Opinion

Bull's Eye

"Take me," he said. "I don’t think Rahul should become PM in 2009! I believe he should be deputy PM! Soniaji must be made PM!

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Bull's Eye
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Next day the Congress spokesman put things on record. He sternly said the Congress was committed to the highest democratic norms and did not encourage sycophancy. He clarified that spontaneous outbursts of emotion could not of course be called sycophancy.

Congressmen are taking this advice very seriously. I ran into one Congress leader who admonished critics for harping on the Dynasty.

"There is no such thing in our party," he declared. "All of us express our own honest opinions!"

"Was Arjun Singh expressing his honest opinion?" "Of course!"

"Then why did Soniaji pull him up?"

"She did not want other leaders to parrot Arjun Singh. She welcomes only spontaneous expressions of emotion."

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"Was Arjun Singh spontaneous?"

"Of course, he is spontaneous and honest!"

"Hmmm! So he is not a sycophant?"

"Are you crazy? Arjun Singh is the bravest rebel in the party!"

"Really! How is that?"

"Despite Soniaji’s reprimand Arjun Singh is sticking to his guns! He continues to say Rahul is best for the PM’s post regardless of how much Rahul’s mother may restrain him!"

"Pranab Mukherjee supported Rahul’s candidature much after Arjun Singh spoke. Was that spontaneous?" a reporter suddenly popped the question.

"He spontaneously burst into emotion."

"Tell me, is there anybody in the Congress party who is willing to say that Rahul should not become PM in 2009?"

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"Of course! What do you take us for? We are not all yes men. We have divergent views. There are many who think Rahul should not be PM in 2009."

"Name one," I challenged.

"Take me," he said. "I don’t think Rahul should become PM in 2009!" "Really? Why not?"

"I believe he should be deputy PM! Soniaji must be made PM! Only then should Rahul succeed her."

"Oh! And what about Priyanka?"

"No politics for her," he said firmly. "She should only be the President. Did you see how she visited Rajivji’s assassin? Just like Mother Teresa!"

(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)

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