New Delhi
Life has a way of coming full circle. Who knows this more than the Indian neta class - the politicians?
The opposition parties and some leaders are looking at some angles when they seem to take the words of Saya Pal Malik as gospel truth. The former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir had given his interview to a specific journalist and a specific website. The comments were typically targeted against 'clean image' of Narendra Modi and they were latched on by the Congress party and also leaders from other parties.
Wresting the ‘Mr Clean’ image from his former boss Rajiv Gandhi, V P Singh's so-called crusade to expose corruption at higher places led him to the office of prime ministership. The opposition parties in India are now desperate to unseat PM Modi-- whose popularity remains unchallenged and in last nine years (just a year and a few weeks) left for next year's crucial parliamentary polls no opposition leader could come near his 'acceptability factor' vis-a-vis the people of India.
In 2019, the Congress party invested a lot of energy and 'investment' in the ecosystem around Rafale aircraft deal.
The Indian media -- generally the self-styled champion of Sickularism - even latched on the campaign Desh Ka Chowkidar Chor Hae. The efforts did not yield expected results for them and now in the run up to the 2024 polls, comes the Satya Pal Malik episode. Just because someone's name has 'Satya' does not make him a claimant to the legacy of Harishchandra !
V P Singh who dethroned Rajiv
Nevertheless, the opposition parties have displayed their intent. Malik himself said -- "my battle will continue till 2024". This means the crusade could end by the end of next Lok Sabha polls ! The opposition parties and the ambitious leaders in various camps have their own issues but also limitations. Hence, someone is thinking that experiments with someone with the right cast in country's most populous state could help their game.
The machinations involved in giving a massive push to the 'Satya Pal balloon' talks about a calculated move by back room boys of Indian politics. There are chances Congress believes -- a man like Malik who was Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 and also Feb 2019 during Pulwama could make a dent in public image of Narendra Modi.
The Congress also knows the 'Rahul Gandhi factor' despite Bharat Jodo Yatra has its limitation. Just a few weeks
and even Rahul's 'disqualification' from Lok Sabha following the sentence from Surat court is not helping
in any extra ordinary manner. So, the Congress calculation is Satya Pal Malik plus Rahal could be a possible
game-changer strategy.
Some regional players are smartly pushing the V P Singh card.
DMK boss and Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin has announced that his government would install a statue of
V P Singh in Chennai. The North-South divide is given a pass by DMK, which generally tried to do politics
on such regional sentiments for decades. This will be probably the first statue of the former Prime Minister
outside his birthplace of Prayagraj. DMK was part of the National Front headed by V P Singh.
Of course the Congress was 'victim' of V P Singh syndrome or virtue as one sees it. But in 2023 it will
be relevant to examine the contemporary politics on the backdrop of how things had unfolded around V P
Singh in 1989-90.
Satya Pal Malik and Congress should reflect that V P Singh offered himself to the cause of Bofors investigation
for his 'own reasons' against Rajiv Gandhi and on his own terms; while all others – from Left to secular democrats
and socialist parties – accepted him as their leader on their own compulsions. This was despite the absence of
commonality of basic principles among them. It was therefore no surprise that the coalition National Front, country’s
first multi-party government, was almost stillborn -- just 11 months.
But the experiments of 1989-90 got repeated in 1996 when a mofusil player like H D Deve Gowda was imposed
as India's Prime Minister. A few months later Gowda quit cursing 'India's old man in hurry - Sitaram Kesri' and
he was replaced by I K Gujral -- the perfect choice of Delhi's intellectuals circle from IIC and India Habitat
Centre.
Now the crux point is something else. Since mid-nineties misadventure with coalition politics, Indian voters have repeatedly rejected such conjectures. They would thus in probability also reject Satya Pal Malik's 'selective amnesia and memory lanes'.
Late Arun Jaitley in his blog post in 2018 had said - "A federal front is a failed idea. Such a front with its contradictions, sooner or later, loses its balance and equilibrium. Remembering 1996-98 as perhaps one of the worst period of governance, the aspirational India which today occupies the high table in the world shall never accept an idea which has repeatedly failed".
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He also maintained that the 2014 election "conclusively established" that in the New India chemistry will score
over arithmetic when it comes to deciding the country’s destiny.
Of course, we can bet for these arguments even in 2023 and the next year's battle of 2024. There is
always a lesson from history, more so from political history. Aspirational societies in a vibrant democracy
will always discard anarchy. A strong nation and the requirements of good governance abhor such anarchists.
Having said so, we come to what Home Minister Amit Shah said recently on the Satya Pal factor and questioned
why the claimant to Mr Clean was silent not only during his days in office in Jammu and Kashmir. He did not say
anything to the effect what he is stating now during his stint as Governor of Goa and Meghalaya.
To some, patriotism is often confused with anti-Modism. To this club, doing something big for India
would mean hating BJP/Hindus and finding fault with the incumbent Prime Minister.
This club has as over-sized army of Sickularists who never had any issue of governance and tolerance
when Sikhs were butchered in Delhi or when India lost 1962 war. Even during Doklam row of 2017, the cheer
leaders were more than enthusiasts and never questioned the 'secret' meeting with the envoy.
The national interest was not quite in consideration. This club wants Modi government to fail but
the Prime Minister and his team have consistently refused to oblige them.
We may highlight more unsavoury facts of life and politics.
While Modi remains immensely popular, Rahul Gandhi or leaders such as Nitish Kumar
and Mamata Banerjee are not popular for a number of reasons, including the poorly performing leadership
-- politically for Rahul and on more than one fronts for the likes of Mamata Banerjee.
Elections are not just an exercise of people’s choice, but also a part of an industry where politicians
are Commoditized and need to be packaged appropriately for consumers. But Indian voters are the
smart lot.
Any day, they have clarity of mind and endorse the fact that under Modi - India has transformed to the 'bright spot'
leaving the club of fragile five. The Prime Minister Modi's government has given people good roads, toilet
and electricity. It has created transparent systems through legislative and institutional changes which
have given this country a scam-free governance. The system of transferring the beneficiary assistance directly to bank account
has made poor people more than happy. What is perhaps most important point to note is that
Prime Minister Modi is today the 'natural leader' of both his party and the nation.
Indian voters like the journey from indecisiveness to clarity and decisiveness. A New India which has taken
steps like post-Uri surgical strike and Balakot aerial attack against a hostile neighbour.
The people also would endorse a government which has ensured an inclusive governance with a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya and taken crucial steps like abrogation of Article 370 and also banned Triple Talaq.
ends
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