Sonia Maino Gandhi Accused of Manipulating the Public
January 29, 1998
Background Report
By Douglas Bakshian
New Delhi
Introduction
In India, politicians and voters are debating the role of Sonia Gandhi, widow of the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, in the February general elections. The Italian-born Mrs. Gandhi is campaigning for the Congress Party which was suffering badly in the opinion polls before her intervention. VOA New Delhi correspondent Douglas Bakshian has more.
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Observers say Sonia Gandhi has brought the Congress Party back from the brink of political death. Congress suffered its worst defeat ever in the 1996 elections, and it has brought down the last two prime ministers, plunging the country into instability. Opinion polls show public resentment with congress was running deep until Sonia Gandhi began campaigning for the organization and invoking the magic of the Gandhi name -- the political dynasty that governed India for more than four decades.
Newspaper and magazine columnist Ajoy Bose says emotions rather than logic seem to be swaying the public.
Ajoy Bose:
"There is really nothing new to expect from the Congress (Party). And in many ways it's the Congress which has let down this country so badly. But, at the same time, in elections sometimes the packaging matters more than the contents. And when the options the other parties are offering are not particularly good -- she just could benefit the congress quite a bit. I don't think logic plays a very major part in deciding who to vote for. I think what's happening, certainly in states where congress retains some kind of organization, Sonia has been able to present the congress as an alternative. I mean, earlier the Congress was really crumbling and collapsing, and she has enthused (energized) Congress workers and at the same time given the congress some sort of face to approach the electorate with."
Then there is the issue of a perceived foreigner manipulating Indian politics. The late prime minister Indira Gandhi frequently blamed India's troubles on an un-defined foreign hand. But Mr. bose says this does not seem to be a concern for italian-born Sonia Gandhi.
Ajoy Bose:
"I don't think most voters would really see her as an Italian. If anything, being a foreigner is an advantage because she wears Indian dress, she speaks Hindi and she has been here for thirty years. And the fact that she's adopting and adapting to Indian ways I think is an advantage for her. I think people here appreciate foreigner coming here and becoming more Indian than (native) Indians (are)."
Another long-time observers of Indian politics also rejects the so-called Italian factor. Shekar Bhatia, is editor of Asian Age newspaper.
Shekar Bhatia:
"Even the charge that she is an outsider, I think, similarly does not hold in this case.
(Bakshian) So you would reject the view that Indian politics is becoming like an Italian opera?
(Bhatia) Laughs. If it is becoming an Italian opera, there is no sign of that so far. What happens two months from now is anyone's guess."
But not everyone agrees that foreign influence is not an issue. Jaya Jaitley, general secretary of the Samata Party, says Sonia Gandhi is playing a dangerous and cynical game by manipulating the emotions of the Indian public.
Jaya Jaitley:
"And I think the Indian public is very sensible, and shrewd and wise. They are quite naturally interested in seeing this fair-skinned foreign woman come out on to the scene and talk and shed tears about her mother-in-law (Indira Gandhi) and her husband (Rajiv). But why she didn't do so in the last six years or so many years is something that every Indian citizen is also asking himself or herself. Eventually the basic question is going to be, does an Indian want to be ruled by an Indian or by a foreigner?"
The Samata Party has proposed legislation that the top leadership posts including president, prime minister, and vice president be restricted to natural born Indians. The bill was put forward last year in parliament.
Some observers say Indian politics have taken a bizarre twist. They say the choice in the election is between Rome and Ram: Rome referring to Italy and Sonia Gandhi -- and Ram being one of the key Hindu Gods and a reference to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Polls show it is likely to get the largest single bloc of votes.
(Signed) neb/dab/mmk
29-Jan-1998 5:08 a.m. EST (1008 UTC) Report 5-38798
Source - Voice of AmericaMain page
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