Is the Congress on a Suicidal course?

The BJP has been gaining ground all across India, partly because of the appeal of its tallest leader today, PM Narendra Modi, and his agenda of 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas' and his focus on giving an identity and financial access to the poor and underprivileged of India. However, the other reason that is sharply coming in to focus these days is the negative agenda of the Congress, the principal opposition party. The Congress thinks that the only job of the opposition is to oppose the government on every issue, whether internal or external.

The Congress leadership is totally confused on how to counter the BJP juggernaut that is on a winning streak in election after election, and at every level of functioning, be it panchayat, municipal, or state. Congress is thus found fumbling in their responses to the government's initiatives, as well as to the BJP's agenda. It has done a series of flip flops on major issues that are common knowledge with the people of India, thanks to the information age. The latest rounds of criticism of the PM and his government in Bahrain and now when the PM is in Davos, is in real bad taste and speaks poorly of their leadership, especially when the whole world is applauding the PM and the direction of his reform agenda.


  • "Dear PM, Welcome to Switzerland! Please tell DAVOS why 1% of India's population gets 73% of its wealth?  I'm attaching a report for your ready reference," he tweeted.


Discordant notes from within the country are okay, if there is some substance in the issue. Criticism for the sake of criticism is not going to benefit the Congress party in any way; it is actually putting people off now, since the Congress has been responsible for all our ills that they are so aggressively pointing out these days. The BJP throws the ball squarely back to the Congress for neglecting to do these things under the Nehru - Gandhi years, a total about 49 years out of the 70 years since independence, and rightly asking if what could not be done in 49 years is expected to be done in about 4 years; a logical question.

It would be better if the Congress focused on issues that really matter to the people of this country, rather than focussing their energies on running down the government. The Congress President does ask about job creation, farmer suicides, youth unemployment, etc, at times, but not in a constructive dialogue but more as a tactic to malign the government. In case the Congress is seriously interested in these solvable issues, then they would ask these questions in parliament, for which they would have to allow the parliament to function. It seems that they are not interested in letting the parliament function, for fear that some important bills may get passed, and the government's position may get strengthened even more.

People had revolted against the UPA-2 misrule and corruption, and had thus decided to teach the Congress a lesson in electoral politics, by reducing them to just 44 seats in parliament. Election after election the people are sending messages to the Congress to wake up and start working for the people, but Congress seems to misread the mood of the people and is continuing with its suicidal course. This is a serious issue not only for the Congress but also for the people of India, who deserve a strong opposition; the BJP can only be kept in check by a strong opposition. Will the Congress change course to a positive, 'for the people' agenda or will it continue on its suicidal course?

What is your opinion?

Comments