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By Poonam I Kaushish<\/strong><\/p>\n \n It was a short-lived hum-sath-sath-hain show of outrage, grief and retribution. Barely, has the ink dried on Operation Sindoor post the brutal Pahalgam attack 22 April killing 26, its back to square one: Tu-tu-mein-mein of petty politricking between ruling BJP and its b\u00eate noire Congress. Over your list vs my list of MPs delegations to 30 world Capital\u2019s to reinforce New Delhi\u2019s post-Pahalgam diplomatic outreach.<\/p>\n True, Modi Sarkar\u2019s decision to include Opposition leaders in seven delegations is an astute and clever continuation of the tone and tenor of the moment. So also, its decision to name three Opposition leaders of Congress, NC and DMK to head these groups besides allies JD(U) and Shiv Sena. Yet, for reasons best known to them, both Congress and TMC decided to play spoil sport.<\/p>\n While Mamata\u2019s Trinimool has withdrawn its MP from one of the delegation on the facetious plea that it wasn\u2019t consulted about its choice, Congress too criticised Government for \u201cplaying games\u201d with a \u201cmischievous mindset\u201d by naming former UN diplomat-turned its MP Tharoor as head of one all-Party delegation, discounting four MPs suggested by it. Never mind, if in the process, it scored a self goal laying bear its divide within, looks resentful and appears churlish as one of its list of four was included in a group, besides three other leaders from the Party.<\/p>\n Predictably, BJP lashed out accusing Congress of internal hypocrisy, \u201cThe Party opposes its MP who speaks for India\u2026.the Congress leadership is uncomfortable with anyone who overshadows the \u2018High Command\u2019.\u201d Adding to Congress discomfiture, Tharoor welcomed Government\u2019s decision stating, \u201cThis has nothing to do with Party politics.\u201d Sic.<\/p>\n Certainly, the former UN diplomat\u2019s inclusion may not surprise many as he has been one of the vocal supporters of the\u00a0Government\u00a0on the India-Pakistan stand-off telling the story clearly and forcefully. Showcasing, the collective political coming together across Party lines. But it also underscores a departure from his Party\u2019s stand. So much so, that Congress was forced to announce that his statements were his own views and not the Party\u2019s stand.<\/p>\n To be fair, Congress, like any other Opposition Party, would want its representative to support Government as far as fight against terror is concerned but not give a clean chit or justify almost all Government policies as Tharoor has been doing. Said a senior leader, \u201cHe has crossed the Lakshan Rekha.\u00a0 Congress mein hona aur Congress ka hona mein zameen-aasmaan ka antar hai.<\/p>\n \u201cFor instance we raised the issue on US President Trump\u2019s claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. However, Tharoor publically dismissed Trump\u2019s claims, in sharp contrast to our Party\u2019s stand.\u201d Even as Government said the ceasefire was initiated by Pakistan\u2019s DGMO.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the only time Tharoor has found himself at odds with his Party. Earlier, the Congress MP admitted that he was \u201cleft with egg on the face\u201d for opposing India\u2019s stand vis-a-vis the Russia-Ukraine war. The former UN diplomat-turned politician also praised the outcome of PM Modi\u2019s meeting with Trump at the White House.<\/p>\n The issue is not inclusion of Tharoor or a quibble between BJP-Congress. But it raises a\u00a0\u00a0 quintessential question: Nation come first or Party?<\/p>\n Also, while exercising our adult franchise citizens should be completely focused Obviously, at the outset nation and national interest come first. Wherein, every Indian, irrespective of caste, creed or religion is an Indian first. Political ambitions and ideologies have their own place, but country always is first. Leaders and Parties should be mindful of the fact that opposing a rival or an individual should not go against the nation\u2019s best interests.<\/p>\n With India\u2019s global profile changing rapidly with a growing economy, on track to becoming a super power, it par for the political course. Also in times of war, endemic or strife one has to unconditionally support the Government. A leader can oppose another, or voice his opposition against a Party but not become a voice against the country.<\/p>\n on Nation First, as nothing matters more than to see our country progress rapidly. It is time that our netagan start thinking of the progress of Bharat Mata first and keep all individual preferences at bay. It is only when the entire nation starts looking at the larger picture that real growth and progress will take place.<\/p>\n On the obverse, once you pick a side, you have to bat for that side. In today\u2019s milieu for most Parties and leaders Party interest override all else. Caught in the vortex of the I, me and myself syndrome, national interest seems to be fading out. The country may go underwater with Parties vying with each other in promising the moon and stars in the hope of coming to power.<\/p>\n In this vicious free-for-all tit-for-tat game hitting below the belt is normal, wherein minute fault lines are blown out of proportion. Forgetting that people and nation both exist before a Party is created. Nation and people come first, not vice versa.<\/p>\n What next? Events have their own momentum. Arguably, one can say this is what democracy is all about. Sadly, however, the basic postulates of democracy have got botched over the years. Few care to remember today that democracy is not an end in itself. It is only a means to an end, namely, the greater well-being and happiness of the people. Which is possible only through a clean, honet and stable Government run by dedicated leaders committed to putting country above self and all else.<\/p>\n In a billion plus nation there are 700 million people below 35 years, the nation needs young leaders who can command the change for transformation of India into a developed nation embedded with knowledge society, a Viksit Bharat.<\/p>\n Time to pause and ponder the long-term ramifications of the future. Will individual egos get the better of collective wisdom? Time for our polity\u2019s evolution as leaders who put nation before Party. Who change the traditional role from leader to coach, manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitate self-respect. The higher the proportion of leaders in a nation, the higher the potential of a nation becoming enriched, self sufficient and successful.<\/p>\n Ideally all should grasp the reality of Parliamentary democracy. We have to start taking our citizens seriously and treating them like worthwhile investments. Our netas need to remember: Power, breeds, arrogance leads to defeat.<\/p>\n The \u2018Conduct of Politics\u2019 necessitates reliability, integrity, credibility, conviction and courage. There should be no scope for any lingering doubt or suspicion that politics come after nation. Undoubtedly, a motivated environment will be needed to build a great foundation for our vision of transforming India into a \u201cdeveloped nation\u201d. We need more leaders who are men of conscience, integrity and credibility to build India. What gives? \u2014 INFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My List Vs Your List By Poonam I Kaushish It was a short-lived hum-sath-sath-hain show of outrage, grief and retribution. Barely, has the ink dried on Operation Sindoor post the brutal Pahalgam attack 22 April killing 26, its back to square one: Tu-tu-mein-mein of petty politricking between ruling BJP and its b\u00eate noire Congress. Over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-264381","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-features"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264381\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}