A Letter to Mr. Rahul Gandhi

Dear Mr. Rahul Gandhi,

We, the people of India, hope that you are doing well. If you were to ask about us, sir, honestly speaking, we are not doing so well. We are exasperated and confused, unsure of where to turn. It’s not that we don’t see you - you speak to us, holding a copy of the constitution. We listen to you, but we no longer feel you. It wasn’t like this before the Lok Sabha elections. Back then, you touched our souls and we truly believed you were the emancipator we had been looking for.

Have your ideals changed over time, or was your patriotism just a facade? No, we don’t think so, sir. Your patriotism is evident. You are a good man, a man of principles. But there’s a growing fissure between us, which prevents you from truly reaching us. What exactly has changed over time? Did we expect too much from you, or were our minds deluded when we saw you as the imago of a perfect leader?

It started with your Bharat Jodo Yatra - a hero’s entry in slow motion, as if on a big screen. It was a time when there was only one face to look at - not because we chose to, but because it was everywhere, watching us with a piercing gaze and a mocking smile. Your entry came late, like a second hero, but it was soothing to see you wiping away the lines between us with your bare hands. We watched you as you grew grander and grander, always displaying a copy of the Constitution, instilling even more hope with each passing day. Just before the Lok Sabha election, the moment arrived when we had to crane our necks to look at you, for by then, you had become Gulliver in the land of dwarfs, towering even above the Congress party. At the time, you did not belong to the party; you belonged to us, the people of India. You were the hope we had cherished in our hearts.

But then after the election, something changed drastically. The Congress party and its alliance remained in the opposition, but this time with stronger numbers. But your euphoric celebration while in the opposition looked odd and we, the people of India, were baffled once again! What was it, sir, that made you celebrate? The BJP had imposed itself upon us, the people of India, yet you were celebrating. Sir, the victory was not solely the fruit of your efforts, nor those of the Congress party or the INDIA Alliance. We voted for you because we desperately wanted to end the Shah-Modani regime’s rule over us. It was we, the people of India, who stood in opposition to their agenda, while you served as our representatives. After the election results, you too acknowledged that it was the impoverished people of India who saved the Constitution. But perhaps you didn’t realize, sir, that the election results left us deeply disheartened, as we were confident the Alliance would triumph. While we mourned this loss, you were celebrating. What a tragic disconnect between the people and their leaders! The Gulliver we had looked upon suddenly vanished; he dwarfed himself to fit under the roof of the Congress party. Our faces darkened, weighed down by shock. Nowadays, we see you occasionally, still carrying a copy of the Constitution, but now we must bend our necks down to catch a glimpse of you. We feel lost, defeated.

So, what was it before the election that we saw? Was your image ballooned to entertain us, only to be deflated and repacked into the small box of the Congress party? You still talk about the principles like secularism, equality, women's emancipation, employment, youth strength, etcetera, etcetera. But these principles are just words coming out of your mouth; you don’t seem to embody them anymore.

But still, we believe you are honest - you are. We see that you never bend to wrong ideals and delusional principles. Your spine is more visible to us than your actions. You are still a good man, a man of principles. But there’s a glitch, sir: we see both, a politician and a philosopher in one body. It doesn’t matter though. But, while engaging in politics, you speak of philosophy. Sir, the BJP knows philosophy too, but they practice politics; though in a dirty way. At times, it’s disheartening to see you moulding those very principles only to make them align with the Congress party. Sometimes, it’s evident that you have your own set of principles and you are reluctant to embrace broader political strategies that could truly be beneficial.

Sir, when you were asked to comment on the Kolkata rape and murder case, why did you refuse to react? We understand the issue was politicised, but by refusing to address it, you seemed to adjust your principles to align with party guidelines.

Sir, you visited Manipur, and recently, you also tried to visit Sambhal. But did you visit Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh, where the peddlers were forced to display their Identity cards, specifically to single out Muslims - not just a minority, but the Muslims? The MP responsible was merely scolded by the Congress supremo, perhaps even by you, and then he issued weak clarifications at a press conference before the matter was closed.

Were you unaware of the communal tension between Hindus and Muslims in Himachal Pradesh? Did you ever consider the Muslims who were molested and humiliated by the Hindu majority? Did they not also deserve a warm embrace from you, like the people in Manipur? Did you not notice that the MP was acting in line with the BJP’s Yogi Adityanath’s guidelines to subtly impose Hinduism? Was that not serious enough? So, does the MP matter more than the Constitution you uphold? Moreover, do your party members know what the Constitution is?

You never speak openly about the molestation and humiliation of Muslims in India. May we ask why? Is it because the BJP engages in Hindu politics? But that is precisely the barrier we need to break, sir, and we look to you to lead us through it. We did not see you upholding the very Constitution you carry as a weapon against hate. Why, sir? Why is the spirit missing when we need it the most?

After the Lok Sabha election, concerns about EVM fraudulence were raised by individuals deeply committed to safeguarding democracy. Two respected institutions, ‘Vote for Democracy’ and the ‘Association for Democratic Reforms,’ dedicated themselves to investigating the matter. Additionally, independent efforts by individuals uncovered significant irregularities, culminating in detailed reports. According to these findings, the INDIA Alliance, celebrating and occupying the opposition benches, was not the opposition at all – it was, in fact, the rightful winner.

Yet, the Congress party convened a board meeting and chose not to challenge the matter. Sir, you often speak of the respect you hold for intelligence, but your actions do not always reflect this sentiment. These reports were meticulously prepared by intellectuals – renowned experts in their respective fields – who devoted significant time and effort to their analysis. Ignoring their work, don’t you think, is an insult to their dedication and expertise? We have heard you hold intelligence in the highest regard. Did it ever occur to you to engage with these individuals and discuss their findings? Besides, what about the votes we, the people of India had cast? By refusing to challenge the matter, you disregarded these findings and devalued our votes, diminishing our trust in democracy.

And the most distressing and unexpected decision by the Congress party came during the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election: Choudhary Lal Singh, a man who had supported the culprits in the Kathua rape and murder case was offered a ticket to contest the election in Kathua! We are certain, sir, that you must have been involved in the Congress party's decision-making strategy. If so, how did your principles align with this? Are your statements about women's empowerment and justice merely empty words?

Sir, we feel that your ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ has transformed into a mall – exclusive and accessible only to those who can afford it. You have adorned it and walled it with glossy, opaque glass. The privileged walk in and enjoy the ‘Mohabbat’ your ‘mall’ offers, while we are left with only an occasional glimpse of you.

Sir, we acknowledge and deeply respect your consistent efforts in raising the issue of Adani - a grave threat to our nation. That commitment is commendable. But Adani is not the sole issue; there are other challenges as well, which are eroding the values and distorting the beautiful diversity of India. BJP has set an agenda and pursues it relentlessly. What is the Congress party’s agenda? What will it fight for with equal ferocity? Certainly not the Constitution, for apart from you and a few intellectuals in the party, no one seems to understand or uphold it. Most seem to know only the rules of the political game, valuing their interests over India’s collective good.

It is disheartening, sir, to feel unprotected. This sense of insecurity chips away at us each day. We are weary of witnessing oppression in the name of religion, caste, and gender. Sometimes it feels as though this era will be remembered as the darkest period in India’s history - with the most corrupt, violent ruling party and the weakest, most ineffective opposition.

There is much more to express, but it is overwhelming. Sir, you remain India’s only hope. Thank you for being there for us. Yet, we, the people of India, need to see more of you.

Yours truly,

The People of India.