Media reports:
In a virtual launch of the campaign for Lok Sabha poll, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday embarked on his ?Discover India? journey from Orissa’s poverty-stricken Kalahandi area attacking the BJD-BJP government for its alleged poor implementation of the Centre’s flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Rahul, who is on a four-day tour of Orissa, went deep inside Niyamigiri Hills and met members of the Dongria Khand tribe in the Ejrupa village of the district
The “neither here nor very apparent” heir apparent has decided to do his version of Bharat ek Khoj in the run up to the next general elections. The populist scoialist rhetoric that has been the hallmark of Congress politics since Independence is back.
This time however Rahul Gandhi is neither showing imagination nor conviction with these remarks that are a direct lift from the election rhetoric of John Edwards (the democratic also ran for President in the United states).
?there still exist two Indias – one growing rapidly while the other backward as ever
Shame on you Rahul, We??always knew you wanted talking points, your mother has not been very good at coming with some lines of her own either?so isnt it high time you got some of your own ?
So what else did Rahul Gandhi “discover” on?day one ?
Some new found love for tribals.
Projecting himself as a protector of tribal rights, Rahul said: “Your fight is mine too. I am a soldier for adivasis (tribals). I have heard your voices (of concern).”
Well let us see how much of a Soldier for Adivasis Rahul has been to date since his debut into Congress politics.
Offstumped did quick scan of news archives to find only 67 news stories with references to both Rahul Gandhi and Tribals to find some real gems on “how good a soldier” Rahul Gandhi has been for Tribals.
First this open letter to Sonia Gandhi from a freedom fighter complaining that Rahul Gandhi does not understand Tribal Sensitivities.
This lack of understanding about delicate sensibilities of people is often reflected in utterances and actions of present congress leadership. It is because of this factor that Sri Rahul Gandhi was not able to establish a rapport with the people in his tour of Uttar Pradesh.
Then this tug of war on the Tribal Rights Bill that saw Rahul Gandhi working behind the scenes? dilute the provisions of the Bill.
That was pretty much it in terms of any significant reference to Rahul Gandhi and Tribal Affairs apart from of course dancing with Tribals in Arunachal and taking a crash course on Tribal Affairs.
So on the basis of what is Rahul Gandhi claiming to be a “soldier for adivasis” when there is nothing in his public record to suggest the same ?
Offstumped has also reviewed his Parliamentary record to find about 295 references to Rahul Gandhi across Government of India websites, only 3 with any reference to adivasis and none of them carry any references to any direct contribution from Rahul Gandhi on Tribal issues. About 23 references to Rahul Gandhi and Tribals and none of them again carry any references to any direct contribution from Rahul Gandhi on Tribal issues.
Offstumped Bottomline: As Rahul Gandhi attempts his version of Bharat Ek Khoj 4 years after his Parliamentary debut it is clear that his record of the last 4 years has little to show by way of imagination, conviction or real accomplishment. As the poor Adivasis of Orissa dance to his tunes, they may as well realise that this Bharat ek Khoj could end up just being a case of “dhoondte rahe jaooge”.
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Rahul could have done something different and it is still not too late to try a new path to releavnce. Let him run for the zilla parishad or even sarpanch/pramukh; then work his way up thru the mayoral ranks of a nearby town and then pitch for the CMship of UP. By then he will have proven himself many times over and manage to bring about real change in governance. As an MP there is mighty little he can do so far away from where the action is.
Hi Yossarin
Rahul ‘discovering’ India is a welcome exercise.Increased electoral inconsequence of Congress in constituencies were our celebrated scion touches foot is a established statistical fact .Since Psephologists operating in first family friendly media cannot be expected to do such a exercise , a quick correlational analysis on the performance of Congress party in constituencies were the charalatan Gandhi campaigns is a quite revealing.Infact in several constitutencies in Punjab,UP,Gujarat and HP the voting % of Congress falls dramatically
Also just read piece in IE by the now officially confirmed chief of Congress media cell Shekhar Gupta on this state funded trip of Rahul.Trust Gupta dude to find virtue in even in the most dubious act of Congress by inventing some spurious logic to justify it.And when Manmohan throw his pretense of nicety and indulges in some empty anti-BJP rhetoric ,Gupta and Congress cohorts Indian MSM appears to achieve their journalistic orgasm.’Combative Manmohan bares his fist’ is becoming a predictable copy
Does Congress and their media folks seriously believe that Indian masses are so gullible that they cannot see through this poorly disguised electoral gimmick that is sure to pay no electoral dividends to Congress.Its sure to cost national exchequer a huge sum providing security to the scion and his entourage of sycophants
Seriously the need for alternate media has never been greater
I hope the charlatan Gandhi fullfills the wish of the Great Mahatama who wanted Congress party to be disbanded as he essentially saw it as a entity that has no relevance beyond.
Hi Yossarin
Sorry for another comment.I think there was a outstanding post from you some months back comparing Dhoni and Rahul Gandhi .This assumes great significance even today
The nation rejoices the spectacular victory of Team India in Australia. As India slowly but surely finds its way out of the cesspool of mediocrity and despondency engendered in every sphere of endeavour by the Nehruvian state despotism, the remarkable turnaround of the Indian cricket team from its dismal days of 80’s and 90’s holds some important lesson for the nation.
