Congress: Victim of vicious propaganda

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By Daanish Bin Nabi

To bring down the rule of the Congress party in India which it had held for decades, the BJP had to bring down its image first. The right-wing party on the one hand demeaned one of the core concepts of Indian constitution – secularism – and on the other worked covertly to project Congress party as a monster feeding on gullible citizens. Public perception, before the smear campaign of the right-wing party, on secularism was it had a positive value. The perception by right-wing propaganda has been changed to “sickularism” meaning that those supporting it are sick. Slowly and gradually, secularism in India is finding hard to save its positive value and acceptance among masses. It is the second front, to portray Congress in bad light, by the propaganda machine of BJP that has received its share of limelight with the uncovering of facts, verdict on the infamous by intent 2G Scam.       

With anti-incumbency bending its back and leadership crisis, the showdown prior to the elections had made its defeat in elections a conclusion. There was no Modi-wave, only anger against the grand old party brewed by right-wing party through its ceaseless smear campaigns and corruption allegations. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) became a beneficiary in the political war between Congress and BJP. BJP too had its share as it did not lose its core supporters, the hardline Hindus, and added the disenchanted masses that were moved by propaganda in its quota.   
Modi is not a man of his word, neither his party believes in fair play. In J&K, Modi in his address prior to state elections flogged the dynasty rule of local parties, NC and PDP. After elections, he and his party shook hands with the same dynasty politicians. BJP made it an issue and blew it out of proportions – that Congress believed only in the coronation of Gandhi family members. But what has BJP done – it has been distributing titles on the basis of who is adherent to RSS philosophy and Hindutva. Otherwise what is the political acumen, experience or wisdom of Yogi Adityanath.
One piece of the Congress puzzle of woes is its newly appointed president, Rahul Gandhi. While Rahul is himself to be blamed for the poor show at the emerging Hindutva India, the media did everything possible to show him “as a prince of a political dynasty” and fit to lead India. What the media did not show to general masses was that BJP only got 31 percent votes in the entire India. And on its part the government fully obliged. The media house which did not toe the line of government was ruthlessly crushed, like NDTV.
Congress has miserably failed to tackle the propaganda-onslaught on social media by the Hindutva brigade as they have done their best to bring the grand old party to its knees. And media, especially electronic, has followed the government propaganda like a foot soldier. The fundamental difference between the two is the members they have in their ranks. While one the one hand there are likes of Shashi Tharoor and Mani Shankar Aiyar the other party has the likes of Yogi Adityanath. The simple comparison speaks volumes about both the parties. The Congress has to do more than it has been doing till now to stop BJP winning state after state in India. The Congress needs to introspect and it needs it now. Silencing senior members like Aiyar (controversial neech comment) is not a proper thing to do but taking the dissent along is the way forward. Although, the Gujarat election was a breather for the Congress, they can build up on these elections. The 2G verdict shows that although there might have been a minor case of corruption but it was not a scam as portrayed by the BJP that won the election. The Gujarat and 2G verdict are the best platform to rejuvenate the grand party provided the top leadership including the newly elected president are able to grab it not only with both the hands but with the heart and soul. There is no dearth of young educated leaders in the party – chance is the word – if that is given it can prove vital for the party in 2019 general elections. The new president has a daunting task ahead both at the party level and as far as general election is concerned. He has to show his acumen and make it happen not for his family but for the party and for the people of India. He has the mettle and caliber; he only needs to put his intelligence and energies in a proper way. When his grandmother the “Iron Lady” joined politics in late 1960s, like Rahul, she was mocked and shamed however she proved to be most formidable prime minister India has ever produced. The people of India do hope and wait that the new president of the 132-year-old party proves like his grandmother. If there are cases like lynching which is supported unabated in mainland India there are also people who hold to their reason, who are in majority and denounce such acts. Many argue that India now is a land of right-wing handlers and forget that still the majority of Indians have rejected the hate politics. There is still hope that people of India will act sanely in next election and keep communal forces at bay.
In Jammu Kashmir, the grand old party has been the main architect of ills in the state. And the way they handled the dispute was all but negative peace. The way they hanged Afzal Guru only to score brownie points over the Hindutav forces, and still lost, was but a deceit with the people of Kashmir. The grand old party if answerable is more so to people of Kashmir than anyone else.
daanishnabi@gmail.com
 Published in Rising Kashmir on 22-Dec-2017

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