Pained at PM's attack on late Rajiv Gandhi, says Sam Pitroda
Indore: Senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda Sunday condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for terming former PM Rajiv Gandhi as corrupt.
Speaking at a poll rally in Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, PM Modi, attacking Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, accused the latter's father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, of being corrupt.
"Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'Bhrastachari number 1' (corrupt number 1)," Modi had said.
Hitting back, Pitroda Sunday said, "The baseless comments that the country's current Prime Minister has made yesterday about former premier Rajiv Gandhi makes me feel ashamed as a Gujarati. I belong to the same Gujarat where Mahatma Gandhi was born."
Speaking to reporters at the Indore Press Club, Pitroda, who is the chief of the Indian Overseas Congress, said, "I am pained to see people hailing from Gujarat (referring to PM Modi) falling to such an extent that they lie in such a way about a dead person."
Pitroda (77) was a close aide of Rajiv Gandhi.
Pitroda also asked the Election Commission to "introspect" on its clean chit to the PM and BJP president Amit Shah on some controversial statements and alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
"The Election Commissioner should ponder whether he is EC of the country or is he representing a political party," Pitroda remarked, adding that the ruling party had "hijacked" the country's democracy.
"We can see that government bodies are being taken over and their chiefs are afraid," Pitroda alleged.
"In the last five years, the Modi government has not fulfilled its poll promises. This government has only lied and not done any specific work. Despite that when youth get impressed with Modi, I am really surprised," he said.
In a reply to a query on such behaviour by the youth, Pitroda said, "It is definitely true and appropriate to accept that it is our weakness that we are unable to take our stand to the youth. But we can't spend crores of rupees like the BJP on social media.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
