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Journalism of Courage
The shy heir-apparent sat grinning on a corner-chair among senior leaders on a side of the podium, seemingly unfazed by the cheering crowd on the one hand and the praise from the podium on the other.
It wasn’t long before the first cry went up. ‘‘Rahul Gandhi manch pe aao’’ soon turned into a steady chant and general secretary Ambika Soni ‘‘invited’’ him ‘‘with the permission of party president Sonia Gandhi’’ to come on stage to oblige the crowd. Rahul Gandhi came, sat behind his mother for about five minutes and slipped out back to his chair.
That done, leaders did not know under what pretext his name was to be taken up again.
On the podium, general secretary Janardan Dwivedi set off the trend. ‘‘One important thing which has happened is that Rahul has not only entered politics, but Parliament also. Rahul ateet ki neenv per bhavishya ka sanket hain (Rahul is the sign of the future on a foundation of the past).’’
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, who followed, said: ‘‘Our blessings and good wishes are with Rahul.’’ Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said: ‘‘Let Rahul and Priyanka lead’’, but followed their names up with those of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Milind Deora, Navin Jindal and Randeep Surjewala. Once Aiyar finished, Dwivedi immediately checked him, saying: ‘‘It is the responsibility of these youth leaders to bring forward young people from ordinary families too.’’
Pointing at Rahul, party spokesman Anand Sharma said: ‘‘It ‘s a great coincidence that we have the fifth generation of Nehru family here.’’ Rajni Patil, an ex-MP from Maharashtra said: ‘‘We see Rajivji’s shadow in Rahulji.’’
The party, in its main resolution moved by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, undertook to work with coalition partners in a spirit of ‘‘honest accommodation.’’
Sonia drew a contrast between the Congress and RSS, saying the RSS was spreading the poison of communalism when Congress was fighting for independence. Sonia drew loud applause when she observed that her advice to party leaders to observe austerity had remained on paper. She said, ‘‘We talk of the poor, but we display wealth.’’
