Indian politico-sphere is often a confusing quagmire filled with riddles, secrets, conundrums and unanswered questions. The list of mysteries is quite long and every new week throws up new set of questions. Right now the nation is grappling with important questions such as - Why does Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil change his clothes thrice a day? Despite his incompetence in handling the menace of terrorism, why is Sonia Gandhi not getting rid of him and appointing someone more qualified for the job? Often, the answer to such perplexing questions lies right under our noses, but we are not able to detect them because we are trained to look for complex answers and tend to ignore the obvious.
If the question 'Why Sonia has not dumped Shivraj' was asked to an ignorant outsider who had no idea who the two people in question were, he or she would would have probably asked back -'Coz Sonia loves Shivraj?' But the more knowledgeable pundits don't dare speculate the obvious and rack their brains thinking and conceiving up ludicrous theories such as Sonia can't afford to dump him since he (mis)uses his position as Home Minister to ferry her in chartered IAF flights across the nation to Congress meetings. (Considering that the Gandhi family virtually owns the Congress party, would any other minister in his place dare to refuse Mrs Gandhi her IAF junkets?)
What if the two were really in love with each other? Sounds far-fetched? I thought so too, when the hint of such an idea first sprung up in my mind during the Presidential race where Shivraj Patil was forefront in the race for India's tallest chair. Who had proposed his name for the post? It was Sonia Gandhi. But when the left put its foot down and rejected his candidature, she surprised and shocked everyone by suggesting the name of Pratibha Patil who was at that time an unknown, lightweight, long-forgotten non-entity. Of all the candidates in running, why did Sonia have to choose someone who was not on anyone's radar screen, someone who didn't matter and was never in the race? It was a completely irrational decision and makes sense only when we consider the possibility of a love-stuck Sonia Gandhi acting impulsively and impetuously as love-ridden women are generally prone to act.
Think about it. Women in love often are temperamental, act irresponsibly and frequently toss out logic and good sense out of window. They also tend to develop a soft-corner for everything related to their beaus. Is it implausible to imagine a frustrated and miffed Sonia hissing under her breadth - 'If I can't have my Patil as India's President, I'll definitely have some other Patil to take his place. But a Patil must rule the roost in this country'
If we consider the possibility that the two are deeply and madly in love with each other, a lot of things fall in place including the mystery of Patil's obsession with changing his clothes everytime he steps out of his home or office. India's Home Minister obviously knows that for Sonia, looks are very important and hence takes care to be never seen wearing the same suit twice.
People in love often tend to look at the world with rose-tinted glasses which is why Patil failed to understand the gravity of the situation and persisted in changing his clothes thrice that fateful night. Men in love and thrall of desire often tend to lose their sense of perspective. The object of their desire becomes the sole focus and purpose of their life and everything else fades into oblivion and becomes irrelevant. The approval of their lover is the only thing that matters to men in such a condition.
Hence, it comes as no surprise then when asked about the possibility of him being told to step-down from his post, he replied smilingly - Well, I've full blessings of my leader, Sonia Gandhi"
BlushingSonia
said:
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IT WAS Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s categorical assertion about the need for “decisive” action that set the tone for the Congress Working Committee (CWC)’s three-hour long deliberations on Saturday, which finally ended up with Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s offer of resignation. Terming the terror attacks in Mumbai as “an assault on our nationhood”, she said in her opening remarks that it was still not known what had motivated those responsible for the death and havoc. “I am sure we will soon find out, and also come to know who organised and facilitated their mission. But one thing I do know: we can no longer sit back and let these attacks over whelm us. Our response has to be effective and it has to be decisive,” she said. With Gandhi setting the tone, it was time for an all-out attack on Home Minister Shivraj Patil who first sought to fend off criticism enumerating the steps he proposed to take in immediate future, including the setting up of a federal investigation agency. But, there was a unanimous opinion that accountability had to be fixed. Patil had to offer the resignation after three hours of deliberations. “As the party that leads this coalition, our first task is to restore faith among the people. They must feel that they have a Government that is taking all possible measures to give succour to those who need it and, more important, to ensure that there is no recurrence of such traumatic acts of terror,” said the Congress president expressing great sorrow and anger at the havoc and destruction in Mumbai. She said she was aware that there were no easy answers and effective change took time. But the Government must plan what it can do in the immediate future and what long-term measures and reforms were needed to strengthen and equip our police and security forces to be better prepared for the challenge they face. “We must immediately set in motion whatever steps are needed to secure the safety and security of our citizens. We need to look into the lacunae that allowed terrorists to cause such mayhem. We need to put in place whatever reforms and changes are felt necessary to bring about a qualitative change in the way we anticipate and deal with terrorist violence,” said the Congress president. She said the country had confronted a rising tide of terrorism for some time, but the attack in Mumbai was “qualitatively different” and called for immediate and firm action. “Our nation has gone through a painful and agonising period. The time for intent is over. The nation is looking to us for decisive action and determined leadership. We cannot afford to fail them,” she said. Taking a dig at the opposition BJP, she said this was a time when all political parties should come together and rise above partisan considerations. “It is unfortunate that some of our political adversaries have not done so and instead sought to take advantage from the terrible suffering in the city of Mumbai. We stand firm against any attempt to divide our people on the issue of terrorism,” she said. |
