When one sees the transitions and various episodes in socio-political
sphere – one is certainly drawn to the phrase – ‘Desh agey badh raha hae’...
Well from 'Maut Ka Saudagar' assault on a Chief Minister to the ‘unwanted
hug’ – as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now described, Indian sickularism
has come a long way !
Alongside the big hug in Lok Sabha – by an over enthusiastic Amethi MP
with a reluctant PM – another photo should draw attention is Sitaram Yechury
carrying a pooja pot on his head and walking towards a temple. If the second
snap is not ‘photo shopping’ – I must say Desh agey badh raha hae !
Five years back – could anyone imagine – Rahul Gandhi displaying the
desperation, bravado and the “hallucination’ for taking Mr Modi in his arms !
Could anyone imagine Marxist ‘Sitaram’ walking towards a temple.
What is the name of this change phenomenon – I call it the Moditva Impact !
More on this at a later stage.
Now about political friendship – well, as I come from Nagaland and had
baptism into journalism through proceedings in Nagaland assembly – I remember the
dramatic interludes of friendship between two arch rivals – S C Jamir and Late
Vamuzo.
On more than one occasion – Vamuzo had called Jamir “an habitual liar”
and Jamir used to often say – “I don’t know why this dull fellow is sitting
here”. Can you guess the subsequent scenes – both of them would end up
laughing. Such scenes provoked Shurhozelie once to say – “when there is debate competition
in Govt High school next time – I want both Jamir and Vamuzo should be
invited as guests”.
Now that’s friendship ! No one would have mind actually if Jamir and Vamuzo had embraced each other.
On this backdrop can anyone say Rahul Gandhi shares the same bond with Narendra Modi. Only till the other day – other kinds of adjectives used to be thrown. Modi has called Rahul – Namdar and Shehzade ! But for his part and on the part of Congress leaders including his mother Sonia Gandhi – the phrases and adjectives used were :
----- Sonia called him : Maut Ka Saudagar.... Manishankar : Neech kism ka aadmi
.... there were more - Zeher Ki Kheti, Chae-wallah....Gaddafi, Mussolini and Hitler,.....
Gangu Teli....Bhasmasur............Rahul: Jawano ka Khoon ka dalal.....
Rashid Alvi - "most stupid PM"
 |
| Modi with Shinzo Abe |
So what does this signify – embracing and hugging can be okay if you
share good relations.
The Congress argument has been if Modi could give bear hug to host of
global leaders what’s wrong with doing so with Rahul Gandhi.
First of all – the venue for the high drama was absolutely wrong.
Secondly, none of the global leaders are actually Modi’s ‘rivals’ and critics.
The relation could be new but warm as the smile and grinning have displayed.
Without going into diplomatic realms, one can point out that Modi did
call Barack Obama by his first name – and there was no American establishment
protest ! Obama also used the Gujarati salutation ‘Kem Chho’ to
receive Indian Prime Minister!
Now about other friendship among the political class.
Indian political circle is aware of friendship between Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani.
Once Sushma Swaraj was asked during a television discussion – on what her response is on Jaipal Reddy saying something on George Fernandes, an old player in the game – Sushma was smart enough to say: “Today Jaipal ji and George Fernandes are rivals. But I know their friendship. Tomorrow they can become friends again and so I do not want to come in between”.
On the lighter side – Sushma Swaraj’s friendship with actress-turned onetime Rajya Sabha MP Shabana Azmi was once referred by the illustrious Bal Thackeray when it came to the film ‘Fire’.
George Fernandes also enjoyed good bond with BJP leader Jaswant Singh and in 2001 minutes before his resignation as Defence Minister over Tehelka tapes, he had walked into the office chamber of Jaswant Singh (then the External Affairs Minister).
Will Rahul ever cultivate such friendship with anyone in the political circle – forget about BJP!
 |
| One and only George! |
No comments:
Post a Comment