Author: Gaurang Desai
Publication: IndiaPost.com
Date: July 24, 2007
URL: http://indiapost.com/article/communitypost/680/
Dr APJ Kalam has been India's president for
last five years. He is regarded as arguably the best president India has ever
seen. Highly educated, knowledgeable and a man of high integrity, he is a
very apolitical leader as a president should be and has been able to connect
to people of all ages.
The whole generation of youth has been inspired
by this mild mannered President.One can say that Dr Kalam had played by the
book when it came to putting his signature on the constitutional matters (imposing
president's rule in Bihar may be the only questionable decision that can be
attributed to him).If there was one thing the BJP can be proud of providing
India with, it was a great president. Sure, there were other presidents who
were men of great integrity and intellect, but they typically acted as figure
heads or ceremonial presidents or even worse, a rubber stamp, unlike Dr Kalam.
When NDA led by BJP proposed Dr Kalam for
President, every political party, including Congress supported his nomination
and praised him. So why is it that Congress decided not to extend his nomination
for another term even though he was such a highly successful president? More
importantly, why did they propose Pratibha Patil, a practically unknown political
light weight with a questionable past?It is true that presidency is used to
reward aging party loyalists, who would become nothing but rubberstamps.
Other than first President Rajendra Prasad,
no one else has served two terms and there is no compulsion to keep Dr Kalam
for second term, but why replace the most successful President, who has the
largest public following and support in such haste without giving any reasons?
A negotiated refusal to second term may have provided a face saver for Congress,
but it did not happen. Why?
Well, there are many reasons for this illogical
behavior (not that politicians need to be logical). For starters, it could
be a revenge factor. Dr Kalam had asked some uncomfortable questions about
Sonia Gandhi's citizenship and about her holding "position for profit"
when she wanted to become prime minister in 2004. Secondly, Congress needs
a rubberstamp President who would oblige to the whims of Sonia Gandhi in run
up to the upcoming state elections and the national elections. Sonia Gandhi
is looking for someone who would be willing to impose presidential rule in
states ruled by opposition (Gujarat and Rajasthan come immediately to mind)
on some flimsy excuses.
It is entirely possible that this could be
quid-pro-quo to wash off all of Patil's past ills (as a President, she can't
be questioned or tried by the courts) and in return she would share her fortune
with her party president (Sonia Gandhi of course). Finally, it should not
be put past Sonia to make yet another attempt to occupy Prime Minister's office
or possibly install her son to the position.
A friendly president would come handy in this
situation.So why choose Pratibha Patil?
First and foremost, this lady has so many
skeletons in the closet; even cemeteries would be put to shame.Some of the
scams she is involved in include bank fraud with nepotism, stealing from poor
women depositors, Sugar factory scam, land grabbing, discriminating against
members of lower caste, shielding a murderer and a torturer. All this was
done either directly or indirectly with the help of family members and she
has played major role in covering it up. She is also holding a position for
profit.
The same charges Congress used to kick Jaya
Bhaduri out of Rajya Sabha. A full expose is done by likes of Arun Shourie
and information (with complete documentation and legal papers) as this is
available on the internet by visiting http://www.know- pratibhapatil.com/These
allegations are not just made by the opposition, but by the victims, Reserve
Bank and they have also been documented long time ago. The media for a change
has acted properly and promptly to highlight these misdeeds. Congress has
attempted to project this as a case of women empowerment, but Pratibha Patil
is not the poster woman.
If they wanted women to progress, why did
they not support Laxmi Sehagal earlier when nominated by CPI? After all, she
was a real freedom fighter, who was part of Subhash Chandra Bose's INA, no
matter what her political views are at present. Will the Congress party led
by a woman (Sonia Gandhi) pass women's reservation bill to prove their women
friendly image?
Could they not find any other woman who is
reasonably clean?
They could have even picked Chief Minister
of New Delhi Sheila Dixit, who needs a reassignment after debacle in local
elections recently.The most unfortunate aspect of this circus is the silence
of our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Barring a single comment claiming this
(highlighting Patil's misdeeds) to be mudslinging, he has not said a thing
on the issue.Pratibha Patil's election is the biggest blow to India and democracy
at large.
How can India garner respect of the world
if she is represented by Patil?
Of course, I can't end a piece without letting
you know that my favorite South Asian Journalist Association (SAJA) discussion
group did not have time to discuss this issue until about a month after the
topic came up and that too briefly, yet they have managed to find ample time
to discuss boycott of Israel.
