Kozhikode, Jan 18: A "fifth-generation dynast" Rahul Gandhi has no chance in Indian politics against a "hard-working and self-made" Narendra Modi, and Kerala did a disastrous thing by electing the the Congress leader to Parliament, historian Ramachandra Guha said here on Friday.
Guha said the reduction of the Congress from a "great party" during the freedom movement to a "pathetic family firm" now is one of the reasons for the ascendency of Hindutva and jingoism in India.
"I have nothing against Rahul Gandhi personally. He is a decent fellow, very well-mannered. But young India does not want a fifth-generation dynast. If you Malyalis make the mistake of re-electing Rahul Gandhi in 2024 too, you are merely handing over an advantage to Narendra Modi," said Guha on the second day of the ongoing Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) during his talk, "Patriotism Vs Jingoism".
Addressing the crowd, full of Keralites, he said, "Kerala, you have done many wonderful things for India, but one of the disastrous thing you did was to elect Rahul Gandhi to Parliament."
"Narendra Modi's great advantage is that he is not Rahul Gandhi. He is self-made. He has run a state for 15 years, he has an administrative experience, he is incredibly hard working and he never takes holidays in Europe. Believe me I am saying all this in all seriousness," he said.
But, even if Rahul Gandhi was "much more intelligent, more hard-working, never took a holiday in Europe, as a fifth generation dynast he still will be at a disadvantage against a self-made person", the 61-year-old author said.
He took on Congress president Sonia Gandhi too who, he said, reminded him of the "late Mughal dynasty" and how aloof they were of the state of their kingdom.
"India is becoming more democratic and less feudal, and the Gandhis just don't realise this. You (Sonia) are in Delhi, your kingdom is shrinking more and more but still your chamchas (sycophants) are telling you that you are still the badshah," he said.
Further, he quoted his teacher and noted Indian sociologist Andre Beteille to describe the story of Nehru-Gandhi family as a classic "reversal of the famous Biblical injunction": the sins of the father will be visited upon seven successive generations.
"In the Nehru's case, it is the sins of the seven successive generations have been re-visited upon Nehru... look at the national debate today. Why is Nehru evoked everytime? Why does Modi always say Nehru ne Kashmir mein yeh kiya, China mein yeh kiya, Triple Talaq mein yeh kiye ... because Rahul Gandhi is there.
"Now if Rahul Gandhi disappears, Modi has to talk about his own policies and why they failed," he said.
According to Guha, "Hypocrisy of the Indian Left -- the fact that they loved other nations more than India", "rise of aggressive nationalism worldwide" and "the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in neighbouring countries" are some other reasons behind the evident leap of Hindutva in India in the recent times.
Historian William Dalrymple, novelists like Benyamin, Namita Gokhale, Chetan Bhagat and journalists Karan Thapar and Rajdeep Sardesai are among the many other writers who will be attending the four-day festival.
The focus theme of KLF 2020 is environment and climate change.
Comments
That police establishments even in non BJP ruled states work hand in glove with the anti- people fascist RSS is a sad commentary of how our constitutional system is time and again challenged with impunity. Except for few courageous officers who work with conviction the police system as such is corrupted with persuasion of a virulent 'Indian Ideology' as much as the political system is.
That RSS and the police establishments often work hand in glove with each other even in many states ruled by non BJP 'secular' dispensations is a sad commentary on the virulence of the so called nationalism and patriotism propelled by an ' Indian Ideology '
Naushad, CONG not only supporting and BUT hiding in chaddis.....Hijdas
Whoever does this whether he's Muslim,Hindu, Christian or from any other community or religion if try to disturb peace and try to hurt somebodies sentiment to be punished maximum.
Actually the Police authority are the only authority can make peace, keep peace, if they want.
Please Respect each other, their reliogion, their community Etc.
LIV ,LET THEM LIV and ALLOW EVERYBODY TO LIV PEACEFUL LIFE.
Hahaha. That fellow became PM by throwing beef at temple and goes to pakistan for having tea
As Sanaulla said we are peace loving people we are business camunity. What ms Reviti has stated is true inquiry must be done by C B I this is not a first time that miscreant thoren meet at warshp plases Her aligation is true our Acp mr Anup Kumar is bussy in catching cattle traders along with Bajrangdal insteade of catching miscreant isn't it stupidity?
