Hopes and despairs

Yogesh Mishra

December 19, 2015

What a mockery of democracy? After getting bail on National Herald case, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi addressed the media as if they have won any war against injustice. And look at the media! Almost all the news channels have started analyzing this episode as major turning point in the life of Gandhi family and prognosticating that Congress would wrest power from BJP in future.

This is strange! Sonia and Rahul belong to the dynasty that ruled the nation for longest period, but barely did anything for the poor who blindly voted them in every election.

Ironically, in over six and a half decades, this dynasty's earnings increased to billions (or trillions) - thanks to fund flow from the defunct newspaper, hundreds of trusts and organizations. Two years back, Huffington Post had reported that Sonia, with $2 billion wealth, was 12th richest politician of the world, but later it removed her from the list - you can imagine what kind political pressure would have been mounted on it.

Nevertheless, Sonia and Rahul claim that they are the cleanest politicians, by heart and deeds. Will anybody remind Sonia that her son-in-law Robert Vadra is still embroiled in illicit land deal cases? In fact, the entire nation knows who Vadra was 20 years back and what he has become now, just by connecting to Gandhi family.

I can't understand how you can you call yourself a holy person when everybody knows that you are a sinner? And what we call defenders/supporters/protectors of criminals? Obviously criminals. Isn't it? Then how come the blind supporters, who call themselves top and influential politicos of the country with unique brand value and reputation, would face the common man after backing Sonia and Rahul? But they will. They are rather comparing the latest development in Gandhi family's life with resuscitation of Indira in Indian politics after her brief jail imprisonment on corruption charges back in 1977.

The supporters might even be right because the common man doesn't know whether to apply wisdom or not during elections. Of late, you can see what happened in Bihar. Lalu's RJD got more seats than that of Nitish Kumar's JD(U).