oppn parties Congress: Silence Is Not Golden

News Snippets

  • Coal exploration plan worth Rs 2980cr cleared by Union cabinet
  • Government ploughs in Rs 89000cr in BSNL for 4G, 5G spectrum operations
  • Stocks gain on Wednesday: Sensex adds 350 points to 63142 and Nifty 127 points to 18726
  • Wresters agitation: Sports minister assures action by June 15, wrestlers put off agitation till then
  • WTC Final: India lose the plot after putting Australia to bat as Steve Smith stands like a rock and Travis Head counter attacks to put Australia (327 for 3) in command on the first day
  • Wrestlers agitation: Bajrang Punia. Sakshi Mallik and Vinesh Phogat rejoin work in Railways, BKU pulls back but wrestlers say agitation will go on
  • UP bahubali-turned-politician gets life in 32-year-old murder case
  • India-US seal defence cooperation roadmap as Defence minister Rajnath Singh meets US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin
  • CBI probe in the train mishap will look at error in interlocking system and probe the sabotage angle
  • Violence continues in Manipur as three persons were killed after a mob attacked an ambulance in Imphal West district
  • Karnataka cabinet is likely to discuss cow slaugther law in its next meeting
  • Rahul Gandhi woos diaspora in the US, tries to show the fight in India as between those who believe in Mahatma Gandhi and those in Nathuram Godse
  • In preparation of a shutdown, MTNL moving operations to BSNL
  • Services sector sustains growth although Services PMI slips from 62 in April to 61.2 in May
  • Stocks gain handsomely on Monday: Sensex rises 240 points to 62787 and Nifty 59 points to 18593
WTC Final: Australia take firm grip on Day1 - Travis Head (146 batting) and Steve Smith (95 batting) take them to 327 for 3 as Indian bowling falters
oppn parties
Congress: Silence Is Not Golden

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2019-06-01 22:29:27

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
The Congress party is to undertake a self-imposed “maun vrat” for one month. It has decided not to send representatives to TV channels to participate in debates. But since it does not have faith in its leaders who are likely to jump at the free publicity afforded by an appearance on TV, it has written to the TV channels not to invite anyone from the Congress for their shows.

What should one make out of this decision? Is it because the Congress thinks it will have to face questions to which it does not have answers – at least for now – that it has decided to avoid the channels? Or is it that the party is thinking of changing its spokespersons as it thinks that those representing it now have not performed well? Or is it because the party is in the doldrums as Rahul Gandhi has resigned and is in no mood to relent and a new president or a presidium is not in place? Or is it because the party realizes that after the massive BJP win, the channels are likely to give it very little space?

Whatever the reason, playing dumb is never a good option for a political party in a democracy. Since the Congress thinks it represents the views of a large cross-section of Indians, it is imperative that it participates in debates and put forward its views. Otherwise, the BJP is likely to use the vacuum to spread its message without any opposition. The Congress must formulate a strategy for this and resume debating on issues of public and national importance as soon as possible. It has a huge fight ahead and staying mum is not going to help.