As Sanaulla said we are peace loving people we are business camunity. What ms Reviti has stated is true inquiry must be done by C B I this is not a first time that miscreant thoren meet at warshp plases Her aligation is true our Acp mr Anup Kumar is bussy in catching cattle traders along with Bajrangdal insteade of catching miscreant isn't it stupidity?
What a pity. Long ago a senior Ayodhya seer had called BJP as biggest enemy of Hindus. It's 100 percent true.
What's Congress doing? Supporting cheddis?
VIREN now you need her to provide mental treatment ? first you go through it ....
YOU FOLLOWED HITLER IDEAS...AND SURELY you will follow his END
In Bhatkal Mislims are always sufferer
Muslims are highest paying taxes to the Government
Muslims they stands for economy of Bhatkal. Price rise is higher than
The whole district, even though Bhatkal is peace. Nawayath community in Bhatkal r peace loving people. Hindu girls r working In their house. Muslims employ Hindu girls in their shops. Means we have no difference of opinion at all.
Some miscreants including who Mrs. Revati named in her allegation
Mr. Sunil Nayak just he joined BJP some months ago was a member of a Muslim Sports Centre called Royal Sports Centre and he himself
Mixed with Muslim people during marriage ceremony, sports, Travel
And many other occassion. Now a days he make distanced himself from Muslim friends. Even I wish to tell you he was frequently having beef
In Muslims wedding occasions
Shocking allegation against sangha parivar it is very cheap to blame someone for her sin.
serious inquiry must be done on her complaint if that proved correct, each and every criminals should be given maximum punishment.
we know her behavior.. very harsh in our town,
Revati in need of mental treatment. first she got suspended by assuming she will lose her job for her fault.. she herself resigned before.
Revati slap on, this is wrong to blame someone for your mistake.
her hafta may be pending, until now eaten lancha and lived a wonderful life, now money got over started to blackmail others.
revati.. statement is totally wrong, she just wanted to turn off her case into opposite. corrupt officers like u.. we dont need anymore., go to hell.
Police officers like Ms Revati should shoot those criminals infront of everyone even if he is politician or some group head.
really shocking!!!! from today i will stop joining any group.
this must be stopped.. local people should not support the protest of some group.
whoever involved in this heinous act will die dog's death one day.
yahh exactly right thats why i m not very much bothered about the communal violence. its all pre planned. everyone should do their work and keep quiet from fighting nobody will gain anything instead they will lose.
this complaint should be taken as a general awareness, in my opinion some set of 5 to 10 people want to disturb the peace of the society and some gains, why others are responding to their crime. we all brothers and sisters should live in peace,
She is right in accusing her sanghi seniors .... I was the only person on this forum highlighting this drama of meat placing to stir up social unrest .... Bjp goons hats off to you and Pramod Muthalik for creating social disturbances
naren and viren need some treatment for their mental condition.... i can offer both a better treatment.
viren, bhatkal bjp gooons did this in past also. This time police wanted to frame 1 innocent boy also. psi has taken sunil naik bjp leader name who has given money to 1 person name uday goonda to buy cow meat to throw in dewastan.
I wonder fools like #1 still exists in Karnataka... Want to give merit to the evil doers even if they are exposed of their evil. Only devils are happy when some one is harmed... and dont be a devils agent by supporting the Evil..(throwing beef and blaming others)
More deceptions will spill out in near future in Shaa Allah.
Viren u r one of the educated illiterate person on this planet....if the same allegation she put on muslim community then she is a very good police, otherwise, she is mental.....the whole India knows who are the main culprits are except some communal people like u....
Ms Revathi is 100% correct, hats off brave police officer Revathi
Viren!! Who need treatment for them this statement is funny. This is not the first time. Whenever One particular community is involved in any illegal thongs and get caught, then he is mental. Naren antinationalist need itch guard.
The true face of saffron forces unveiled again. Pity on them. Such people dont hesitate to destroy their own family for political gains.
Lol. funny allegations. I think she needs some treatment for her mental condition.
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