I am being attacked because I’m doing things that are dangerous to the system….I’m a serious politician. I’m not somebody ….I’m somebody who’s here….I’m going to fight a battle. I’m going to fight a deep battle…. Don’t forget that.
– Indian clown prince Rahul Gandhi in first extended TV interview
Like millions of Indians (and former Indians), I too derived much entertainment yesterday by Rahul Gandhi’s ’empower women,’ ’empower people,’ ’empower youth’ babble and his steadfast refusal to address specifics in his first extended interview.
In my not so humble view, all Rahul accomplished through the interview was to ’empower Narendra Modi.’ 😉
Rahul, it’s better to shut your mouth and let people suspect you’re an idiot than to open your mouth and confirm the suspicion!
Related Content:
Transcript of Rahul Gandhi’s First TV Interview
Rahul’s TV Interview – ‘Empowers’ Modi added by SearchIndia.com on
View all posts by SearchIndia.com →
I feel sad.
This man is not even a David in front of Modi’s Goliath.
I am scared, India will be ruled by that dirty liar, who only cares for corporates and fanaticism.
PS – At least Rahul didnt ask to stop the interview, like Modi. But still, Rahul paints a pathetic picture of himself by this interview.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Rahul would have been wiser not to give the interview at all.
But Rahul and Congress are in a desperate situation given the opinion polls and in their desperation they’re making big mistakes.
I suspect Indians will not give a full majority to Modi/BJP too.
“Rahul would have been wiser not to give the interview at all.”
Correction. Rahul would have been wiser not to show his baby face in the world of politics at all…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Rahul is like his father – A well-meaning Idiot!
“I am scared, India will be ruled by that dirty liar, who only cares for corporates and fanaticism. ”
Hmm….what difference will it make? One is a baby-faced naive idiot, whose only credentials are that he belongs to a family with rich political heritage. He will do more damage to the country than anyone has ever done before with his drastic and nonsensical decisions..
To understand the “What-if Rahul Gandhi became PM” factor, you need to go back in time all the way to the late 70s when his Uncle, Sanjay Gandhi, wreaked terror amongst the common folks with his arrogant draconian decisions during the emergency…. Rahul might not be Sanjay Gandhi, but he is a docile version of his uncle, tame snake, but a snake nevertheless, never judge him by his baby looks because a baby cobra is still poisonous.
As for Modi, first let him get a majority and support of his allies to rule because I believe no party will get an absolute majority. Even if he is truly arrogant and demonic as you describe, the damage that he will do will be no less/more than what Congress will do if they come back to power…..
I am still surprised at how naive some people are… All the politicians have similar agendas, no matter what party they are in, no matter what religion/caste/creed, they belong to… The only difference is that the lesser corrupt politicians inflict lesser damage.
Just sit back and enjoy the action….. because this election is gonna be one roller-coaster ride. I won’t be surprised to see a 1996-1998 type scenario in which governments fell in succession like nine pins.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Instability is great tamasha to watch but probably a dampener on investments.
SI Wrote: “It’s better to shut your mouth and let people suspect you’re an idiot than to open your mouth and confirm the suspicion!”
Words have never been more truer. Thank you SI 🙂
As for your strong belief that Rahul empowered Modi, I would say it is only partially true…..
Considering that Kejirwal has already established himself as the second best alternative (Even despite all those idiotic incidents over the past three weeks).. Rahul’s speech will only help people turn to Arvind Kejirwal as their (pseudo)-savior. Whether it is in 20 or 100 constituencies, we’ll know in a few months…
I pray that this election should be the last time we see the Gandhi-Nehru family in Politics…. I am really tired of their bullshit.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: I pray that this election should be the last time we see the Gandhi-Nehru family in Politics.
That won’t happen because in the absence of an ideology, the Gandhi-Nehru family is the only rallying point, the only force unifying all the Congress low-lives from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
It’s hard for Congressmen to survive/stay together without a Gandhi-Nehru at the helm.
“I am scared, India will be ruled by that dirty liar, who only cares for corporates and fanaticism.”
