Of late, following Anna Hazare's agitation, true face of our politicians and Congress in particular has come to light as a result of which the Congress is being criticized by media and majority of intellectuals. Many sections of these media and intellectuals are those who used to be die hard supporters of Congress. Columnists are declaring not just the beginning of the decline of India's Grand Old Party (GOP), but also the fading lustre of Rahul Gandhi, projected as the youth icon by the Congress and as the face of the future. That so called youth icon seems to have failed completely as of now because young generation has started asking questions about his credibility, which he do not have any answers to offer nor his GOP. Political initiative - in the form of a fast - by Narendra Modi is being seen as a game-changer of sorts and large sections of media has started comparing the two. In a time when Rahul has nothing to show he is being given publicity just by comparing with Modi, who has drawn the clear attention of masses, particularly middle class and everybody is impressed by his work in governance in Gujarat.
Recently, two articles in the national media compared Rahul's present situation to that of Rajiv Gandhi during the Bofors controversy, and even to Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor. And if we see these comparisons with benefit of knowledge of history in hindsight, these comparisons are not totally unfounded. Anna’s movement was first chance that history gave him to show his leadership as his Mom was not in country, but as all of us saw he failed miserably there. He maintained a deafening silence for long and in the end when he spoke that was so immature. All the goodwill that he had earned through propagation of him as youth icon by his party vanished. And that is precisely what; lead us to second comparison to last Mughal. A little reality check and historical account taking, beginning from the 1990s, will perhaps put issues in even better perspective.
The last decade of the previous century began the rollback of a left-of-centre, pro-people, secular-reformist agenda in Indian politics. May be we would have never approached this agenda had World Bank and IMF had not forced us to open our economy in exchange of loan. Although Congress was forced to follow reformist agenda, which definitely benefitted the country at large, but in the process in absence of populist policies it lost the support of masses or lets say mostly illiterate masses. It culminated in the right-wing NDA governmentcoming to power in the late 1990s. They carried out further reforms with greatest zeal and middle class saw a rise in its fortunes. For the first time foundation of long term growth was being made as country had never before seen such stable growth for such a long period of time. They invested heavily in infrastructure and in the process did not pursue any populist policy believing that all will understand the benefits of development. They had forgotten that this is a country of illiterates. Our middle class which believe so much in rights do not believe in voting unfortunately. To add to their misfortune Godhra train burning happened and riots ensued, which Congress used to polarize the country on communal lines. Overconfident NDA lost 2004 election to Congress. It was first national election which was fought on plank of development at least by one party (NDA). But to the credit of people development lost to populist promises like loan waver for farmers. This brought back Congress to power in the form of UPA. During the UPA-I regime NREGA and other populist scheme were started. While the economist were talking about the reforms all the time and need to do away the subsidies, where they are not required; these measures spent wealth earned by the nation during a decade of reforms on political agenda.
While nation was saddened by the attack on our financial capital, by the terrorists who came from across the border, some of the leaders in government were busy in propagating new theory that how home grown terror was more dangerous. People like Digvijay Singh were busy in dividing the country further by coining new terms like hindu terrorism. Before that terrorism used to be terrorism but these people were busy in giving colour to terrorism as well. In fact, the late Hemant Karkare died fighting terrorists while ruling party wanted to have political mileage saying just previous day he warned about terror of other colour. Death sentence of the people found guilty of terror attacks by honorable supreme court was put on hold for vote-bank politics which emboldened the terrorists even further. National security was ignored by UPA-I and the Congress party under Sonia Gandhi that even after repeated blasts affecting places of Hindu and Muslim worship, and a 26/11 type condition where entire nation was stunned.
Even with all its misdeeds UPA came back to power thanks to populist policies and division of country more on caste and communal lines. But just when UPA-II which did not offer much to the country compensated for it by passing right to education and right to food - the next set of other bills without bothering about how to implement these. Soon a series of mega scams came to light and this time it seems at least educated middle class is really fed up and they came in full force when Anna Hazare gave them an opportunity to vent out their anger. To divert the attention of people new colour was being given to acts of terror. RSS was being blamed for everything.
Soon it became evident to the economists that NREGA has failed miserable. Apart from being vehicle of corruption for small time politicians it has resulted in rise in wages for any meaningful work. Like loan wavers have made people to believe that they need not pay back the loan, this one made people to believe that they need not work hard.
However it was such a disastrous scheme, no politician from opposition could speak against it. It is such a populist measure. Its true that it increased the demand but supply side suffered and hence inflation came into being. Life of same very people who were supposed to benefit out of it became even more miserable because of inflation.
Meanwhile rather than giving any opinion or idea, so called youth icon Rahul indulged in politics of photo-shoot. Wherever there will be an opportunity he will be there trying to be seen as messiah of poor and tribal. On the one hand we talk of reforms and investment on the other hand government rejected the license of Vedanta in tribal areas of Orissa (same government had given the license), saying it was against the interest of tribal and said poster boy had lead them. All such publicity gimmicks continued. However anti-corruption crusade of Anna Hazare exposed him to real chance where you need to take a stand and for which he was not ready.
Thus there is no surprise that he has been called a man without his own views, a dumb scion and now, of course, Bahadur Shah Zafar. However we should not forget that in this country elections are decided on populist scheme and same middle class which is so much fed up with all this corruption and mis-governance would not be voting. We have a history of politicians who are there just because of their fathers and it seems it will go on unless people start understanding the meaning of development.
For all these reasons, a large, population of educated youth is disillusioned with Rahul and not want to see Rahul rise as prime minister. But with the help of populist schemes, money amassed through mega scams, pseudo- intellectuals, and non-bothering middle class, Rahul will most probably rule this country. History is on his side.
We know this country has still not matured to the level where we can do politics on development. It is not educated at that level where people can appreciate development. Elections are still won with money power and populist schemes. However Anna has really given an awakening jolt. Let’s see what happen.
The writer is a historian.
I have written this article with an inspiration from following TOI article
