As regards the shape of the battle in the coming days one'll have to as much look towards Narendra Modi - rather regularly raising the piercing cry for "Congress Mukt Bharat". That should be quite a useful indicator.
As regards the regional parties, the jewel in the crown, so to say, just the other day - on the occasion of Tagore's birthday, in effect, awarded herself a special state award for literary achievements tailor-made for her. No wonder that has raised a mini storm in the state, more so as her Bengali, many would consider just half-literate. As regards the other one, not too long ago, had put forward the slogan: Modi for PM, Arvind for CM. Of course, would be hastily withdrawn, faced with very harsh public relations. But, that's somewhat beside the point. So, that's where we stand. No doubt, things at the moment, are looking too depressing. Better results in at least some state polls in the coming days may cause a shift in the mood. Doesn't look too likely though. But, that's all the more reason to put all efforts in averting the looming doom. Right now, the communal cauldron is being stirred - in flagrant violation of the laws of the land, over the Gyanvapi Mosque. <<He [i.e. Rahul Gandhi] remained firm on his repeated statements that the battle of Indian politics is not an electoral battle but ideological battle. A fight between truth and lies, Gandhi and Godse, liberalism and conservatism, progress and regression and so on. It is not an easy fight, he said, and for him, it is the fight of his life. “It’s my life’s struggle. I refuse to believe that this beloved nation has so much anger and violence. I would fight RSS’s ideology all my life, I'm not scared. I've never done anything wrong; I've not taken one paisa from Bharat Mata, so I have no fear. I am in this forever,” Rahul Gandhi said. ... Elections in recent years have not been fought on level playing field. Money, media, state machinery–everything is on BJP’s side. It is a complete imbalance. Winning elections depends upon people mindset, media need to do their job, election commission, ED, CBI, IT all need to be independent and function as per their constitutional mandates and not to appease their political masters. Election funding schemes like #ElectoralBonds need transparency without which there is a shocking imbalance in party funds. For example, around 95-98% of the total electoral bonds are going to BJP alone every year. In such circumstances election losses should not scare the party leaders but make them stronger. That is why despite losses Rahul Gandhi appears stronger and more determined to fight, something the Bhartiya Janata Party and certain section of the media do not appreciate. They systematically create a narrative that to build a strong opposition either the Congress party should die or the Gandhis should be banished from politics. Rahul Gandhi responded to this narrative by firmly asserting that Congress is the only alternative to BJP and regional parties cannot be the face of the opposition. Referring to some of the dissenters inside the party he said, “Sometimes our senior leaders go into depression. I understand them. It's not an easy fight, but only Congress can take it up. The regional parties cannot and will not do it because this is an ideological fight and they do not have any ideology. That is why even BJP does not target them. BJP only targets Congress, so does the mainstream media.” “Even the people of India know that only Congress party will listen to them. Congress party was born out of people,” he added. ... The Congress party today needs Rahul Gandhi’s courage to fight the battles ahead more than number crunching and quick fix strategies or ideological comprises like religious outreach. It is time Rahul takes up the Presidentship and takes strong decisive actions to bring the radical changes he has been trying for a long time.>> (Excerpted from < https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/rahul-gandhis-speech-at-chintan-shivir-reflects-true-spirit-of-congress-revives-zeal-for-ideological-battle >.) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/greenyouth/CACEsOZg38UwPu02Eow_Y5T%2B%3D3qSSMmnRTSsRhNU-GZeSWRw0kg%40mail.gmail.com.
