| Published on 18-02-2008 In National | | Viewed 1565 times | | "Origins" and "Orders"---- When will this Sonia Xenophobia end? |
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| Written by
Girish Nikam | 
All through the late 90s till 2004, a prolonged spell of xenophobia was witnessed in this country aimed at Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Her foreign origin, her citizenship, her lack of understanding of the Indian culture and many other issues were raised by a section of people owing allegiance to a particular political thought. Sometimes it had even descended to very low levels of public discourse. Even amidst this she won the elections to the Lok Sabha in Bellary and Amethi in 1999. A virtual green horn to politics than, many of the criticisms against her about her lack of understanding of Indian politics and her capability to lead a party like Congress, were justified.
Come 2004, and the defining moment arrived when she managed to lead the Congress and the newly formed UPA to power. All doubts and these barbs should have stopped then, considering the fact that she had stood the test twice and won the support of the people, personally and once to lead her party back to power. Atleast as far as her foreign origins are concerned. Neither she nor anyone who defends her after all, have tried to cover up her foreign origin.
After a hiatus of nearly four years, since the 2004 elections, the same issue seems to be back in focus. A septuagenarian lawyer from Kerala, probably suffering from lack of work or because of overzealous patriotism, or both, wrote to the former President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam objecting to Sonia accepting a Belgian honour, the Order of Leopold, in 2006. One should say that there are many stirring qualities in Kalam, but discretion in such matters was not one of them. Instead of seeking the advice of some eminent lawyers, many of whom are now terming this petition as frivolous, who were at his beck and call, he forwarded the petition to the Election Commission.
And now after many months of lying dormant the petition has come as another ammunition for the xenophobics to get all excited and nit pick their way into another "major" controversy questioning the loyalty of Sonia. The usual suspects are filling newspaper columns, as the BJP adds to the cacophony. The Election Commission also not wanting to be seen as being "partisan" has embarked on a fishing expedition to prove or disprove the petitioner's suspicions.
The petitioner's main argument is that by accepting the order of Leopold, Sonia has pledged her "devotion" and "allegiance" to the Belgian King and the Government, and therefore she should be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament. Why? Because she has pledged her allegiance to another country and therefore her credentials are suspect as an Indian and especially as an MP. As many have pointed out the past recipients, who include American President Dwight Eisenhower and Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, also should have faced similar suspicions from their countrymen.
How long will this nit picking by the frivolous petitioners and a political party which can never get reconciled to the fact that Sonia Gandhi is here to stay, will be carried on?
If one reads her speech on the occasion, it is evident how much she lays stress to India and its heritage, culture, philosophy and its values, all of which she says has moulded her into what she is today.
Now even then if the nitpickers want to doubt her, it can only be for the sake of it.
This apparently strong defence of Sonia is bound to disturb a lot of minds. Not being a xenophobic as those who get disturbed are, the point one is trying to make is that if Sonia has to be fought she has to be fought politically and electorally. Not taking the assistance of frivolous petitions filed by un-employed or overzealous septuagenarians.
Coincidentally even as the Kerala lawyer's petition was pending before the Election Commission, the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, L.K.Advani after being anointed, once again raised the foreign origin issue of Sonia Gandhi. It is pathetic to note that the BJP and its affiliates does not seem to have realised even after the 2004 drubbing, that the issue does not sell.
One Southern columnist, a regular Sonia-baiter has even gone to the extent of suggesting that by accepting the Order of Leopold, Sonia automatically enjoys the privileges of a Belgian citizen, and which includes, health facility for her and her children!! For those who proclaim their patriotic credentials from the rooftops, to make even such pitiable remarks, betrays their pettiness.
The Election Commission unfortunately has taken the farce further by issuing notices, which would now only prolong this absurd drama, and divert the attention of the people from the real issues facing the nation. The Commission, which has been under fire in the recent past, especially one of the Commissioners, Naveen Chawla in fact went along with the Chief Election Commissioner, N.Gopalaswami in issuing a notice to Sonia. This must have disappointed Chawla-baiters as they all had pre-judged the issue and even written about how he was opposing a notice to Sonia. That it was the other Commissioner, S.Y.Qureshi who opposed the issuance of notice, is yet to invite criticism of some other absurd variety, which may not be too long in coming.
While its certainly not this column's argument that Sonia should be above scrutiny, one would expect a higher level of scrutiny based on her performance at the head of the UPA, in the last nearly four years. There are many acts of omission and commission by the UPA Government, which can be criticised and questioned, which would enhance the quality of debate in this country. Instead to pick on such issues and waste time and space on the media, does not serve the cause of the country, which these pseudo-nationalists claim to serve.
It is time that we bury the trivial issues and look at the bigger picture. Hopefully the electoral battles which will be fought this year and in the next year, will see the real issues bothering the common man in this country coming to the fore, instead of "Origins" and "Orders", which doesn't bother the "aam aadmi". |
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