It is unfortunate that the healthy convention of political figures not washing domestic dirty linen in public while abroad is now dead and buried. Today, politics in India is a no-holds-barred game, dirtier than ever and which most political leaders indulge in. While addressing an event at the University of California, Berkeley, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi played the role expected of him. Credit partly goes to the NDA government’s blunders that seem to have infused a new life into Mr. Gandhi’s otherwise flagging political career. While the BJP is up in arms over his speech and comments, one cannot but admit that the Prime Minister too has broken that convention time and again.
J. Akshay,
Bengaluru
The BJP need not be faulted for flaying Rahul Gandhi for his foot-in-the-mouth remark on dynasties in the country (“Rahul is a failed dynast: Smriti”, September 13). If he has studied independent India’s political history carefully, he will know exactly who introduced and ushered in dynastic succession in Indian politics. It is another matter that leaders of regional parties are now following the formula with alacrity and improvising it to further their families’ interests. It is disgusting that barring the Left and the BJP, almost all other parties in the country have embraced dynastic succession in leadership. It is undeniable that Mr. Gandhi holds an unassailable position in the Congress as he belongs to the Nehru-Gandhi family, and not due to better credentials or achievements.
C.G. Kuriakose,
Kothamangalam, Kerala
It is true that no democratic country in the world has achieved what India has achieved by adopting 100% non-violence, a path shown by Mahatma Gandhi. Also, nobody would disagree that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for introducing India’s modern communication network. However, Mr. Gandhi could have skilfully refrained from talking about Indian politics while abroad. Students and the faculty would have been more interested in matters concerning developments in economic, academic and scientific research in India, rather than politics. He would have also avoided strong criticism but it is obvious that he has still a lot to learn.
M. Subbiah,
Chennai
