Congress Undemocratic Ideology - 4

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[url="http://www.dailypioneer.com/359053/Dynasty-wrapped-in-needless-secrecy.html"]Dynasty wrapped in needless secrecy[/url]

The point to note is that when it comes to the ‘first family’, the media’s thirst for investigative journalism evaporates into handout journalism. This is despite the fact that the country has been routinely misled on many occasions. When Sonia failed to be present in the opening sessions of Parliament, it was put out (by unnamed sources) that she was suffering from ‘viral fever’ — an explanation that was believable in the context of the epidemic doing the rounds of Delhi. When, last year, she abruptly cancelled her meeting with the visiting British Prime Minister it was again put out that the family had to rush overseas because Sonia’s mother wasn’t keeping too well.



No one ever claimed ownership of these doubtful explanations of the Gandhi family’s movements. For year after year, even as fawning courtiers celebrated Rahul Gandhi’s birthday, the birthday boy never happened to be in the country. Delhi resonated with idle speculation over where the birthday was actually celebrated. However, for the media the Congress general secretary’s travel itinerary was never the subject of any inquiry. Even the Right to Information Act has failed to yield any information on the issue — presumably because it has ‘security’ implications.



The Gandhi family has wrapped itself in so much needless secrecy that it has fuelled bizarre conspiracy theories — some of them tasteless. Many of these have been in circulation over the past few days. Congress leaders can decry such irresponsible chatter, especially when it concerns someone’s health, but it would be prudent to recognise that the root of misinformation is the information blackout.



It is everyone’s hope that Sonia has a speedy recovery and is able to resume normal life as soon as possible. If she needs a quiet period of recuperation, it is only right that she be spared the intrusive gaze of publicity. At the same time, her illness and absence has implications that have a bearing on the functioning of the Government. In striking a balance between patient confidentiality and authentic information, there are enough good precedents to follow.