Though cricket babudom is still controlled a small coterie, atleast semblance of meritocracy was established in the talent identifcation and selection process in cricket Small town guyS with no benefactors in the cricket establishment consistently make it to pivotal positions in Indian cricket through sheer cricketing talent and natural ability to inspire.Indian cricketing cupboard appears to be overflowing with raw talent and polished performers holding thee promise that this success would be sustainable
Compare and contrast this with political scene in the country and so called generation next politicians of the country who are celebrated by the Congressi Media .Other than luck of winning the lottery of being born to political powerful family with great financial fortune)their CV reveals a sheer bankruptcy of accomplishments .Even the educational credentials of some of them are mysterious unknowns. As you had proved with facts that parliamentary participation and contribution of these gennext Congress politicos is dismal.Unsung heroes like Kiren Rijiju are ignored by the media just become he comes from a political formation that they detest
Politics and media in India will continue to be islands of mediocrity as Nehruvian stranglehold still shows no signs of weakening in those fields.
What a shame that this great country will be continue to be governed by charalatans from dynastic political families
Dear Yossarin, have noticed on thing, He has statred from Orisya, not from Bengal. It might have to side;
1. He does not have courage to face the CPIM and fear to get reply in his face directly, like Rajib Gandhi got in 1985 from Jyoti Basu
2. He is tatically avoiding it to keep CPIM happy, What’s pity for West Bengal congress.
malay
its NOT pity for Bengal Congress BUT people of Bengal.
Similar in Kerala.
Fight with each other and then cooperate with each other.
I guess this is another brain wave from Rahul’s media managers to make him some sort of a political rock star. Lets see how far image management aided by a pliant media takes a person.
http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2008/03/rahul-gandhi-wants-to-discover-india.html
Indian Media by hyping Rahul Gandhi is doing greatest dis-service to them.
In the process, they are becoming more exposed, as stooges of Congress Party.
Gujarat election shows a great pomise: not a single media wrote what was happening on the ground. One bearded psepholist (not pranay roy) even manipulated the data- but fell flat on the day the results were out.
Hindutva and BJP has got firmer root today than ever before. Any sane, thinking Indian, today has to take claims of Advani, Modi seriously.
No media report can stop that.
Malay: you are correct. CPIM is in power in WB for 30+ years- much credit goes to Congress.
Mamata’s rise was because of that- she is a street fighter and single handedly changed political atmosphere to a degree.
CPIM IS MORE SCARED OF MAMATA THAN SONIA. They are trying to manage the situation by appeling Muslims directly.
In the process, their ’secularism’ has become exposed today like never before.
One bearded psepholist (not pranay roy) even manipulated the data- but fell flat on the day the results were out.
The exit polls showed the numbers for Congress fell short. Yogendra Yadav claimed that the numbers in the NO RESPONSE category was inflated due to “atmosphere of fear” and simply assumed most of those who had refused to respond in the exit polls had voted for the Congress.
A professor acquaintance of mine once joked that during BJP’s rule, the mainstream Indian media’s role model appeared to be the National Inquirer, after BJP’s loss their role model changed, it was time to emulate the Pravda now, and this person actually detests BJP.
I suppose he thinks of himself to be a modern day MK Gandhi, trying to discover the “real” India…the main problem being, the “real” India can tell that he does not feel any genuine emotion for them, and that is only compounded when he makes the worst possible political rhetoric.
Bibek, I find those analogies to be humorous, but it is sadly the truth. But even in 2008, Congress, not the Left or the Right, stands for the ultimate fascism.
Bibek, I think you are referring to Yogendra Yadav.
Dynasty does not matter: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul gandhi is in the wrong profession, should have been a comedian.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080043671&ch=3/10/2008%2010:32:00%20PM
Rahul gandhi’s The rediscovery of India
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Editorials/The_rediscovery_of_India/articleshow/2850669.cms
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/08/stories/2008030859321200.htm
It’s almost comical the extent to which certain journalists will go to keep the kangressi shoes spit-shined =)
Rahul Gandhi: Mummy because of YOU i am unable to get married.
Sonia: How my son????
Rahul:Everyone is saying & written that “Sonia ji ko BAHU mat do.
[...] in a debate preferring the rather safer option of reading from prepared text. Be that as it may Rahul Gandhi’s Discover India tour to Orissa has raked up another controversy over his alleged vanishing act from the guesthouse in Koraput to a [...]
[...] of tribal hamlets in Karnataka tom-tomming his commitment to Tribal issues (see Offstumped post on Rahul’s non-existent record in ever doing anything on tribal issues). The bigger story from Karnataka however was Rahul Gandhi’s visit but his sidestepping [...]
[...] of tribal hamlets in Karnataka tom-tomming his commitment to Tribal issues (see Offstumped post on Rahul’s non-existent record in ever doing anything on tribal issues). The bigger story from Karnataka however was Rahul Gandhi’s visit but his sidestepping [...]
[...] in population. So if even Second Grade students can tell the difference it begs the question if Rahul Gandhi’s Discovery of India has another 10 years to [...]