Dr. Veda Pratap Vaidik
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Kathmandu trip has created an unsavory quiver in the national politics. The Congress leader had visited our neighbouring Nepal to attend the wedding of his fried, a woman scribe, and leaders of the ruling BJP made this an apt opportunity to unleash a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, their favourite political target. A spokesperson of the BJP even went to the extent of accusing Rahul Gandhi in public of having fun at a nightclub in Kathmandu while “a storm is brewing in Mumbai.” The spokesperson was possibly hinting at an anticipated unrest during the Eid festivity. The BJP spokesperson also lamented that the Congress party was heading towards disaster and its leader was enjoying a party in a nightclub .
It seems, more than the Congress, the BJP is worried about the Congress party’s collapse. Union minister Smriti Irani, who was in Rahul’s constituency, Wayanad in Kerala, was also trying to entertain the crowd by taking pot shots at Rahul Gandhi.
It is true that the visits of opposition leaders are often private and personal, but during such visits do they ever indulge in anti-national acts? They show as much diligence in protecting the national interest as the leaders from ruling dispensations. During Atalji’s tenure as Prime Minister, a few non-BJP leaders in the United Nations had accompanied me to New York, but I could notice, these leaders were more cautious and disciplined than those ruling leaders in their speeches and personal interactions.
If Rahul Gandhi travelled to Kathmandu to attend the wedding of one of his Nepali lady acquaintances, it would only help to enhance the warmth of India-Nepal relations. If leaders of Rahul’s age remain confined at home, will this be considered an ideal situation?
Let me reiterate, it is the prerogative of that female journalist to celebrate her marriage ceremony in a nightclub or dharamshala.
Objections were aired regarding the presence of the lady ambassador of China in that wedding party. Why don’t BJP spokespersons react with the same ferocity against Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankar moving with the Chinese President and Foreign Minister? It is also regrettable; the spokespersons of the Congress outperformed the BJP leaders in making shoddy remarks like “look at your leader Narendra Modi. He went to cut the cake with Nawaz Sharif without invitation.”
This accusation is nonsense. I am personally aware of the fact that Modi was invited with respect to that function. Apart from him some other Indians were also invited. Modi had taken a very good initiative by accepting Mian Nawaz’s invitation and visiting him at his place.
Relations between the two countries were beginning to be back on track, but the attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot derailed the efforts. If the Congressmen had kept silent on the ridiculous remarks of certain BJP enthusiasts, the image of the century plus old political party would not have lost its luster further and it was possible the public would have appreciated their tolerance. However, through this incident both the national parties have displayed their competence to stoop to any level to score political brownie points.
*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.
