RAHUL GANDHI LOVES HIS DOGS
The dogs of Congress “Prince” Rahul Gandhi are once again in the news. The Congress recently released a commemorative edition of the Nehru-Gandhi “familyowned” National Herald in Bengaluru as part of its re-launch. Vice President Hamid Ansari and Rahul “Baba” were present at the event where “India at Crossroads: 70 years of Independence” was released. In a rare interview with editor-in-chief Neelabh Mishra, the Congress VP singled out unemployment and the steady exodus of people from rural areas to the cities as the biggest challenge. But it was the interview’s “introduction” which apparently irritated Rahul and top party leaders, as “special attention” was also given to his two dogs. The party leadership was reminded of the “dogs controversy” that had occurred on the eve of the Assam Assembly elections earlier this year, when a prominent state party leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma had complained that Rahul was “more interested in playing with his dogs than listening to me about my ideas about how to win the elections”. An upset Sarma later quit the Congress and joined hands with BJP chief Amit Shah to ensure the saffron party’s first victory in the state. Sarma described Rahul as “arrogant” and someone who wanted a “servantmaster” relationship. On this, Congress’ digital communication in charge had said, “You have to meet Rahul Gandhi’s dog, so cute, anyone would prefer playing with him than listening to Biswa Sarma.” The new avatar of National Herald has “revived” attention to Rahul’s dogs in his first interview to the in-house newspaper. Read: “It was a hot May morning when the Congress Vice President invited us for a chat. We scrambled. Photo Editor Pramod Pushkarna had just returned from his morning walk. Editorial colleague Vishwadeepak, a night bird, had just woken up. But we made it on time. At the appointed hour Rahul Gandhi walked in dressed in a casual off white shirt and blue jeans, followed by two playful canine companions, who sat down quietly at his feet as we began the conversation. They would look up every now and then, demanding a pat or a light touch from him. He exuded warmth and playfulness, smile lighting up his face occasionally. But for the most duration he was thoughtful, replying to questions without hesitation and with a bluntness that caught us by surprise.”The National Herald was launched in Lucknow in 1938 by first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It closed in 2009 due to financial problems. The newspaper’s online edition has been functioning since November 2016 and is headed by Neelabh Mishra, former editor of Outlook (Hindi). Many party leaders had complained to the high command, alleging his left leanings. His name was recommended by Suman Dubey, a veteran journalist and personal friend of the Gandhi family. Mishra’s appointment was justified on the eve of the UP Assembly elections on the plea that “a Brahmin will send a good message”. On similar lines, the Congress had projected Delhi’s former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as the party’s CM face for the state.The paper’s “re-launch” is being seen in the light of the cases in the court against the Gandhi family and top party leaders and investigations by various agencies. The Congress is attempting to show that the paper is alive again as the BJPruled states of Haryana and Maharashtra have charged that the paper was allotted prime land by the Congress governments despite it being defunct.