The Congress, down and out after the Lok Sabha elections and crippled by a leadership crisis, is suddenly abuzz with activity. There are strong signals that Rahul Gandhi may be on the comeback trail as he takes centre stage in the party’s response to the current pandemic.
The Congress has tried to occupy the moral high ground by extending its hand in “constructive collaboration” to the Union government. In a recent news conference, his first in several months, Rahul said he had many differences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but this was not the time to play the blame game. Just two days later, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi set up an 11-member committee to deliberate on the pandemic. While former prime minister Manmohan Singh leads it, the focus is on Rahul, who is also a member. The first item on the committee’s agenda is preparing a report for the government on an economic stimulus package for the micro, small and medium businesses. And, in this regard, Rahul announced on Twitter the launch of a dedicated portal for suggestions from the public.
The former Congress president’s current stance is a far cry from his aggressive onslaught on Modi during the Lok Sabha elections, which seemed to have backfired. In fact, the party’s newfound ally, the Shiv Sena, has praised Rahul for creating a code of conduct on how an opposition party should behave when the country faces a crisis.
This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock