For me, Congress is synonymous with Indian Nationalism. Sadly, that perception has been changed for many people now.
Beyond the venting out of anger, the directionless cacophony and a distressed feeling of dejection, the Congress loss in the 2019 elections needs a clinical post mortem. I am only focusing on one reason for the defeat, and perhaps the most important one.
The BJP’s sinister campaign successfully defamed and damaged the Congress party’s nationalistic image.
In 2014, BJP successfully branded Congress party as the ‘Mother of Corruption’ and in 2019, BJP successfully branded Congress party as ‘Anti National’.(sic)
The branding stuck because of Congress’ own inactions and some terrible mistakes. In 2014, the Congress could not battle the perception of scams that had engulfed the UPA. When the scams did not stick in the Modi era, BJP devised a new strategy to denigrate the Congress party. But unlike the scams, where a judicial process cleared the Congress of its ‘scam taint’; here there was no legal recourse which was left for the Congress.
As a member of the communication department, I was privy to the post Pulwama narrative. From day one, we had suggested that Congress President should question the massive intelligence failure, the absence of air transportation to the slain CRPF personnel, and PM Modi’s ‘Jungle Safari’ in Corbett, even as the attack was on. But people with more powers around Rahul Gandhi, lethargically vetoed this narrative. We suggested that Congress President should question inaction by Modi Govt and accuse it of compromising National interests.
As a staunch supporter of Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, I want to set the record straight. Rahul Gandhi was on board with our suggested strategy. He even approved the draft statement and also a demand to provide paramilitary forces with a status of ‘Shaheed’, after they make the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
But I do not know why he was made to wait, with a counter argument. Surely a man, who forcefully and emphatically spearheaded a National Security issue like Doklam and the National Interest issue like Rafale, should not have waited, had some influential people not advised him to do so. Next day after Pulwama terror attack, Rahul Gandhi did address a Press Conference, but did not speak a word against the Government. It was a somber moment for the country, and we also did not want to play politics on that.
But our idea for the next few days was still valid and would have provided the Congress party to enter the National Security debate to corner the Modi Govt.
Our statement was once again sent on 21st February for a press conference by the Congress President. Again some people with vested interests and left leanings prevailed on the same.
Since the Congress President could not address a press conference, on 21st or 22nd due to the successful meddling of those who were opposed to this idea– It was decided that spokespersons would raise the same and Congress President would back it up with his tweets. We precisely did that. Local channels & newspapers of Uttarakhand, along with some trusted Congress sources provided us with the imagery of Modi enjoying the boat ride and Jungle safari in Corbett. Facts also emerge that he did not speak a word on Pulwama, when he addressed a public rally in Rudrapur via telephone.
Since the left leaning lieutenants of the party, delayed a direct attack on the Modi Govt on the sensitive and core issue of National Security, party’s narrative suffered a jolt. Still, all was not lost, because Modi Govt or PMO did not deny the Corbett pictures tweeted by Rahul Gandhi. They could not deny the timings and the fact that a Cabinet Committee of Security meet did not happen on the very day of the Pulwama attack. They had no answers to the questions raised by Congress party spokespersons on massive intelligence failure.
Since the party has very less political capital, several financial constraints and a pliable media working day and night to run it down, press conferences addressed by Rahul Gandhi only get maximum coverage, rest are rarely covered.
Hence, Rahul Gandhi speaking on 21st February or before would have made a difference in cornering Modi on Pulwama. But then…
The Balakot air strike took place on wee hours of 26th February. We solidly stood beside the Government. Officially, we did not make any questionable statements.
But then, when opposition leaders started questioning- Mamata Banerjee, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah et all. Some non-spokespersons, but prominent leaders of the party, did question the Balakot airstrike and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan. Officially, the party made its view clear- we demanded immediate release of Wing Commander Abhinandan and came down heavily on Pakistan.
But damage was done. Mr. Sam Pitroda’s statements later exacerbated the negative perception against us. His opinions on 26/11 and Balakot were completely out of turn and damaged our narrative beyond repair.
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Then came the Congress manifesto.
Which political party writes in its manifesto, that they would reduce the Army troops in a border, sensitive and strategically important, terror prone state like Jammu & Kashmir?
It reads: “Congress promises to review the deployment of armed forces, move more troops to the border to stop infiltration completely, reduce the presence of the Army and CAPFs in the Kashmir Valley, and entrust more responsibility to the J&K police for maintaining law and order.” (Page 40, Point No 3)
Which political party talks about watering down sedition laws and weakening a law which grants special powers to its Army (AFSPA) in sensitive insurgency prone areas?
Since manifesto was a collective effort by the party, not a single leader can or should be blamed. But rumblings inside the party against these provisions gained ground, and rightly so.
We tried very hard to douse the fire, but damage was done, especially in the Hindi media.
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Indira Gandhi is my inspiration. She is my idol and she is everything for me. She is the reason, I support the Congress party. She is the reason crores still support the Congress party. The present Congress party’s method to cede the Nationalism space has shaken my faith.
I believe that Rahul Gandhi is the only person that can rebuild that faith and take that space. Whether the Rafale Scam or the Doklam issue got us a single vote or not – is a debatable issue. But both were staunchly and solidly espoused by Rahul Gandhi only. Both are National Security issues. In March 2018, Congress party in its Plenary too, had expressed concern on the cuts in defence spending. Dr. Manmohan Singh had strongly raised that, and all the press releases of the Congress party have raised the issue of National Security compromise by this government.
But we have been branded as villains.
This left leaning lobby should be thrown out of the Congress. Then only we can save the real Congress. These are the same people who took Rahul Gandhi to JNU when ‘Tukde-Tukde gang’ labelled was pasted on us!
Nobody can question the commitment of the Congress party to Indian Nationalism. There is not a single instance in India’s history, pre or post-independence, nor a single place in India where a Congress party worker has not shed his/her blood in protecting the integrity of the nation.
Unlike those forces, in powers today who were opposed to the Freedom Movement, opposed the Indian tricolor and even refused to hoist the Indian National Flag for 52 years after independence, Congress party has fought for the country and its nationhood for last 134 years.
Congress party has suffered the ugly venom of terrorism and extremism, yet has never shied away from making the supreme sacrifice. Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi laid down their lives for the country and fought against extremists and terrorists. Nation has also not forgotten the sacrifice of Sardar Beant Singh, Nand Kumar Patel, Vidya Charan Shukla, Mahendra Karma and hundreds of others, who stoically fought against terrorism and laid down their lives.
(Views expressed here are personal in nature)