In November 2014 Jayanthi Natarajan had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi complaining about all the mistreatment meted out to her, and in the process revealing how the Congress worked internally. It is only now that the letter has become public. The length of this mammoth letter runs into more than 3500 words and 40 odd paragraphs. We bring you the key take-aways:
1. Congress is run by Dictators
Jayanthi Natarjan mentions at multiple places how she and her Congress colleagues treated messages from Sonia and Rahul. In one sentence she calls them as “directives”. Here are some of the places where she clearly shows that nobody can say a word against what Sonia or Rahul decide:
“that this was a decision taken at “the highest level” and that I had no choice in the matter”
“I received specific requests [which used to be directives for us] from Shri Rahul Gandhi and his office “
2. So complete is the Dictatorship, that even the Prime Minister has no say
Natarajan mentions that it was the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who informed her that she needed to resign from her Ministerial post. We quote the exact conversation he had with her, as mentioned in the letter:
He (PM) said “Jayanthi, I have been told by Congress President, that your services are required for party work.” I was puzzled, and I said, “Yes Sir. So what should I do?” He replied, “She wants you to resign.” I was shocked and said, “Resign Sir? But when?” He replied “Today.” I once again asked him if this was what the Congress president wished. He answered in the affirmative.
This clearly shows that Dr Manmohan Singh was a weak puppet in the hands of Sonia Gandhi. What makes this even more clear is that, Jayanthi says, the PM “profusely lauded her contribution to the government” on receiving her resignation letter. This makes it clear that the PM was probably not in favour of her sacking, but had no spine to stand up for his minister in front of his overlord called Sonia.
3. True to typical Dictators, Congress Dictators are inaccessible
In her long letter, Natarajan makes multiple references of her trying to meet Rahul or Sonia to seek an explanation for her removal. But all her attempts were thwarted. When she asked time to meet Sonia, she was told she can only talk on phone. When she approached Rahul, he said “he was “running a little busy” at that time, but that he would meet her a little later“. Apparently that “little later” never came, despite several requests from her. She mentions this fact, that she constantly tried to meet both Rahul and Sonia, on two more occasions making it clear how the Dictators decide who they will meet, not vice versa.
4. The image of the Dictators is above the image of the Government
Natrajan mentions how many of her decisions as Environmental Minister, were directly influenced by requests from Rahul Gandhi and her office. She cites many examples, like the Niyamgiri Hills – Vedanta mines issue, where she towed Rahul’s line. And in spite of this, when Rahul realised that such anti-development decisions are hurting his image, he was quick to push the blame on Natarjan. She says that:
“..persons from the office of Shri Rahul Gandhi were calling the media and planting stories that my resignation was NOT for party work”
“The same day, namely, the day after I resigned, Shri Rahul Gandhi addressed a FICCI meeting of industrialists, where he made uncomplimentary references to delays in environmental clearances, and the adverse effects upon the economy, and assured the corporate world, that the party and government would henceforth ensure that there would be no delays, and bottlenecks for industry.”
Rahul Gandhi, through his mother and Congress Party Supremo Sonia, ensured that Natarjan was “sacrificed” just before he faces the Industry top-guns, at FICCI, so that his image remains of a someone who is pro-development. This should be a warning sign for any Congress leader that he can be dumped on the road at any moment to protect the Dictators.
