International Forum of former
Congress Parivarthanavadikal

From Sonia Gandhi to Pawar

Backgroud:

Last year (1999) there was a small revolt in Congress organized by Mr Sharad Pawar of Bombay. The issue was simple. Pawar and Co questioned the eligibility of Sonia Gandhi to become the Prime Minister of India. The same issue had been taken up earlier by Shiva Sena and BJP leader Adwani; both almost gave up the issue, knowing that it was backfiring against their own parties.

It is very easy for anyone to join the bandwagon of slogan shouters and criticize the "Nehru Dynasty". There are scores of foreign media happily waiting to welcome such outbursts. Once upon a time this was manifested in Indian Politics in the form of blind "anti-Congress" propaganda. Then it was anti-Indira, anti-Sanjay, anti-Rajiv etc. If Indira Gandhi had been the biggest problem, then our problem should have been solved when Mrs Gandhi was assassinated in 1984. But nothing has changed for the better. Then again there was a vacuum of leadership within Congress Party. This indeed was a failure of Congress and its policies in the previous years that it ended up in a leadership crisis. Mrs Gandhi had indeed finished off the "internal democracy" which existed in Congress during Nehru's time. To solve the problem again Congress looked towards the Nehru family. Rajiv Gandhi, who was a commercial airline pilot, was forcefully brought in to lead the party. One thing is very important here: there is no justification in blaming Rajive Gandhi or Nehru Family! One cannot say that Indira Gandhi planned here own assassination so that her son could take over!

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991. Since then Congress was led by Narasimha Rao, who was also the Prime Minister. There were also non-Congress Governments during this period. So why where was the so-called dynasty? Where was the dynasty during the Janatha Rule of 1976? Sonia Gandhi was not in politics while Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. For a long period since his death also, Sonia Gandhi was not in politics. She was asked to step in by the Congress Party only (Else Congress would have got only two digits seats in the previous Lok Sabha Election].

We have a deep leadership crisis in all parties. BJP is going to face the same after Vajpayee. A regional leader will speed up the disintegration of BJP faster than they think! Blamimg Sonia Gandhi for everything will be a repeat of the same old mistake of opposition parties in the 60s, 70s and 80s - blaming Congress for everything!!!

M.A.John's article in Kalakaumudi

In this article in Kalakaumudi (1239, 6th June 1999) M.A.John is discussing the Sonia Issue in a civilized and level-headed language. M.A.John is a person who has studied Congress and Indian History quite thoroughly and is known to speak out without bothering about personal consequences. This way John's article is very important.

John starts the article by emphasizing the fact that Congress is still the biggest party giving strength to Indian democracy.

Pawar brought up the issue of Sonia Gandhi's place of birth only when he saw that Shiva Sena and BJP had been giving up on same issue knowing that it was backfiring against their own parties. People all over India expressed their opinion. Sonia Gandhi immediately resigned the post of Congress President setting a good precedence. But other Congress co-workers won't allow her to remain outside.

The real problem is that there was a leadership vacuum in Congress for some time. People have a concept about Congress leadership - a leadership which is beyond religion, caste, region or language. Nehru family, which devoted everything they had for the country fit very well such a concept. Obviously people looked towards Sonia Gandhi for leadership. So the emergence of Sonia Gandhi to Congress leadership cannot be attributed to 'the rule of dynasty', as many accuse of.

Foreigner?

The first Governer-General of free India was a foreigner - Moutbatten. Today, the wife of our President is of Burmese origin. Both Gujral and Adwani were born in parts which belong to Pakistan today. Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mhathir Mohammed has Kerala blood in him! Fiji's Prime Minister is of Indian Orogin (note: a Coup removed him later).

So long as the Constitution allows, then it is upto the people to decide who should be the Prime Minister. One cannot judge one's patriotism based on the place of birth. When 'Quit India' movement was going on in 1941-42, Vajpayee and his party was with the British!

Sonia Gandhi has been liiving according to the Indian Customs since here arrival in India. The marriage was conducted according to Hindu Ceremony.

Some people ask: why she didn't take Indian citizenship until 1984? * Well, Sonia Gandhi came to India as the daughter-in-law of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She even preferred not to stay at the Prime Minister's house. There was no political ambition at all. Again no one could have foreseen the assassination of both Mrs and Rajiv Gandhi!

People Behind

In spite of the negative propaganda, people are behind Sonia Gandhi. BJP was trying to use 'videsi' (foreigner) as an election trumpcard. But it didn't work. Pawar & Co selected a time when even BJP was going away from the 'foreigner issue'. Pawar & Co wanted Sonia Gandhi to continue as Congress President, but give up PM post. Well, they need Sonia's leadership to make sure election victory!

John also points out that Congress should have asked explanation before expellling Pawar & Co. That's the way to follow democratic precedence.

In the end, John says that Sonia Gandhi can claim any position in Indian democracy. Obviously she should prove herself her perseverance, intellectual ability, patriotism and ability to raise to the occasion. Nehru family do have the political, social and cultural background to accomplish these objectives!

Here we give the Malayalam version of M.A.John's article in full as it appeared in Kalakaumudi.

Sonia to Pawar - Page 1 In JPG format

Sonia to Pawar - Page 2 In JPG format

* Citizenship is a sensitive issue. Normally when one goes and settles in another country, you don't get the citizenship immediately. At least one has to wait 7 years or more. Even then, changing the citizenship is again a crucial and personal issue. We have seen many Indians living abroad and enjoying all the benefits (almost) but still keeping the Indian Passport (on practice, against all odds - travelling is much easier with a US or European Passport). So Sonia Gandhi could have kept her Italian citizenship as long as she wished. This is not a relfection of her allegiance (or lack of it) to India. It's simply a practical issue. The fact is that she did surrender her Italian passport in April 1983.