The 20-minute intervention itself was part of a script to launch Rahul as a serious politician yet again and he, for a man who has made only five speeches in his 11 year-long parliamentary innings, seemed ready to play the part assigned to him.
Rahul began and carried through amid catcalls from ruling benches about his two-month sabbatical. Even a mild-mannered agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh could not resist taking taking a swipe at Rahul by saying "you are welcome in Parliament after a long sojourn overseas". When he referred to the Centre's obsession with planes and guns, someone shouted "Bofors".
Rahul appeared to have anticipated the jibes given the saffron outfit's swipes at his sabbatical earlier and he, smiling, urged the treasury benches to let him. His speech was crafty, with Rahul seeking to stay on the message of Modi as "pro-corporate" and "anti-farmer". In the process, Rahul, like on Sunday, did appear to go over the top, accusing the Modi regime of seeking to finish off agriculture so that the entire farm land could be passed on to industrialists.
But Congress members seemed to relish what appeared to be a case of excessive exuberance meant to make up for his absence from Parliament. What went down particularly well with colleagues was the willingness to engage with the PM.
Moreover, he repeatedly addressed the BJP benches by referring to Modi as "your PM", drawing strong response from rivals that he was "India's PM".
The aggression seemed to give them the hope that Rahul's change of attitude was for good, a feeling which was strengthened when he decided to sit through the debate well after he had spoken.
With Rahul meeting with farmers on Saturday followed by a high-voltage show at the Sunday rally making it three public events in as many days, it betrayed an urgent attempt at an image makeover after the abrupt decision to go on a leave for two months in the middle of a Parliament session raised doubts about his readiness for sustained political engagement.
A grateful Congress was quick to laud the effort, with mother Sonia leading the cheer brigade. "I did not hear the full speech of Rahul as I was busy meeting party leaders and farmers at my residence. But I was told by people it was good", Sonia said when asked by reporters. "It is good", she further said when asked by reporters on her view on Rahul's return after a puzzling sabbatical.
Others followed suit, with Rahul being feted by party's members in Lok Sabha when they met for a review meeting. Rahul , who was engaged in the meeting and made a few suggestions, acknowledged the praise.
However, as to the million dollar question as to when he would be taking over the reins from mother, there was not still clarity. Asked about it , Sonia said "the answer would only come from him".
http://ift.tt/1kLIGFz's speech at rally,Rahul Gandhi,Congress
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