrain from — to avoid putting the country at risk.
In a recent instance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on 2 April, was seen soliciting the US ‘intervention’ in India asking why is America silent on what’s happening in India. He was holding an online discussion with former US Ambassador Nicholas Burns, who is now a professor with the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States.
Why US isn’t defending ideas of democracy in India?: Rahul Gandhi
In the virtual interaction, Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying, “I don’t hear anything from the US establishment on what is going on here in India. If you are saying ‘partnership of democracies’, what is your view on what is going on here? I fundamentally believe that America is a profound idea, the idea of freedom, the way it is encapsulated in your constitution, it’s a very powerful idea. But you have to defend that idea. And that is the real question.”
Notably, Nicholas Burns was talking about the ideas of democracy in the context of its varied forms across the world and its rigid structure presented by countries like Russia and China.
But Rahul Gandhi interrupted him bringing India into the conversation as if the Congress leader was a spokesperson of China and Russia defending the democratic setup of these countries. He hurled a poser at Burns as though he were calling out the duplicity of the US administration for not bracketing India with China and Russia.
The big question is: Is the state of affairs in India (in terms of the parameters of democracy) is worse off than in China and Russia? Are the conditions in the country so bad that an opposition leader needs to entreat upon America to step in and ‘chastise’ the government? Has Rahul Gandhi exhausted all available means to confront the ruling party? Has he become so hopeless that he needs the help of foreign countries to save democracy in India?
Rahul Gandhi must understand that he is the opposition leader of a country that does not allow other nations to interfere in its domestic affairs. Be it the issue of Kashmir or Article 370, be it the Citizenship Amendment Act or the Farm laws, the foreign countries (barring a few) have desisted from poking their nose in the internal matters of India. That’s because India has a reputation for resolving its businesses by democratic means. And the people of India have the power to exercise their franchise and dislodge the unfit government. In the next three years, they will exercise their voting rights again. Untill then, Rahul Gandhi will have to work really hard (and democratically so) to earn enough votes to get a shot at power.
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