CHANDIGARH—Stirred up a political controversy, bungled on the controversial statement ‘Imran is my elder brother,’ Navjot Singh Sidhu put a spike in the fortune of the Congress. All and sundry have begun posturing on the matter and the divide among the congressmen is getting deeper. Remained tightlipped, unlike in the past, axe may not fall on the faceless Punjab Congress president.
He has not only cast aspersions upon the whole nation but asseverated himself after returning from Kartarpur Sahib. He had not only attenuated the self-respect of every Indian but also attuned with the nefarious authority of Pakistan. Some may call him astute politician but he seems to be avarious man for himself.
It is an open secret that not all is well in the Congress camp was further indicated by the dissensions among senior Congress leaders. In such a crucial election time, it does not show a happy family beset, moreover with lot of problems with workers at ground level. Recently, what Sidhu had done in Punjab but still there was no let up in the factional fued in the Congress over Sidhu’s way of functioning even after the best efforts of senior colleagues. They have time and again been bringing in the notice of party’s leadership unhappiness over his potshots especially in Pakistan. This however so far failed to cap the raging feud in the Congress.
The most unfortunate on the part of the Congress opportunism has, over the past seven years become ingrained reflex of the congress politics. The slipping certitude of power has made a lack of principle the hallmark of the congress which has proved disastrous to the ‘old grand party.’ Its obscurantism is reckoned to be a bulwark for power and in coming days the congress will not shy away from embracing it.
The political chariot of congress is driven by many political horses to different directions and one may assume the future of such chariot. Since the party has given up on meaningful mobilization based on grass roots engagements, building a broad-based, democratic organizational structure. Since it has lost faith in the people, it has continued to join new people in its own distorted image. This is the most unfortunate part of today’s politics of the congress.
It is election time in five states and there is hardly any breathing space. The political teams came out and are shuttling from one place to another for their fortune, playing political games. Sidhu’s fiasco has triggered a full scale ‘civil war’ in the congress. Underlined the enormity of the blunder has given a potent weapon to the BJP. Rumbles in the congress apparent ambivalence over the issue, pointed to a deep disquiet in the party and it does not have left with more choice.
Face with a scathing attack from all and sundry for Sidhu’s over-dose of love for Pakistan, the Congress preferred an about-turn. In politics as in comedy timing is all important. A ‘joke’ that goes on too long, lost its taste so as a political crisis that is too drown out becomes a pathetic farce. The congress is rather than being able to consolidate on its gains, it has been plunging into deeper turmoil with each passing day.
It is time the political parties discarded practices of shielding such politicians for their own political interests which has already led to the erosion of people’s faith in the system. Sidhu’s applause for defeat of Pakistan time an again and the congress inability to remove such leaders from public life may give some solace to the party but at the end dangerous for the nation. He seems to be under impact of Imran ‘Kala Jadoo.’