And i’m afraid of India of becoming more vulnerable to terrorist attacks, that would be invited or ignored and ever rising price of petrol/diesel reaching RS 200/Litre, Hindus becoming minorities (officially), soldier getting killed in the borders and government being indifferent about it, no sign of development in any state (except Gujarat) and finally selling whole country.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: And i’m afraid of India of becoming more vulnerable to terrorist attacks,
Get Real!
More people die of snake-bites in India than at the hands of Jihadists. 😉
Source: Snake bites kill 46,000 in India yearly – http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-06/india/30481201_1_anti-venom-krait-snake-bites
In the last 20 years, Jihadists have not killed 46,000 (that is if you include Kashmir and even then 46,000 is a big stretch) in India.
Funny but don’t you think 46k is already a huge number and terror attacks only add to that?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
I’d recommend every Indian village, town and city stock up on anti-venom serum before stocking up on more guns and bombs to tackle the Jihadists.
Tackling Terrorism is largely a convenient bogey for defense corporations that grow fat on contracts by fooling unthinking minds (masses) and corrupting venal minds (politicians).
No, I’m not advocating we ignore terrorist threats and disband our police and military but we ought to keep things in perspective before blah blah blahing.
Things are the same in my country (U.S.) too….terrorist threat is being used as an excuse to spend tens of billions on everything from NSA spying to setting up SWAT teams to purchasing Armored Carriers by cities to waging illegal wars (Iraq).
We must ask ourselves the question that Roman orator Marcus Tullius Cicero made famous 2,000 years ago: Cui bono? (Who benefits).
I agree with Spity2, SI.
But my worry is not about terrorists alone, but religious bigots, who will go to any length to convert people from the Hindu religion….
Believe me, people are being vastly mislead here in the name of secularism.. True secularism refers to tolerance towards people from all religions,caste, creed etc, but the pseudo-secularists here have twisted the term and given it a new meaning “Anti-Hindu bashing”.
If anyone disagrees, they label them as a fascist, Hindu terrorist, or saffronist…. If you speak about Hinduism, you are looked down, if you speak something against them, people call you a secularist???
This kind of idiotic behavior will damage Indians more than terrorism. After all, the biggest terror is the world is becoming a stranger in your own home and having to plead for the most basic benefits.
At this rate, Hindus will become a minority within 50 years and incidents like Godhra and Muzaffarnagar will become common.
Secularism isn’t just about protecting the minority, it is about giving respect to the majority as well….. Respect everyone, let everyone live. That is all we ask.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: my worry is not about terrorists alone, but religious bigots, who will go to any length to convert people from the Hindu religion….
In my view, religion conversion in the current era is most often a class issue (unlike in the Roman era).
It’s the lower classes (who often fall in the lower castes and low education groups) that fall prey to the blandishment of a few measures of rice or the dulcet message of a fast trip to heaven. Hence, the derogatory term Rice Converts applied to Christian converts.
India can minimize Hindu conversion to Islam, Christianity, Buddhism etc by ensuring that development raises all boats not just a few boats. Only way to do it is via manufacturing.
I liked Rahul’s emphasis yesterday on manufacturing but I think it’s come too late. The manufacturing train has left India for China.
2. That said I suspect the Gandhi-Nehru family is not well disposed toward Hindus. Prominent Congress leaders are Sikhs (Manmohan Singh), Christians (Sonia, A.K.Antony) or Muslims (Ghulam Nabhi Azad, Salman Khurshid).
According to Wikileaks, Rahul Gandhi told the Americans he was more concerned about Saffron terror.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-17/india/28265611_1_tensions-and-political-confrontations-group-among-certain-elements-bigger-threat
Compared to snake-bites, terrorism is not that big a threat to Indians (given the few incidents and few deaths).
But I’d still consider Islamic militant groups a higher risk compared to Hindu outfits because of Pakistani angle. Pakistan is a failed state and wants to drag India with it to the Kabristan (graveyard).
