Learn from Indira Gandhi and Hillary Clinton

The Opposition in India MUST realise that to save the Constitution and to strengthen Democracy (about which they made much during the 2024 Parliamentary Election) they should make Parliament the battle-ground where the weapons are speeches, barbed words and insults should flow back and forth across the Parliamentary floor. They should not make Jantar-Mantar or Highways as the battle-ground to fight the Government.

Of late, specially, since the advent of Rahul Gandhi into active politics over two decades ago, we have been hearing about our VIP political leaders, across different parties, attacking their political opponents and the country itself, may be in their anxiety to attack our Prime Minister, when visiting abroad. This should be unacceptable  to any self-respecting Indian. A case of cutting the nose to spite the face.

This kind of self-flagellation by the intolerant, impatient politicians of our country does more harm to our country’s honour and interest than to their adversaries back home. Why do these Opposition politicians, some with a skewed idea of country’s history, go abroad and put their foot in the mouth and become a laughing stock? Common sense should tell them that criticising their country and their political opponents in an acerbic manner in foreign countries would not help them in either besmirching the image of their domestic political adversaries, even enemies, or in toppling the government.

No way, no matter which party is in power. We have seen this happen in some countries where such rabid politicians on return to their country being arrested and incarcerated. Some are hiding in other countries as exiles.

We have seen this in Russia and Turkey, for example. What happened there? The ruling party and its leaders got well ensconced in their seat of power instead.

In our Democracy, instead of fighting the adversary on issues like ideology, corruption, development, law and order and more, they travel abroad and cringe for support to defeat their democratically elected adversaries and the government.

Look at our Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Despite many dirty tricks by the national and regional political parties and their sinister alliances (despite disparate ideologies and agendas) coupled with their leaders’ foreign jaunts to deliver anti-Modi and anti-country sermons, Modi returned to power for the third time.

Now is the time for me and my fellow countrymen to remember the famous stanza from the iconic poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost (which Nehru kept under the glass top of his PM’s desk).

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep.”

Yes, for sure Modi made many promises to his beloved countrymen but only a few are fulfilled. Well, it is understandable because man’s wants are many but means to meet those wants are few. Yet, Modi must do more and urgently in his third term. India was lucky to get Nehru after the birth pangs of freedom in 1947. And India had to wait till 2014 to get Modi to change the trajectory of administration which had gone wonky and put it on the right course — an act of great, much-needed, course correction.

We remember our then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was portrayed as a strong leader. Yes, indeed she was. She took many uncompromising political and economic decisions, including the sinister 1975 Emergency.

Modi too now in his third term, despite coalition constraints, without yielding to its compulsion like Atal Bihari Vajpayee,  should take strong, uncompromising decisions in the long-term interest of our country’s Unity, Integrity and Democracy. He has already taken the first step when annulling the most divisive, discriminatory Article 370 and 35-A concerning Jammu & Kashmir thus eliminating the evil of what was anti-secular in a Secular country. But many more such harsh decisions must come forth from Modi’s mind, which should reverberate through the new Parliament House.

Be that as it may, Modi should introduce appropriate law or amend the Constitution to provide for preventing the uncivil behaviour of our politicians while abroad, or writing for foreign newspapers with anti-Indian narrative. Who knows, they may work to subvert our elected government and Democracy.

I must recall here two lady politicians who could be a model for an ideal patriotic politician. One is our own Indira Gandhi. While abroad without power, she was provoked by foreign journalists to comment on the Janata Government and politicians. She refused to take the question. Unlike her grandson now. I remember how she dealt with US President Nixon when she met him and discussed the East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) situation. 

Likewise, Hillary Clinton, former US First Lady, a Senator who was a bitter critic of the Republican President George W. Bush. It was the time of US-led war in Iran for stockpiling ‘imaginary’ weapon of mass destruction. Hillary Clinton was attacking Bush administration virulently in US. However, when she was in India, several Indian MPs tried to get her comment on the US war politics. But as a true US patriot she refused to be drawn into it. She told our MPs that she would not criticise President Bush when abroad.

Hello, Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar and those with loose tongue learn from Indira Gandhi and Hillary Clinton. Do not wash domestic political laundry, dirty or not, when abroad. There is a place to wash them. That is our Parliament.

But how to rein in this kind of politicians who swear by the Constitution in public but when abroad violate the Constitutional mandate and morality?

The Opposition in India MUST realise that to save the Constitution and to strengthen Democracy (about which they made much during the 2024 Parliamentary Election) they should make Parliament the battle-ground where the weapons are speeches, barbed words and insults should flow back and forth across the Parliamentary floor. They should not make Jantar-Mantar or Highways as the battle-ground to fight the Government.

During the World War II, the Britishers had believed in the credo, “Right or wrong my country” and they practiced it. Brexit is one example. Same with Britain retaining its currency Pound as against Euro of the European Union (EU) of which England is a member. My Country first. Party and Power next.

That is the pride of Churchillian Nationalism of England. Our Opposition leaders must introspect and make a political course-correction to come to power, if at all they are serious.

If our Opposition parties, including the GOP Congress, play their political game violating the rules set down in our Constitution and Law book, it would be like “a rat swimming towards a sinking ship,” to use the famous remark of Winston Churchill.

Well, that is the reason why I beseech Modi to bring in appropriate law or Constitutional amendment so that these politicians will not invent with their elongated tongues what is not seen in our beloved country.

Jai Hind

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