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Sonia Gandhi: the best bet

By Archana Dalmia

The former Special Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, V.K. Srinivasan, argues in the article ``Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister: re-examining the issue'' (The Hindu, Open Page, Sept. 24) that Sonia Gandhi does not meet the primary criteria for eligibility as Prime Minister — namely nativity; maturity as a politician; experience; a clean record; and, most of all, merit — based upon capabilities.

Nativity

I am an Indian by birth and had no choice in the matter. Sonia Gandhi is Italian by birth but chose to marry an Indian and adopt her husband's country and culture as her own. She has lived most of her life in India, not Turin. She has meticulously cultivated and moulded herself to Indian traditions and values. Her lifestyle is that of any other Indian in her position. Her children are Indian-born and brought up in India. Many millions of native-born Indians are more western in their ways of life than her.

Where does it say in the Constitution of India that speaking Hindi fluently is a prerequisite for one's candidature for Prime Minister? Remember Deve Gowda? Incidentally, she speaks Hindi more fluently than Jayalalithaa or Jaya Jaitly. Instead of getting bogged down in these extraneous and superficial issues, let us do a check on the more important abilities that I would like to see in the Prime Minister of India.

So, what makes a good Prime Minister? First, someone who can deliver in the hour of need. Sonia Gandhi amply demonstrated this when five years ago she took over a fragmented, factionally- ridden and divided party. A demoralised, dispirited and withering Congress was brought together, strengthened and rejuvenated. Instability had surfaced with many bright and senior leaders drifting because of the leadership, rather the lack of it. They were once again united, energised and enthused with new hope.

Experience

The Congress became more representative and responsive under Ms. Gandhi's leadership. She has a keen sense of modern organisation and has meticulously built up a team of dedicated and competent people with a vision of the future. Her greatest quality is that she is amenable to reason and aware of the complexities of politics today. For 30 years, she has lived in an environment saturated with politics. While we are a non-aligned nation, we certainly do not live in isolation, especially today when we are increasing the integration of our economy with the world economies. The question, therefore, is: Is Sonia Gandhi a good Ambassador of our country to the world? Does she have the understanding and exposure to represent India the world over? Does she know foreign languages — English, French, Italian — in which she could communicate to fellow-world-leaders? Yes, yes, and yes again — because she speaks English as well as her husband, French as well as her mother-in-law, Italian as well as her parents. What is wrong with that? Would that be a deficiency in diplomacy?

At election time, the people will clinically examine the relative merits of the candidates. Ms. Gandhi will become Prime Minister only if the people of India decide she is the best candidate, and once they decide who is the best, who is V.K. Srinivasan to decide who is better?

The very fact that Ms. Gandhi has built a reputation as a politician, as a leader of the masses, is testimony to the nation's acceptance of her capabilities and acceptability as a leader. Was not she elected over Sushma Swaraj in Bellary in the south and with the largest margin of majority in the country from Amethi in the north?

As for Bofors, Mr. Srinivasan deplores the three-year delay in bringing the issue to the courts, but fails to mention the failure over the last 12 years to produce even an iota of evidence to convince the courts of any wrongdoings by the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.

In any case, what has Sonia Gandhi to do with Bofors? Well, says Mr. Srinivasan, Quattrochhi is an Italian and Ms. Gandhi is Italian-born. In which case, Mr. Srinivasan is an Indian and Dawood Ibrahim is Indian-born! Condemnation by innuendo is not justice.

Imagine a scenario where an Indian who lives abroad is denied a seat in Parliament because of his domicile. How could we allow that to influence our judgment here in our country?

If we accept that multinationals can operate in this country, give employment and pay taxes and expect Indians around the world to be able to do the same — that is not dissimilar, whether it is in politics or economics.

Capabilities

Sonia Gandhi has led the party into spectacular victories in 14 of the 16 States, which have gone to polls in the last four years. Does that show incapability and inexperience?

Reports by unbiased agencies have shown that the best Chief Ministers in the country are from the Congress. Does that show incapability and inexperience to choose the best?

I rest my case.

(The writer is secretary, All-India Congress Committee.)

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