If wishes were horses, baggers would ride them. Conversely if a pack of Doon School brats and actors masquerading as politicians could run governments, then, statesmen and seasoned politician would surely peddle junk in flea markets. And the country and the people would go to the dogs. It is too dismal a scenario to last long and is foredoomed to be overthrown democratically if not violently.
The verdict in Haryana elections is not just a simple case of disenchantment but an unmitigated expression of revulsion at Rajiv Gandhi’s policies and style of functioning. His cynical disregard of the public opinion, his shabby treatment of the bureaucracy and his ill-concealed contempt for the realities were bound to alienate him from the teaming millions that constitute real India. The process of alienation, however, was accelerated by a series of scandals that followed in quick succession, each one more divesting than the other, and blasted the laboriously created myth of Mr. Clean. Dismissal of V.P. Singh for initiating a crusade against corruption in higher echelons of the society dismayed the man in the street but receiving fabulous amounts as commission in defense deals left him utterly stunned and angry.
Already the cornered stalwarts of the Congress have started wondering whether Rajiv would be able to lead the party to victory in the next elections. He is being looked upon as liability and liability he has become. The curse of ordering massacre of innocent Sikhs after his mother’s assassination follows him everywhere like a revengeful ghost. The fear of a sniper’s bullet piercing through his flesh keeps him shut away from the people and will inevitably prove fatal to his political future. Only the Brahmin lobby will resist his ouster as there is no other Brahmin leader with a national image in the party to replace him.
Rajiv on his part, would attempt to win over those whom he had sidelined under pressure from a bunch of sycophants and timeservers. To appease the old guard he would sacrifice a couple of his “buddies” and temporarily rehabilitate some of the old guard. He would do it not to bring greater cohesion in the party but to gain time and to repair the damage done to his personal image. The moment he begins to feel confident, he would again discard the old guard. His next move will be watched with keen interest, particularly by the dissidents.
Rajiv’s immediate concern would be to shift the public focus away from his follies and failures. He can resort to whipping up war hyteria by overplaying Pak China threat. Alternately, he can send army to Sri Lanka to establish an independent Tamil homeland. Most probably he will intensify the reign of terror let loose against the Sikhs because he knows that nothing pleases the fanatic Hindu mobs more than coldblooded killing of the Sikhs in fake encounters.
On the other hand, Devi Lal’s resounding victory has demonstrated what a determined man can accomplish. He virtually ran a one man campaign and moved from village to village exposing Rajiv’s corruption and dispensing wild promises. His success is a pointer to the shape of things that can develop in the Hindi hinterland the only region where Congress (I) is supposed to have fairly sound roots. So long Hindi belt continues to be the dominant factor in the political permutations of the country, a truly democratic structure will never ever emerge in India.
Sikhs look upon Rajiv as the Chief living villain. His fall will certainly please them for reasons their than political. Politically, they know, they would have to continue contending with one Rajiv 1fter another till they accomplish their cherished goal of cv.; ylete freedom “Puxan Swarai”.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 26, 1987
