Rahul follows in father’s footsteps

The Statesman, 7th March, 2008

A conscious effort to make Mr Rahul Gandhi walk the path of his father is underway. A host of Congress leaders have descended on Orissa as “the leader who is expected to take up the reins of the party” is launching his tour from the KBK (erstwhile undivided Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi districts) region of the state, just as his father Rajiv Gandhi had done as AICC general secretary in early 1984.Mr Gandhi will “connect” with voters and acquaint himself with all sections of people, particularly tribals, farmers and Dalits, and attempt to understand their problems. He will also explain the various schemes of the Central government as well as the failures on the part of the ruling BJD-BJP state government, said Union minister Mr Ajay Maken here today. Though the Union Budget was not mentioned, it is expected to be the centrepiece of Mr Gandhi’s campaign spiel, especially the loan waiver for farmers. Significantly, Mr Gandhi’s tour begins from the Sinapalli area of Nuapada district tomorrow, very close to the place his father Rajiv Gandhi had visited as general secretary of the party. This will be followed by programmes at Kalahandi and Nawarangpur tomorrow and several other districts over the next four days.The KBK region had drawn attention of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in the 1980s largely due to distress-related conditions be it drought or hunger deaths. It had led to special schemes like ADAPT (Area Development Approach for Poverty Termination) directly monitored by the Central government and subsequently the KBK Long Term Action Plan programme. Money did pour into these districts and programmes outlived their originally planned periods yet poverty and distress continue to reign supreme in the area. The scourge of hunger deaths, though, has reduced considerably. And the tribal population have fond memories of “Indira Amma”. Apparently, the beleaguered Congress hopes to cash in on this nostalgia with her grandson’s tour. Party leaders here brush aside questions on whether this is a pre-poll exercise by the AICC general secretary.While the youth wing of the party is very enthusiastic, veteran Congressmen remain skeptical. The situation in the KBK region, for example, is vastly different from the days when Indira and Rajiv Gandhi toured here. For one, the BJD-BJP will rake up questions which Mr Rahul Gandhi will find difficult to answer on the alleged curtailment of KBK funds. The fact that the BJD-BJP government had to introduce a Biju KBK programme to fill the funds gap has already been highlighted by the state government.Then there’s the fact that Mr Gandhi is to address a “save the forest” rally at Kalahandi, which in itself is difficult to understand since the major forest-related issue in Kalahandi region is linked to the controversial Vedanta aluminum and Niyamgiri bauxite mining projects. He will be expect him to speak about these projects at the “save the forest” rally and the AICC leader can hardly take a firm anti-project stand since forest and environment clearances are accorded by the Centre. But Congress circles here gloss over these issues and questions.“It has nothing to do with elections. Rahulji wants to interact with people and know their problems directly,” said Mr Maken. “He is the future leader... and we are more than eager to see him at the helm,” he added, but sidestepped questions on whether the party wants to project Mr Gandhi as it’s prime ministerial candidate. Indeed, he quickly clarified that he meant all Congress activists wanted Mr Gandhi leading the party organisation.