National
Like father, like son
By K.V. Prasad
NEW DELHI, DEC. 17. Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the Congress today, pledged to uphold the secular, liberal and social justice values cherished by his father, the late Madhavrao Scindia.
Mr. Scindia, 30, was received this evening by party leaders, who were among the hundreds of supporters thronging the AICC headquarters, at 24, Akbar Road. The road wore a festive look as strong contingents from Madhya Pradesh that included more than a dozen MLAs lustily cheered Mr. Scindia, who appeared to be a leader in his own right. It was clear that there was something special about this admission.
Both at the official press conference where the AICC general secretary, Ms. Mohsina Kidwai, made a formal announcement of Mr. Scindia's admission into the party and at a brief public meeting in the sprawling lawns of the AICC, Mr. Scindia was a picture of confidence, handling questions from the media with ease.
He was bestowed a rare honour by the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, who personally endorsed his admission papers at her 10, Janpath residence this morning both as a primary and active member of the party. This was as much a special welcome for young Scindia as a tribute to his father who represented the party with pride.
The induction ceremony was attended at Ms. Gandhi's residence by top Madhya Pradesh party leaders such as Mr. Arjun Singh, the Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh, Mr. Kamal Nath, Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, the State Congress chief, Mr. R.K. Malviya, the AICC treasurer, Mr. Motilal Vora, and the former Chief Minister and MP, Mr. Shyama Charan Shukla. The family members of Mr. Scindia, including his mother, were present.
The striking resemblance to the late Maharaja of Gwalior could be noticed both in appearance and mannerism specially when Mr. Scindia, attired in blue kurta, dipped his left hand into the jawahar jacket while addressing the public function, quite like his late father used to.
Welcoming him into the party, Ms. Kidwai recalled the contribution of Madhavrao Scindia and said his sudden departure had left a void and several tasks midway, which she hoped, the young man would carry forward.
A product of Doon School, Mr. Scindia graduated from the Harvard University in 1993 and did his MBA from the Stanford University. He was associated with socio-economic development plans of his father's constituencies in Guna and Gwalior.
Mr. Scindia, in his brief extempore statement, expressed his sorrow for not having his father by his side but exuded enthusiasm in joining the ranks of the party. He said he hoped to be able to serve the party and the nation with the same dedication of his father and also bring both Guna and Gwalior to the mainstream.
``One of the most difficult things in a person's life is to be a son of a great man'' and be able to measure up to him, he said.
Thanking Ms. Gandhi for being ``a pillar of strength'' to him and his family during the last two-and-a-half months when his father was snatched away by the cruel hands of destiny in an aircrash, Mr. Scindia said he hoped to be able to live up to the trust she had reposed in him. He steered clear of making any statement that could be construed as controversial. On his future plans such as contesting elections from Guna Lok Sabha constituency of his father or being a youth Congress leader, he said it was left to the party to decide.
Aware of the potential minefield in the form of factionalism in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Scindia said he would seek the blessings of all seniors and his father's colleagues in the new role he had chosen for himself.
As the press conference ended, he was seen helping Mr. Arjun Singh and the party spokesperson, Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy, by handing them their walking sticks.
Among those present at the AICC, included the two Chief Ministers, Mr. Digvijay Singh from Madhya Pradesh and Ms. Sheila Dikshit from Delhi, the CWC members, Mr. Arjun Singh, Mr. Motilal Vora, Mr. K. Natwar Singh; Mr. Malviya, the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Suresh Pachouri, the Maharashtra State Minister, Mr. Kripa Shanker Singh, and Mr. Murli Deora.
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