Rahul Gandhi and Bhatta Parsul: A new low in Indian politics?
After alleging atrocities and 'killings' in UP village of Bhatta Parsaul, the Congress has now denied that Rahul Gandhi ever said there were 72 heaps of ashes of dead bodies in the village. Is Rahul getting his politics and political advisers wrong?
CONGRESS GENERAL secretary Rahul Gandhi has got himself into a difficult and embarrassing situation - one that can backfire and will send wrong signals to his supporters and give ammunition to the opposition.
Rahul Gandhi had alleged that Uttar Pradesh’s state security personnel had carried out rape and killing in the Greater Noida village of Bhatta Parsaul, but women interviewed by the media in the village have allegedly denied that any such incidents took place, though villagers were beaten up harshly.
Just after May 7, when Uttar Pradesh authorities cracked down on protesting villagers over land issues, Rahul Gandhi, while producing photographs taken by farmers and journalists, reportedly said that the police, while taking action, had killed more people than accounted for, and that women had been molested.
The Mayawati government has gone into a tizzy after Rahul met the Prime Minister on Monday with villagers from the village.
In his initial reported statement, Gandhi had said, "74 stacks of hay were set on fire. There were bones in them. Women too were raped." But on May 18, the Congress spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi told the media that Rahul had been misquoted by the media.
"Mr Rahul had said that there was a 70-foot diameter mound of ashes. That's what he said. And I don't know how 70 became 74 and ashes became bodies. This is a very serious matter. What has been printed or broadcasted, we deny it 100 per cent. I've checked thoroughly, I suggest you do too and look at the footage," said Dwivedi, as reported by a newspaper.
Nevertheless, the Bahujan Samaj Party has refuted the charges made by Rahul Gandhi. But Digvijaya Singh, a senior Congress leader, has backed Gandhi's claims about the alleged torture.
While the matter is under investigation, and the fact that what truly transpired in Bhatta Parsaul will probably be never known completely – it’s the political maneuvering that has garnered all the attention. Have Rahul Gandhi’s advisors or Rahul Gandhi himself made a huge mis-calculation? Is there a larger political play involved to force the Congress into alliances in states? Is Rahul Gandhi getting his hands purposely dirty to play a bigger role in politcs? Shouldn't Sonia Gandhi have intervened in the matter to provide leadership? What's Digvijay Singh's role in leading on Rahul Gandhi?
With the 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls very much in the picture, how Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati handled the incidents related to Bhatta Parsaul will remain in the people’s mind in Uttar Pradesh.
Only time will tell if Congress’s charge against Mayawati of "institutionalising corruption" in the state pays political dividend by its firing on the shoulders of Bhatta Parsaul. Or were Rahul’s advisors using his shoulders to open a different poltical front?
Just after May 7, when Uttar Pradesh authorities cracked down on protesting villagers over land issues, Rahul Gandhi, while producing photographs taken by farmers and journalists, reportedly said that the police, while taking action, had killed more people than accounted for, and that women had been molested.
The Mayawati government has gone into a tizzy after Rahul met the Prime Minister on Monday with villagers from the village.
In his initial reported statement, Gandhi had said, "74 stacks of hay were set on fire. There were bones in them. Women too were raped." But on May 18, the Congress spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi told the media that Rahul had been misquoted by the media.
"Mr Rahul had said that there was a 70-foot diameter mound of ashes. That's what he said. And I don't know how 70 became 74 and ashes became bodies. This is a very serious matter. What has been printed or broadcasted, we deny it 100 per cent. I've checked thoroughly, I suggest you do too and look at the footage," said Dwivedi, as reported by a newspaper.
Even if there is a 74-foot diameter mound of ashes, should Rahul Gandhi have alleged mass killing without thorough investigation? And what of the charges of unsubstantiated rape and mollestation against the UP security men? If Rahul spoke to 'witnesses' in the village where are they now?
Nevertheless, the Bahujan Samaj Party has refuted the charges made by Rahul Gandhi. But Digvijaya Singh, a senior Congress leader, has backed Gandhi's claims about the alleged torture.
While the matter is under investigation, and the fact that what truly transpired in Bhatta Parsaul will probably be never known completely – it’s the political maneuvering that has garnered all the attention. Have Rahul Gandhi’s advisors or Rahul Gandhi himself made a huge mis-calculation? Is there a larger political play involved to force the Congress into alliances in states? Is Rahul Gandhi getting his hands purposely dirty to play a bigger role in politcs? Shouldn't Sonia Gandhi have intervened in the matter to provide leadership? What's Digvijay Singh's role in leading on Rahul Gandhi?
With the 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls very much in the picture, how Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati handled the incidents related to Bhatta Parsaul will remain in the people’s mind in Uttar Pradesh.
Only time will tell if Congress’s charge against Mayawati of "institutionalising corruption" in the state pays political dividend by its firing on the shoulders of Bhatta Parsaul. Or were Rahul’s advisors using his shoulders to open a different poltical front?
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