@Spity2
And i’m afraid of India of becoming more vulnerable to terrorist attacks —- with people like Modi in power, even the most innocent Muslim in India might be prompted to be a terrorist. It is this kind of rulers who creates terrorists out of innocents.
This is the same for American/CIA presidents as much as Indian leaders like Modi/Thackerays.
Why wasnt there any terrorism in India before the 89’s (except for the Khalistan), how come a US president talked about India as the second largest Muslim country, but not one in Al Qaeda.
that would be invited or ignored and ever rising price of petrol/diesel reaching RS 200/Litre — you really think with leaders like Modi fuel price would go down – dream on brother – Modi has and will do anything to please the corporates.
Dont forget the fact that one major reason for fuel price rise in India, is because govts want to keep pleasing Reliance. One of the biggest mistakes, after Indira Gandhi’s death, was to permit these industrialists inside the parliament.
Hindus becoming minorities (officially) —– really, this is another chapter out of an RSS propaganda class , when is it going to happen in 50000AD or after? By then, may be there wont be any Muslims at all in India. Most of them would have left India, and the rest would be in jail waiting for some justice for unknown crimes. I have lot of Muslim friends and telling you this – their life in current India is very difficult.
soldier getting killed in the borders and government being indifferent about it —- irrespective of congress/BJP this will keep happening, as they absolutely dont care for peace, dont forget most of the superior officers killed in the army (Kargil for eg)are often done by our own poor soldiers. I say this after coming from an army family – 7 members so far from the second world war starting with my grand father. My cousin brother who is currently in Kashmir would be the last one. We have decided we will not send anymore of us to this corrupt and racist and fascist orgn.
no sign of development in any state (except Gujarat) and finally selling whole country – really really my brother – If some 4 lane roads and malls are the sign of development then may be, but there are other states which might still be above Gujarat on that criteria. If you take out the numbers of Kerala, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh (and Tamil Nadu in the last 10 years), from the overall Indian figures, India will decorate the very last rows of almost every indices of UN. Thanks to these states, we are slightly above the last rows. Kerala is the only state, which if looked independently, can decorate the top most rows of UN indices.
In fact the state which has done brilliant in the last 10 years is Tamil Nadu. Excellent work, but they dont seem to do the PR work like Modi.
Did you ever hear about development in Gujarat, before Modi welcomed Tatas – who wanted to move out of Bengal, and ever since he has done just that, offering complimentary stuff to rich corporates in the name of development, and on the blood of poors, his bloody expensive PR campaigns has just exaggerated all his deeds too, followed by the corporates and their media.
Remember some time back, India had another CM – Naidu – who was doing something similar, with the help of a local PR machinery, but see where he is now.
Since Modi is a PR bubble, I dont think he will get enough majority to be a PM, but at the end of the election, it all will be like a market and there are so many criminals out there who will support him for any bargain.
That’s why I am afraid he might be the next PM.
And after this interview, I am convinced Rahul is a waste.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You could have reduced the above 659-word comment to 5 words: 😉
For those not familiar with American politics, Republicans in the U.S. have a similar philosophy to the BJP (just substitute ‘Christianity’ and ‘Jesus’ for ‘Hindu’ and ‘Ram’ respectively).
Republican Philosophy:
Humans in far corners of the world are more similar than different. Just the names vary.
Just as the majority of Christian White trash that vote for Republicans do not benefit from Republican administrations, the majority of Hindu trash who vote for BJP will gain little from BJP rule. Suffering will be the only reward of their votes.
I suspect U.S. corporations will be thrilled with Modi’s victory because the Congress (with its multiple pulls and lurches) is neither here nor there.
@fotobirajesh
May be you’re right about most of the things.
But your explanation doesn’t change the fact that all the scams (2g, coal….) happened during congress term.
I’m not saying that Modi is going to change the game in India but we don’t know what he can/can’t do.
But we know for the fact that India is going nowhere under congress except for increase in everything (crime rate, onion price, petrol price…) so it would be stupid to bring them to the power again.
May be India would go no where even with BJP in power but that’s the chance India has to take.
