Ubaidullah Nasir
Congress General Secretary Incharge of UP Ms. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been served the evacuation notice for her government accommodation in Lyuten’s Delhi. It was allotted to her in her capacity of being a SPG protectee. But last year in its wisdom Modi government withdrew this protection not only from her but from her mother Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi also. Since both of them are senior member of Parliament they are entitled for such an accommodation. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is not an MP so she has been asked to vacate the bungalow. Government is fully with in its legal right to ask Ms Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra to vacate the bungalow but there is a word called ethics magnamity and morality which unfortunately our present day rulers have completely thrown into dustbin. First of all withdrawal of SPG cover from this family which has lost two of its shining stars in terrorist attack was uncalled for as threat to their lives still looms large, and now even government accommodation which is necessary from SPG standard for protectee’s protection is being taken away. This may be legal but is unethical meant to make the family vulnerable to any eventuality. God forbid if something happens to this family who will be responsible for that? Don’t forget that withdrawal of SPG cover from late Rajeev Gandhi by VP Singh government which was not restored by Chandrashekhar government even if it was supported by Congress, lead to the assassination of Rajeev Gandhi. Congress has naturally termed it as a vendetta politics.They are quoting many instances when political rivalry has not come in the way of personal behavior including help in time of need. One senior leader has told me once that Socialist party rival of late Feroze Gandhi grand father of Rahul G and Priyanka G was provided one Geep and some cash by him to contest election and whenever he visited Delhi use to stay with him. Atal ji has himself told that then PM Rajeev Gandhi made him member of a delegation visiting US so that he could get his treatment there, he has gone to the extent of saying that he is alive today because of Rajeev Gandhi. The emergence of Mr. Narendra Modi has changed the tone of political discourse and nature of political behavior in this country which could be proud of its democratic mature behaviour of its leaders from the very beginning. Never before in the democratic history of this country political opponents have been termed anti national or hobnobbing with enemy country. But now opposition to the government is considered opposition to the nation.
Why is BJP so scared of Priyanka Gandhi and Congress specially in UP where Congress has been out of power for the last thirty years and has been pushed to poor fourth position in state politics. It could hardly won seven seats in last assembly election and only one seat in parliamentary election. Many political pundits have even written its obituary. How it is that Congress is bouncing back giving sleepless nights not only to ruling BJP but even to major opposition parties SP and BSP. The fact is that immediately after parliamentary election Congress is on road on every major issue related with public interest, be it exorbitant hike in electricity rates, farmer’s issues, law and order situation, atrocities on Dalits police brutality during CAA protest, migrant labours issue and petroleum price hikes. It was only Congress which challenged the government on every front whereas both SP and BSP simply issued press notes and twitters to register their protest. Now Ms. Mayawati is openly supporting BJP whereas SP is playing hide and seek ,thus Congress has brought itself to no one position. Actually BJP SP and BSP are scared that if Congress got strength its traditional vote bank which has gone to BJP (Upper caste pandits ) SP (Muslims ) and BSP(SC/ST) giving them prime position in state politics may go back to Congress. Thus it has become common enemy of both ruling and major opposition parties in the state.
The evacuation order served to Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may prove a blessing in disguise for UP Congress,which has already occupied first position in opposition politics thanks to able leadership guidance and untiring efforts of its general secretary incharge Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and street fighter state chief Ajay Kumar lallu.According to reliable informations Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is going to shift to Lucknow. A kothi of her close relative late Sheila Kaul is being furnished for her. Earlier too whenever Ms. Priyanka has stayed in Lucknow she has stayed there. Her permanent stay in Lucknow will naturally galvanize party cadres and struggle against Yogi government will get the new heights.
There is no denying the fact that Congress has got a lot of sympathy due to its continuous struggle for public causes but it has still to go a long way. State President Ajay Kuma lallu is not only leading anti government struggle from front but is also busy in organizing the party structure up to booth level but it is a gigantic task. Congress in UP has to face not only ruling BJP but opposition SP and BSP also. Political pundits and even common people are of the opinion that if Congress continued its struggle for public interest, organized itself to booth level and projected Ms. Priyanka Gandhi as CM candidate it will bounce back to power in forthcoming assembly elections.