O J's Corner : Reflections

What is crucial about
July 25, 2007?

What is the importance of July 25, 2007? That is the day when President A P J Abdul Kalam’s term of office would be over. Unless the Government gives him a second term, he might go back to his pet profession of honorary teaching. He revels in being a professor.

However, his exit from the Rashtrapati Bhavan might coincide with the entry of new and younger heavy-weights in the Indian political panorama.

What I mean to say is that Rahul Gandhi is poised to enter active service by that time.

Corridors of power in Delhi are abuzz with hush-hush tit-bits of conversation about  Dr Manmohan Singh calling it a day as the Prime Minister.

It does not need much hair-splitting about Dr Manmohan Singh only filling the gap for a while for Rahul Gandhi to groom up.

The people had given the mandate for Sonia Gandhi to rule the country. But by quirk of circumstances, on May 19, 2004, Dr Manmohan Singh was invited by the President to become the Prime Minister of India. For Sonia Gandhi had decided that if she could not become the Premier herself, the next best ad hoc choice was Dr Manmohan Singh only. On the occasion, she had mollified the party acolytes that the country was in the safe hands of Dr Manmohan Singh.

Whoever says otherwise, I don’t believe  when  a jubilant Sonia Gandhi met President Abdul Kalam after winning the elections and confidence of various allies, including the Left, she thought circumstances would turn topsy-turvy for her.

The country was boiling over during the time as the BJP had stepped up its campaign against the foreigner tag of Sonia Gandhi. Even though constitutionally there was nothing to hold her back, communal forces would have been successful in fomenting trouble.

It may be noted that in the surcharged circumstances, Dr Abdul Kalam had invited Sonia Gandhi for discussions and not for swearing her in right away.

Taking everything into consideration, and concerned about the disruption of tranquillity of the country, it was most considerate of her to have renounced the opportunity.

She had offered the post on a platter to Dr Manmohan Singh who cannot feel hurt when he would be offered senior assignments to give way for Rahul Gandhi to take over.

And it should be the bounden duty of the countrymen to compensate her sufficiently for her sacrifice. If the Congress and allies decide to bring in Rahul Gandhi, communal elements would not be able to kick up a groundswell of opposition.

But India being a vibrant democracy, the BJP cannot be flawed for its campaign against dynastic rule.

In fact, they should discharge its democratic duty and deal with the rivals politically. The Congress should do its bit to settle down.

But all should wait till the induction of another President in Rashtrapati Bhavan which would augur well for re-arrangement of spoils of office and finding space for the present incumbents.