Hearty Welcome to the New LOP
Today is no ordinary day. In the contemporary democratic narratives of India, this day needs to be marked in golden letters.
Firstly, this day heralds a major generational shift in our parliamentary democracy. Rahul Gandhi taking over as LOP is indeed a landmark moment.
Secondly, now that the reluctant RaGa has donned the mantle of the Leader of the Opposition, I consider this day the ‘coming of age’ moment of Rahul. For the first time, he has a constitutional position of authority to articulate his vision and ideas.
With this comes a great responsibility to behave in a mature, balanced, comprehensive and diplomatic manner. He is no longer just the representative of the Nehru-Gandhi legacy, but he is the opposition leader who should care for and be sensitive to the feelings, aspirations and apprehensions of the 140-plus crores Indians.
Also, this is a great learning and development opportunity and a clear succession path for him to prove himself and legitimately claim strategic leadership in future.
My apprehension is that since habitually he has been used to the ‘shoot and scoot’ approach, name-calling and levelling allegations at the drop of a hat, he might be tempted to carry on the same style. That was fine till this morning, but not anymore.
The global media, statesmen and conscientious citizenry as well as the larger diaspora would be looking for cues and signs from each of his utterances. He will be expected to measure up to a Vajpayee who was deputed by the then PM Narasimha Rao to lead India’s case against a vilifying Pakistan. He will be expected to share with the lawmakers and the Government his vision and help build consensus for a developed India.
He can criticize and even tear apart the Government for its wrongs. But he has to show maturity and overall concern for India’s interests and development.
Just the same way, now that Rahul is no longer a ‘Shehzada” as Modi has called him on innumerable occasions, it is incumbent upon the PM to be also restrained and respectful of the new LOP in his utterances.
It is easy for Rahul to continue his cynicism and contemptuous references to the PM. But by doing so he would be jettisoning the God-given chance to change, reform, mature, moderate and make a real difference to this country and its democratic governance.
Rahul, please prove me wrong and demonstrate by your acts and deeds that if need be, you can be inclusive and self-regulated. Prove my apprehensions wrong. Prove to India and the world that in you we have a promising statesman of tomorrow not just for the nation but for the world.
All the Best. May tomorrow not be a replica of yesterday!
I do not know if Mr. Rahul Gandhi has enough intelligence or experience to be an LOP. I.N.D.I. Alliance (even the full name) itself is a product of some destructive forces that are hangers-on around the Nehru-Ghandi-Gandhi family. His comments more often, are from the advice of these parasites who derive material benefits by exhibiting that they are close to a "power center". By changing his rotten habits of coining uncouth comments about the PM and his team, he may get some respect from people who are watching him perform.
Somehow I get a feeling that INC breathing may not last more than a year.