2002 Gujarat Riots & Surgical Strikes: Congress Yatris Troop into the Line of BJP’s Fire, Again

A running joke within the Congress is that “Digvijay Singh is like liquid oxygen,” which Ajit referred to. Liquid won’t let you live, oxygen won’t let you die”.

A veteran, astute Congress leader, Singh is one person without whom the Congress cannot function. He brings shrewdness to the table at a time when the party needs it to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party and powerful regional parties.

Lions are known for their energy, aggression and groundwork. The over three-month-long Narmada Yatra hit the Gandhi family at a time when many of their critics pushed the narrative that their chips were down. So it came as no surprise when Singh was made in-charge of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, as the party felt that his experience with the Narmada Yatra would help.

But then his latest comments have failed to impress the party. Indeed, in an unusually strong rebuke, Rahul Gandhi Singh’s remarks were described as ridiculous.

lessons Learnt?

In an internal post-mortem report just after the 2019 results were out, many within the Congress openly said that seeking proof of surgical strikes was suicidal and had damaged the party beyond repair. Lessons learned, the party has been reticent on the issue, and in fact during the visit as well, Rahul Gandhi Is making a point of meeting retired army men and pushing for restoration of old pension scheme in Himachal Pradesh. But Singh’s comment has revived the narrative that has helped the BJP.

not the first time

This is not the first time that Singh’s comments have hurt the Congress. From his stand on the Batla House encounter, to his remark that only women over 40 were affected by the PM, not girls wearing jeans, to raping by some saffron-clad men, to questioning Yakub Memon’s hanging, Singh is the favorite child of controversies. Can, but which his party has not been able to ignore.

Even on the BBC documentary made on PM Modi, there is a stumbling block in the party’s stand. In an embarrassing situation, moments after Rahul Gandhi endorsed the BBC documentary, AK Antony’s son Anil said the party was making a mistake.

Read this also | Bitten more than once, Congress never shy: Persistent misfiring takes a toll (and polls) on the party

Personally, many feel that supporting the BBC film is being seen as raising the issue of the 2002 Gujarat riots. When Sonia Gandhi called Modi a “merchant of death” in her speech, it hurt the Congress so much that till date the Congress has not been able to return to power in Gujarat.

Read this also | Will ‘undermine our sovereignty’: Congress leader AK Antony’s son Anil slams those supporting BBC series on Modi

The late Ahmed Patel had privately admitted that this was a remark that could have been avoided. Now that the Congress is insisting on raising the issue of 2002 riots, this is yet another narrative that could harm the party. And this helps BJP.

The twin issues of proof of the surgical strikes and the 2002 Gujarat riots have been a stumbling block for the Congress. But every time he is raised, the BJP has a reason to smile and attack the Congress.

The past, as they say, is a bad way to come.

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