Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Lessons for Congress

This refers to the article, ‘Return to the spirit of 2004’ (Jan. 29) by Malini Parthasarathy. The author is right in saying that if the Congress has to emerge victorious in the next Lok Sabha elections, it must redisplay the spirit it showed in the 2004 elections. The Congress triumphed in 2004 by exposing to Indian voters the frailties of the “India shining” policy of the BJP-led NDA and promising to introduce its own methodology of inclusive growth. Now, when its economic policies are adding miseries to the poor while largely benefiting the elite, the Congress should realise that its approach has been counter-productive. Too much reliance on dynastic politics and too much hype on the charisma of its top brass have led to the discomfiture of the party. While the BJP appears hell bent on projecting its Hindutva agenda, the Congress should consolidate its secular credentials and fight the battle ideologically.

B. Jayanna Krupakar,

Surathkal

The article reads like a requiem for the Congress. The party and its present leaders are under the illusion that secularism is the only weapon they need in the battlefield of electoral politics. In Gujarat, the Congress had none to take on Narendra Modi who was flamboyant, powerful, and extremely convincing in his electioneering. The problem with the Congress is its leaders. The party should look for a strong, committed, honest, selfless, powerful, and no-nonsense leader to return the party back to its glorious past. Unfortunately, there isn’t one available at present.

Col. C.V. Venugopalan (retd.),

Palakkad

In 2004, the Congress did not win the elections. It was the BJP which, through its inept, arrogant, and complacent attitude, lost the mandate. The Congress itself was surprised at the result — so to call the Congress to return to the spirit of 2004 is misplaced. As the author points out, if the Congress is dispirited today it is because it does not have a clear-cut ideology — a one-point programme to stay in power by appeasing its allies cannot be a viable strategy. The Congress must decide where it stands in regard to the major issues facing this nation — or it will become irrelevant to the body politic of this country.

S. Ganesh,

Chennai

Tall talk about “divisive social policies” is applicable only to the ruling UPA dispensation for its communally divisive policies regarding the Sachar Committee report, religious enumeration even in the armed forces, the Banerjee Committee report on the Godhra train fire (declared illegal by the Gujarat High Court on October 14, 2006) and, lastly, the communal budgeting effort of the Prime Minister. Less said about the Prime Minister’s “Muslims have first right on national resources” rhetoric the better. Nowhere in the world would a Prime Minister seek to consider one section of the population on top of the other.

Amaruvi Devanathan,

New Jersey

What the Congress lacks today is an ideology that can bring people together. A policy on the economy that would help the masses is yet to come from the party that boasts of an economist as Prime Minister. Harping on secularism and indulging in mud-slinging against the BJP alone will not suffice. Lack of charisma and monotonous leadership are also to be addressed by the Congress.

Raghu Seshadri,

Chennai

One is amused by the author’s opinion that “it is for the Congress to restore the original meaning of the concept of secularism.” From time immemorial, India has been secular and even if religions do play a vital role in the socio-cultural lives of its people, theocratic instincts and fundamentalist attitudes have never dominated it. Secularism, its maintenance, preservation and protection can never be the exclusive privilege of any particular political party, individual, group or institution. To attribute Narendra Modi’s victory in Gujarat due to Hindu mobilisation is incorrect.

T.S. Pattabhi Raman,

Coimbatore

While in general the aam aadmi plank of the Congress-led UPA has almost failed in the last three to four years, its politics of opportunism and economic policies have bred alienation and exclusion. Its defeat in the Gujarat Assembly election has proved that democracy and secular electoral mandates can often prove totally incapable of providing justice. The Congress has been unable to stick to its core values and has progressively deserted its constituencies — the minorities, tribals, etc. — that had sustained it politically in the past.

Sonal Goel,

New Delhi

For the last couple of months, the UPA Government and the Congress have only been following a reactionary approach to issues of vital importance. Whether it is the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, the need to raise oil prices, the agrarian crisis, farmers’ suicides or even the Telangana issue, there has been a demonstrable lack of assertiveness. That the party failed to convey any clarity on these issues speaks volumes about the complacency that has set in in governing circles. The author has rightfully called upon the Congress not to discard its responsibility in this challenging hour. But, unfortunately, I am convinced that the party is not willing to do so for reasons best known to it.

Sekhar Rayaprolu,

San Jose, California

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