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Journalism of Courage
It was surely not Natwar Singh8217;s intention. But he has helped the Congress. His serial invectives against the prime minister has engendered a slew of supportive statements for Manmohan Singh from the party. Look back only a few weeks 8212; during the Narmada controversy, during the so-called inflation crisis, during the brief period farmers8217; suicides occupied mind space in Delhi, during the disinvestment debate 8212; and the difference becomes clear. Then, senior Congress leaders, including some ministers, were happy to trash the government they essentially meant the prime minister on 8216;vote losing8217; policies. And they were undoubtedly encouraged by the lack of clear, public statements of support from 10 Janpath. Sonia Gandhi may not have agreed with some of her senior colleagues, she may not have wanted the prime minister to be made to look vulnerable to cabinet ministerial intrigue, but her silence was interpreted as eloquent by those talking up the government-party divide.
Now that Sonia Gandhi has backed the prime minister, and that too at an election preparation rally in UP 8212; the heart of the aam aadmi8217; country 8212; and now that inevitably other Congress leaders have followed suit, the party president and her senior colleagues should ensure that this moment of sensible politics survives Natwar Singh fading away from the headlines. That means the Congress will need to realise that the prime minister deserves support even when he8217;s not being attacked personally. Such a realisation would be easier were senior Congress leaders to consider the following.
