The above photo of Rajiv Gandhi
with V.P. Singh is a poignant one. It
was obviously during the early days of their bonhomie. The Raja of Manda looks royal as usual. Rajiv
looks candid, casual and friendly.
When Rajiv entered the
political arena as the PM, though he was anointed by the stage managers of the
Congress by dubious and devious means, he appeared to be quite willing to be
amiable, with an intend to take the country forward in its development and to
curb corruption which was at the root of the ills we face. But as it was natural, the old guard which
had brought him into office succeeded in forming a coterie around him and he
became a different person. The huge
victory in the parliament elections enabled by the massive sympathy wave went
into his head and with his increasing realization that corruption was not so
easy to fight as in school essays, he became defensive, defiant and at last
lost the mandate.
The Raja of Manda, who started
off well with Rajiv also shared his vision to end corruption. In fact, as the
Finance Minister of the country, he made major inroads in that direction. Not only was he amiable, he was also tough on
the wrong doers. He gave a free hand to
enforcement agencies, but not to harass on the grounds of political
opposition.
But, with Rajiv coming under
the influence of the old guard in the party, he could no longer travel with the
Raja on the issue of corruption eradication.
Yet, he could not afford to be seen as openly dropping him from the key
Finance portfolio. So he used the ruse
of a Pakistan building up forces at the borders to move the Raja to the Defence
Ministry. But then, Bofors issue raised
by the CAG and investigation ordered by V.P.Singh himself into the HDW
Submarine deal ensured that V.P.Singh would stick to the avowed principle of
doing away with corruption in defence deals and part ways with Rajiv.
The next phase which the Raja
chose was significant for the political development in the country. He formed the Jan Morcha. It was to be the Third force – the name given
by Vinobha ji for the concept - and which was on the lines of the earlier JP
Movement. In fact, the prime proponent
of this method was Gandhi ji. He
remained outside the political structure, officially, though he was able to
operate its levers from outside, more than any other individual. Though, technically it was called undemocratic,
it was the essence of democracy and moral politics rolled into one since by his
stature of uncompromisingly standing for the avowed principle for which the
political structure vowed to exist, had the backing of the people of the land,
which was more than any of the political structures with their vested
interests. Of course once the political structure gained power, then moral
authority had no more any relevance and he was promptly thrown out, months
before he was physically assassinated by a ‘mad Hindu’.
JP also succeeded in being
outside the party politics. But soon he
too became irrelevant for the people in power.
He died, just like Gandhi ji, a heart broken man. The Janata Government which had taken office
due to his efforts had fallen due to infighting.
(Only EVR Periyar had survived this
agony. He could found a third force in
the name of DK and still did not become irrelevant.)
When V.P.Singh wanted to
emulate the previous two models, at the national level, his detractors came at
him saying that he was running away from taking up responsibility as leader of
the party and then as PM. He took over
as the leader of the Party and successfully faced the election and got the
Congress unseated. Then when he took over as PM in spite of an immoral internal
challenge from Chandrasekar, he was forced to put up with heavy weights like
Devi Lal to run the government. When the
torment became unbearable, again his detractors started predicting that the
Raja will flee, as he had done as CM, previously. They conveniently brushed under the carpet
the grandeur with which he had left the CM chair from UP decades ago. They refused to see the character of the
person in that. Then he had to implement
the Mandal hurriedly. And the BJP lead
then by L.K.Advani finding no way out of the Mandal ‘Chakravyuha’, took flight
by climbing on the Rath to Ayodhya. The
chaos which have followed, are still there to be seen and assessed.
When I see Rahul, I see
V.P.Singh and the unadulterated Rajiv in him.
He appears to have the wish of his father and intention of the
Raja. He also has so far exhibited the
will of the Raja of Manda and appears to have learnt from his father’s mistake
of allowing the old guards to form a coterie around.
The third force should actively
help in the endeavor.
As usual the detractors want to
deflect him and discredit him.
In the interest of a new political
class to develop, it only is fondly hoped that the third force would thrive at
least this time.