Gujarat riots don’t happen like random terrorist attacks, they happen because once in a while Hindus want to let everyone know that India belongs to Hindus. They are angered see their friends, children, parents to see burnt alive by internal Muslim groups. What about the Innocent Hindus then?
” I have lot of Muslim friends and telling you this – their life in current India is very difficult.”
Situation is quite opposite to what you say.
Muslims have easier lives in India than any country in the world.
They enjoy freedom like none other. Only in India (and may be western countries) Muslim women can walk without bhurka without being stoned to death or stripped naked in public in the name of punishment.
Do you know in the state of Karnataka, the Govt. thought of bringing a bill where a Muslim would be paid Rs 50,000 for getting married every time.
Let me make one thing very clear to you. India is not a Muslim country. It just happens to provide shelter to all the Muslims who don’t give $hit about India’s well being.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: But your explanation doesn’t change the fact that all the scams (2g, coal….) happened during congress term.
Ha ha ha ha.
What Rubbish!
People have such poor memories.
Congress does NOT have monopoly on corruption.
BJP leaders were caught on Video accepting bribes.
Remember Tehelka videos?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangaru_Laxman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_West_End#Operation_West_End_.282001.29
What else you got?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
BJP leaders on video for corruption not enough?
How about BJP leader Yediyurappa doing his best to placate notorious Reddy Brothers to stay in power.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Janardhana_Reddy
Dude dig deeper.
These are nothing compared to Congress’ achievements in the field of corruption.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
BJP are lesser crooks not because they’re saints believing in Ram Rajya.
They appear to be lesser crooks only because they’ve had less time in power compared to the Congress.
Given time, BJP will beat Congress’s dubious record on Bofors, 2G, Coalgate etc.
@ spity 2 sorry at work, if not would have loved to revert for every thing.
But your assumption that BJP would be better than congress in corruption is either naivete or pure bias. Remember the Enron group – who were declared Pauper or something like that in US. One of the things that came out during that process was – Enron had declared so much millions – don’t remember the amount – it was huge – for educating or some other term in India. Now look at what happened. Remember the 13 day rule of Vajpayee – The only major order he signed during that 13 days was granting the deal for Enron.
There are so many others like that. The fact is BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin, just that the former is backed by real fascists and the latter by family politics.
Gujarat riots don’t happen like random terrorist attacks, they happen because once in a while Hindus want to let everyone know that India belongs to Hindus – this comment of yours speaks volumes about you. Sorry
@fotobirajesh: “Gujarat riots don’t happen like random terrorist attacks, they happen because once in a while Hindus want to let everyone know that India belongs to Hindus – this comment of yours speaks volumes about you. Sorry”
No need to apologize.
I wouldn’t give rat’s a$$ about what you think about me any way.
With Rahul as PM candidate, Congress will not get even 100 seats in coming election.
Time for Mr. Pranab Mukharjee or Chidambaram to be considered as genuine PM candidates.
Only then Congress can be saved!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: Time for Mr. Pranab Mukharjee or Chidambaram to be considered as genuine PM candidates.
What did you drink today?
Surely, it can’t be Kapi.
Oops, made a mistake with Chidambaram.
He is known as the [Deleted because no proof/sources provided] in many cases including Spectrum 2G.
Destroyed the Indian Rupee and gave it a quiet burial during his term as Finance Minister.
Pranab is currently doing an awesome job as President and will definitely make a good PM.
Arun has a strong point when he stated that Pranab was a prospective PM candidate. Unlike Chidambaram and Manmohan, Pranab is well-respected in his constituency and will actually get the support of the left parties in Bengal and Kerala if declared as PM. This was one of the main reasons why Pranab was nominated for the President post (Indirectly removing an obstacle for Rahul).
And also, Pranab will not dance to the tune of Sonia because he is politically savvy, and can turn against Sonia when odds favor him…. The only reason Pranab managed to get many cabinet posts during 2004-2012 was because Sonia wanted someone to checkmate Manmohan if he ever was to go against her.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Somalingam has a better chance of becoming Congress PM compared to Chidambaram or Pranab Mukherjee.
Whatever is the question, my answers are already set.
