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Jairam's verbal rebellion ends with an unreserved apology

Jairam's verbal rebellion ends with an unreserved apology

Author: Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 16, 2000

Not with a bang, but a whimper. The Jairam Ramesh saga of 'quotable quotes' ended today, as all such sagas do hi the dynastic hierarchy of the Congress with abject apologies and genuflection to the presiding deity.

Having sustained the headlines for a few days, the limelight proved too much for an aspiring rebel with(out) a cause. Jairam Ramesh "unreservedly apologised" for the embarrassment caused to the party and Sonia Gandhi after a weekend meeting with her.

Media being the favourite whipping boy of politicians, Mr Ramesh conveniently passed the buck, saying, "I regret the interview has been torn out of context and misinterpreted. I am sorry it has given the impression that I have violated party discipline," Mr Ramesh said in a letter to AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes.

In fact, Mr Ramesh's 'rebellion', if it can be called such, rang with a sense of authenticity as he was widely perceived as a Congressman with the soul of a reformer. Besides, as he insisted, he had not taken a penny from the AICC, so really, what could they do to him? Two days ago, it appeared Mr Ramesh was only articulating what a number of Congressmen felt but couldn't gather up the courage to say. But the tide evidently turned when the Karnataka chief minister, SM Krishna threatened to throw him out of the planning board. Without the protection of the coterie he could hardly afford to be the proverbial candle in the wind. Mr Ramesh's decision to fall in line is a victory for the powerful band of Sonia's advisers.

Margaret Alva continued the pressure on him when she refused to say whether the apology was the end of the matter. Clearly, things will no longer be the same for this articulate Congress face. There will be the inevitable informal incarceration as he sits out his period of penance. The notes to the Congress president will dwindle in number and effect as will the speeches that he periodically wrote for her.

After today, it will be a race for forward positions in the apology line. And Mr Ramesh has a lot to atone for. Among others, a hasty acceptance of a consultant's job by Chandrababu Naidu which landed him in hot water with the party high command. Mr Ramesh the phoenix, will be hard to come by. The question is, will he have to join the ranks of rebels whose hearts couldn't take the final jump?
 


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