INNER PARTY DEMOCRACY - CONG STYLE

Congressmen’s oft-repeated phrase whenever there is a rift within the party is that the only party which has allowed “inner party democracy” is the Indian National Congress. No doubt, it is true. But the problem is this “inner party democracy” is, sometimes, carried too far. This inner party democracy becomes inter-ministerial at times and explodes in different countries as well. This is what we witnessed recently when Union Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh made remarks against the Home Ministry in China saying that the Union Home Ministry has become “alarmist” and “paranoid” while dealing with China.

Obviously, Ramesh wanted to please his local hosts who must have complained to him about the attitude of the Indian government. To be fair to Ramesh, who has been painted into a corner by everyone in the government and the party, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had expressed in many fora that he had reservations in allowing Chinese workers in different projects undertaken by Chinese industrialists in India. He wanted to allow only those whose skills are not available in the country and he also wanted proper scrutiny before issuing work permits to Chinese workers. As Minister in-charge of internal security, it is his prerogative to frame conditions for entry of foreign nationals that too from a country which has been playing hot and cold – whether it is border dispute, carbon emissions, nuclear cooperation etc.

Does this mean that a Union Minister can go to a foreign country and blame his own government’s policies? Certainly not. But if we take a deeper look into the issue, there is something more than what meets the eye. Chidambaram seems to be the target for many of his colleagues in the party and the government. Is it because he is getting closer to 10 Janpath and enjoys the confidence of the high priestess of the party? It appears to be so.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee might go on “frequent errands” for the government as lampooned by firebrand leader from his own state Mamta Banerjee. But he can never get closer to the high command for the “sins” he committed immediately after Indira’s assassination. Rahul does not seem to be in a hurry for positions of power as he has been with his own marriage. Dr Manmohan Singh who underwent two by-pass surgeries is not in the pink of health. There must be someone in the stand-by mode.

Among the cabinet ministers who puts on a pretence of efficiency and smartness and emerged as darling of the media, it is Chidambaram. That is the reason Ramesh targets him, Mani Shankar Iyer, who carries on his shoulders the burden of upholding secularism using barbaric language with his tongue choked in nitric acid, picks bones on Naxal issues, Digvijay Singh makes a frontal attack on the policies of the Home Minister in dealing with Maoists, forgetting his past as a chief minister. People are not bothered as to what happens behind the screen. What appears on stage is “inner party democracy” which, in effect, means never ending feud among Congressmen.

Even on non-political issues like Census there does not seem to be unity within the ranks of the party. While one section is vehemently opposed to inclusion of caste in the census, there is an equally powerful section which toes the line of Yadavs. Ultimately, the government had to yield to the pressure lobby of OBC leaders because of the number game in Parliament. And this does not speak well for the image of the government because it exposes the vulnerability of the government. Even during the cut motions the country had witnessed as to what levels the government could stoop down to conquer thanks to the pliant CBI.

Social issues like “Khap Panchayat” mostly in Haryana have also exposed the chinks in the party. Congress MP from Haryana, Navin Jindal, shamelessly supports the khap (caste) panchayats and goes to the extent of demanding an amendment to Hindu Marriage Act to favour a ban on the marriage between couples belonging to the same “gotra”. Is this a fallout of our failure to have a uniform civil code? This is a dangerous trend undermining the supremacy of law of the land. How can we then say “no” to shariat courts as demanded by a section of the minorities?

If this is the scene at the national level where Congressmen are fighting among themselves, Andhra Pradesh scenario is no different. Whenever the state cabinet meets, an inescapable scene is this. A section of the cabinet would find fault with the chief minister for not implementing YSR schemes and the chief minister would immediately throw in the towel.
Congress MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao exceeded all limits when he released a list of corruption charges with graphic details against the minister from his district who happens to be his arch rival. Rao did not stop here. He said that most of the ministers are corrupt. What is the reaction of the chief minister? Not much different from the mindset of a school kid, who teased by classmate, would threaten that he would complain to the teacher. That is what the chief minister did. He cautioned both the warring congressmen that he may have to give a “report” to the high command if they continue to fight. You can imagine how strong is his leadership!

There was another Congress MP from Nizamabad, Madhu Yashki. Look at his love for his own party. He says that the Congress cannot win a single seat in the bye polls to be held for the seats vacated by TRS MLAs in the wake of Telangana agitation. Is there anyone in the party to rein him in?