The year 1920 was significant for the Indian National Movement as it saw the lean-yet-courageous barrister from Gujrat actively immersing himself in the national movement. The year was also important for the Indian National Congress as it underwent a remarkable change in its party structure under the guidance of M. K. Gandhi. Provincial Congress committees came into existence, a democratic structure was put in place in the party. The party from then represented a democratic structure which continued even after our independence. Having said that, Gandhiji himself defied this structure at times viz., SC Bose issue of 1939, Sardar Patel issue of 1947 etc. Yet, the party largely stood for the representative democratic structure in the Indian polity.
Come 2013, the INC has lost its charm as the legacy holder of our national movement. It has allowed itself to rot under the dynastic politics. The recent AICC meeting was a testimony of the dynasty worship. The party-workers were busy shouting the slogan demanding "The Prince" to be the PM candidate in forthcoming elections. They chose to be oblivious of the fact that the prince has never been part of the Council of Ministers (CoM). They seem not to care about the prince's (dis)qualifications. The prince is so much so worshipped that his request to increase the LPG cap was immediately put into consideration by the PNG minister, who was earlier too much reluctant to even consider it. The CM of a state had to reconsider his cabinet decision because the prince thought so. This blind 'puja' of a member of certain dynasty does not suit the INC which spearheaded the national movement. Now that he has mentioned only women empowerment to any questions asked in the "interview of the year", we can expect few, new half baked, women oriented programmes aptly named after Indira Gandhi in coming days!!
Well, the sad story doesnot end here. The party bigwigs are not even aware of the fall that the party is about to take (or are they?). The country is awakening and becoming more and more aware of the day to day politics. The youth is demanding a transition from representative democracy to participative democracy. How the INC can expect such a generation of people to support and vote for it considering its medieval style of politics? INC has to compete with Narendra Modi (not BJP ?!) who has been increasing his following day by day under the clout of Hindutva and Development agenda. There is absolutely no comparison between NaMo and RaGa (would you like to compare David Fincher and RGV ?!!).
Its a shame to see a political party with such a historical significance failing to stand up to the values on which it was built more than 100 years ago. Only a messiah can whisper a sense in the party now and help it to reinvent itself. At the looks of it, that messiah is no where near the party rings now.
Come 2013, the INC has lost its charm as the legacy holder of our national movement. It has allowed itself to rot under the dynastic politics. The recent AICC meeting was a testimony of the dynasty worship. The party-workers were busy shouting the slogan demanding "The Prince" to be the PM candidate in forthcoming elections. They chose to be oblivious of the fact that the prince has never been part of the Council of Ministers (CoM). They seem not to care about the prince's (dis)qualifications. The prince is so much so worshipped that his request to increase the LPG cap was immediately put into consideration by the PNG minister, who was earlier too much reluctant to even consider it. The CM of a state had to reconsider his cabinet decision because the prince thought so. This blind 'puja' of a member of certain dynasty does not suit the INC which spearheaded the national movement. Now that he has mentioned only women empowerment to any questions asked in the "interview of the year", we can expect few, new half baked, women oriented programmes aptly named after Indira Gandhi in coming days!!
Well, the sad story doesnot end here. The party bigwigs are not even aware of the fall that the party is about to take (or are they?). The country is awakening and becoming more and more aware of the day to day politics. The youth is demanding a transition from representative democracy to participative democracy. How the INC can expect such a generation of people to support and vote for it considering its medieval style of politics? INC has to compete with Narendra Modi (not BJP ?!) who has been increasing his following day by day under the clout of Hindutva and Development agenda. There is absolutely no comparison between NaMo and RaGa (would you like to compare David Fincher and RGV ?!!).
Its a shame to see a political party with such a historical significance failing to stand up to the values on which it was built more than 100 years ago. Only a messiah can whisper a sense in the party now and help it to reinvent itself. At the looks of it, that messiah is no where near the party rings now.
