Monday, November 9, 2009

Varun Gandhi tormented for what?

Article by Mrs. Hilda Raja on Varun Gandhi's remarks a few days before 2009 May elections in India

The Election Commission had found Varun's remark in Pilibhit as derogatory references and serious provocative language. Now it is Priyanka's turn to slam it as "not what the Family stands for". And the media immediately made it into a Gandhi versus Gandhi controversy.

Did Varun claim that he was the spokesperson of The Family and that he was articulating what The Family stood for? What he proclaimed in clear and loud terms was that he is a Hindu and a Gandhi and an Indian, by no stretch of one's imagination can this be capsuled into what The Family stands for. The Hindu is as ageless as this country - It did not resurrect 2000 years ago, nor was It imported into this country as all other religions were. By the way how can Priyanka claim to be the repository of The Family? Is she referring to the Vadra family to which she now belongs or to the Gandhi family to which Varun stands a greater claim because he and his mother are only citizens of this country - they do not hold dual citizenship? His mother did not acquire an Indian citizenship but was born into it. All this weakens the tall claim made by Priyanka that Varun has not expressed what The Family stands for. But the issue is not about which family member is correct regarding what The Family stands for. It is not a family affair - a family squabble. Varun had articulated national concerns, this cannot be capsuled into a family concern. One billion people with one billion ideas and aspirations and Varun has come out as a champion of the persecuted, the besieged, the hounded, the slain and the deprived - which for him is the Hindu. Where is communalism in this?

It is not the first time that Priyanka has projected her ignorance and narrow mindset. Last elections she preened herself and asked if anyone has made sacrifices "as my family had". She little knows the sacrifices of the millions, the unsung heroes of India. They ask for no power nor do they tom-tom the sacrifices - the widow who lost her husband ,the father of the family who never returned from his vigil at the borders - the son who never knew that his parents were no more, the shattered families all silently shed their tears - given a pittance to keep their brokenness together. That's sacrifice. And what are the sacrifices of the Antoinette Maino Gandhi Vadra Family? Indira Gandhi was shot at her backdoor by her own security men - Who conspired and why? Priyanka Vadra should probe and bring out the truth. The nation has a right to know. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated not before he allowed the IPKF to torture and kill and rape hundreds of Tamils in Sri Lanka. It was he who made Prabhakaran what he is today - nurtured him ... But then, without any qualms, Antoinette Maino Sonia Gandhi did not hesitate to ally with a party, which the Shah Commission faulted as the needle of suspicion pointing to it in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. What you sow you reap. Can these be termed as sacrifices made for the country or the karma of the evil and wrongs wrought on this country and on its innocent gullible people? Terming these as sacrifices is like the renunciation power drama. Let it be known that India is not the serfdom of the Gandhi's.


At least Varun - one Gandhi - has the vision. Now every method will be used to stifle his voice. Priyanka Vadra would do well to read up history. If Varun had stated that he will protect mosques and Muslims, that would have been secular. The moment one mentions Hindu and mandir, it becomes communal. All political parties have anchored themselves on communal and caste lines, which the EC does not find provocative and derogatory. Murderers and history sheeters can become candidates to represent people in the highest forum of democracy - that is not abominable and against the very Constitution which the EC is suppose to uphold more than the code of conduct.


Priyanka Vadra has missed the whole point when she advised Varun to read the Gita. Coming to the hand which Varun threatened to cut if it destroys the Hindu. The hand of a destroyer must be cut off, that's what Gita says. The hand of a terrorist, the hand of a destroyer, the hand of a murderer, the hand of an Asuri shakthi must be cut off. This is the role of a protector - a guardian and one who stands with and for the people.

And finally what does The Family stand for? Selfish vested interest! The family which brought in Quatrocchi to swindle the land, and allowed him to flee the justice of this land, Rajiv Gandhi who ordered the locks of the Babri Masjid to be broken and thus brought communalism to centre stage of politics, with Antoniette Maino Sonia Gandhi's renunciation started the complete demolishment of every Constitutional institution and in her, a de facto PM of the country. When today in the election campaigns, Antoinette Maino Sonia Gandhi praises Manmohan Singh - she is praising herself - the puppeteer and not the puppet. What is it that Priyanka Vadra thinks that the family stands for? It is The Family which injected divisive politics, created vote bank politics, accepted a communalized Sachar report (which must be thrown into the dustbins of history), on its basis created a ministry, a whole budget for a people based on religion. Can Priyanka Vadra point out anywhere in the world such blatant communalism? Priyanka should visit Mallapuram in Kerala to witness the trend of communalism or tell us why under The Family ethnic cleansing was resorted to in Jammu & Kashmir? These will indicate the rabid communalism which The Family stood for and continues to stand for. It is not decent to continue insulting the people of this country by equating it to just The Family. This country - of Hindustan, of the HINDU, is ageless - to catch its dazzling brilliance, people like Priyanka Vadra should break out of their cocoons of security and tread the length and breath of this ancient land. One must in all humility shed off one's arrogance, self-righteousness, and all-knowing attitude and be humble to learn from the rustic people - the common folk - the depth of values of this country. One should be honest to credit the simple people of this country with greater scholarship, greater resilience, and greater sacrificing capacity blend with a fierce patriotism - and delve into the ethos of this country.

(The author, Prof. Mrs. Hilda Raja, is a retired Professor from Stella Maris College, Chennai, and lives in Vadodara, Gujarat)

For many more interesting articles on secular politics of India, please visit the following websites:

(1) http://www.votebankpolitics.com

(2) http://www.drthchowdary.net

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