Aha! You must be thinking that this bugger has finally come out of his penchant for BJP bashing. You couldn't be more wrong! However, in an effort to give my unbiased evaluation about the party I support and also in an effort to dispel notions that I may be a Congress spokesperson, allow me to point out a few flaws in India's Grand Old Party. Also, in the effort to rap the Congress, if I do some BJP-bashing on the side, kindly excuse me as it is an addiction I can't and don't want to get rid off!
Firstly, Congress is a horribly meek party. Its genuflection to Russia earlier and now to US and Pakistan is shameful. It has also given ample proofs that it has no idea how to handle external as well as internal terrorism. It is not only clueless about how to act on intelligence inputs before a terror strike, it is also clueless about how to handle the situation after the strike. I have great respect for Dr. Manmohan Singh but his reactions to terrorism do not cut ice with me: "I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks." - So?? Also, I believe it must be sending the 500th dossier of evidence to Pakistan for 26/11 strikes in the hope that Pakistan will actually do something about it.
Secondly, the deification of Sonia Gandhi. The unbridled fawning towards Sonia Gandhi by the party workers does not look very pleasant. She may have great political acumen and may have worked very hard for the rise of the party but the pretense in the idolizing can be seen by everyone. Also it would be a pity if she allows only those workers to rise who worship her the most.
Thirdly, votebank politics. Allowing Bangladeshi migrants, overlooking or maybe even supporting their indigenisation and getting them to vote for Congress is a very disturbing act. Reservations are even more disturbing - the policy of getting communities to vote for you by simply creating reservations for them does not really gell well with their claims of being a "Progressive" party.
Fourthly, lack of good orators. The PM has confessed in public that he lacks oratory skills. Apart from Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, there is no one in Congress who can counter the rabid and haughty orators of the BJP. Jayanti Natarajan takes hours to make a point while Manish Tiwari only talks what he wants to without any regard to the question asked. In comparison, almost every BJP politician/spokesperson in public view is an overwhelmingly good public speaker.
Fifthly, its inaction and lack of political will. It does nothing to eradicate India's social evils like dowry, sati, etc. It overlooks horrible Congress-led state governments like Maharashtra where farmer suicides are rampant. Its silence over the Panchayat sponsored killing of young elopers in Haryana reeks of the meekness I talked about. I can give many more such examples where it could have acted but didn't due to absolute lethargy and lack of political will.
Sixthly, not seizing the initiative from the opposition. Congress is unable to consolidate on its evergrowing vote base of young voters. It is not vociferous enough to pull the BJP down in the Prof Sabharwal murder case/sham. It foregoes its chance to appear liberal by giving into opposition's demand of banning anything that goes against the regressive version of Indian culture. The youth Congress is bristling with well-deserving candidates who need to get voted in order to get a ticket; it is devoid of people with a criminal record; this is a great alternative to the cadre-based formation of parties like BJP where mostly loud-mouthed bigots have a better chance to move up the ladder; however, it does not market that fact enough.
Unfortunately, this lame, corrupt, foot-in the mouth party still inspires hope to millions who want to see India progress economically as well as socially.
Firstly, Congress is a horribly meek party. Its genuflection to Russia earlier and now to US and Pakistan is shameful. It has also given ample proofs that it has no idea how to handle external as well as internal terrorism. It is not only clueless about how to act on intelligence inputs before a terror strike, it is also clueless about how to handle the situation after the strike. I have great respect for Dr. Manmohan Singh but his reactions to terrorism do not cut ice with me: "I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks." - So?? Also, I believe it must be sending the 500th dossier of evidence to Pakistan for 26/11 strikes in the hope that Pakistan will actually do something about it.
Secondly, the deification of Sonia Gandhi. The unbridled fawning towards Sonia Gandhi by the party workers does not look very pleasant. She may have great political acumen and may have worked very hard for the rise of the party but the pretense in the idolizing can be seen by everyone. Also it would be a pity if she allows only those workers to rise who worship her the most.
Thirdly, votebank politics. Allowing Bangladeshi migrants, overlooking or maybe even supporting their indigenisation and getting them to vote for Congress is a very disturbing act. Reservations are even more disturbing - the policy of getting communities to vote for you by simply creating reservations for them does not really gell well with their claims of being a "Progressive" party.
Fourthly, lack of good orators. The PM has confessed in public that he lacks oratory skills. Apart from Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, there is no one in Congress who can counter the rabid and haughty orators of the BJP. Jayanti Natarajan takes hours to make a point while Manish Tiwari only talks what he wants to without any regard to the question asked. In comparison, almost every BJP politician/spokesperson in public view is an overwhelmingly good public speaker.
Fifthly, its inaction and lack of political will. It does nothing to eradicate India's social evils like dowry, sati, etc. It overlooks horrible Congress-led state governments like Maharashtra where farmer suicides are rampant. Its silence over the Panchayat sponsored killing of young elopers in Haryana reeks of the meekness I talked about. I can give many more such examples where it could have acted but didn't due to absolute lethargy and lack of political will.
Sixthly, not seizing the initiative from the opposition. Congress is unable to consolidate on its evergrowing vote base of young voters. It is not vociferous enough to pull the BJP down in the Prof Sabharwal murder case/sham. It foregoes its chance to appear liberal by giving into opposition's demand of banning anything that goes against the regressive version of Indian culture. The youth Congress is bristling with well-deserving candidates who need to get voted in order to get a ticket; it is devoid of people with a criminal record; this is a great alternative to the cadre-based formation of parties like BJP where mostly loud-mouthed bigots have a better chance to move up the ladder; however, it does not market that fact enough.
Unfortunately, this lame, corrupt, foot-in the mouth party still inspires hope to millions who want to see India progress economically as well as socially.
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