“I want to empower the women, bring on RTI, change the system.”
Laughed so much that I cried, really.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
That’s what all Democracy eventually descends to – Rule by a few Blessed (lucky) Idiots.
Azhagiri, Kanimozhi, Rahul, Omar Abdullah, Supriya (Pawar’s daughter), Sonia, Meira Kumar, Scindias – All of them are dung (worthless creatures) that have risen to the top purely by circumstances of birth or relationship ties.
None of the above have spine, intellect or balls, which I suppose are strong qualifications in India considering the people they rule too are effete, impotent creatures lacking spine, intellect or balls.
The right leaders for the right set of people. Made for Each Other. 😉
Whether we like it or not, a leader like Narendra Modi is a more effective leader since he’s tempered by trials, hardened by battles, strengthened by defeat of adversaries.
Modi is pragmatic, tactical and strategic – a rare amalgam.
But is Modi the leader we want since he’s more likely to stand by the interests of the corporations (the wealthy) as opposed to interests of the masses.
If I have understood Modi’s model of achieving growth correctly, he’s a believer in trickle-down growth. As so many nations have shown, trickle down is fine in theory but not so fine in reality.
“Whether we like it or not, a leader like Narendra Modi is a more effective leader since he’s tempered by trials, hardened by battles, strengthened by defeat of adversaries.
Modi is pragmatic, tactical and strategic – a rare amalgam.” ——-> a rare note of praise from SI for Modi!
Let us not argue… Amma may become the next PM 🙂
SearchIndia.com Responds:
After Devegowda in 1996 or 1997, I won’t be surprised even if Vadivelu or Vivek becomes the next Indian PM.
Not all of Modi’s work is for corporations, and he has credentials in addressing the irrigation and electricity woes of Gujarat: http://guruprasad.net/posts/modi-phenomenon-propaganda-or-reality.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. I’ve looked at your above link and noticed the screenshots of newspaper headlines.
Solar power and reducing inefficiencies in transmission may to some extent have done the trick in Gujarat.
But I’d still need a more convincing explanation like, for instance, a time-series table on Power output in Gujarat from 2000-2013.
Power projects typically have long gestation periods (and sometimes a project started by one party might come to fruition years later when a different party is in power).
Plus, it’d also be nice to know how many power projects were approved, initiated and completed during Modi’s 14-year tenure.
Until I see reliable data on power generation in Gujarat in a time-series format and information on power projects initiated and completed by Modi during his tenure, I’d encourage readers to be skeptical of screenshots of media headlines.
2. Since your link also has screenshots on the massacre, I’m touching upon it.
I’d still find Modi culpable for the riots that happened after the train incident because given the history of riots in India it was inevitable there’d be a violent retaliation by Hindus, particularly by BJP cadres who’d think it’s their divine right and entitlement to inflict 10-1 injury on Muslims.
Modi as an administrator should have been better prepared given India’s history of communal conflagrations.
If Modi is not guilty of abetting the holocaust, then he’s culpable by negligence for not being adequately prepared for the tsunami of violence that was inevitable.
In addition, the screenshots in your link addresses the issue of when Army was called in but fails to address the bigger issue of thugs having free rein to massacre Muslims for two days.
3. Excerpt from Wiki on Development in Gujarat under Modi:
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narendra_Modi#Debate_on_Gujarat_.22miracle.22
4. Bottom line, we live in a world where PR campaigns have become highly sophisticated and therefore need to exercise great deal of caution on how much real substance underpin screenshots of headlines.
Narendra Modi is a very image conscious political leader and the first non-Congress political brand with a pan-India appeal. And like all brands, I believe Modi too suffers from over-hype.
This interview seemed more like someone prepared for a Chemistry exam and was consequently flummoxed when the interviewer asked him Physics questions.
During the later part of the interview Rahul sounded like a petulant child, angry that he was not being asked certain questions.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
The fate of 1.2 billion Indians could soon rest in this clown’s hands.
No matter who wins the 16th Lok Sabha elections, Indians are guaranteed entertainment like never before. 😉