10 questions Rahul Gandhi will not ask after his return

Rahul Gandhi is back! Congress party is thanking its stars that it will not sound clueless any more about the whereabouts of its heir apparent. If my understanding is right, the BJP will perhaps have even more questions for the Gandhi scion than ever before.

The country, most certainly the Congress party, has been waiting for the last 57 days to find out more about the man who has refused to face questions on several issues. His critics argue, often with a valid reason, that he does not have answers to several important questions.

In the past, Rahul has announced his displeasure at the UPA cabinet clearing an ordinance on convicted members of Parliament. It is “complete nonsense” he had said, adding that it should be “torn and thrown away”. He had raised several questions when he made a surprise appearance at that press conference in September 2013.

History seems to suggest that Rahul is good at asking questions.

Here are some of the questions that Rahul may perhaps never ask.

1. I have been away for 57 days on a leave of absence. Only a select few people in the party knew where I had gone for introspection. Did you miss me?

2. Would you want to know what all I have been thinking about over the last eight weeks?

3. Have Kamal Nath and Digivijay, yet again, suggested that I should be elevated as the President of the Congress party? Why, then, are Amrinder Singh and Sheila Dixit, suggesting that there should be no change at the top in the party?

4. We have had the same person lead the party for 17 years. Do you think the time is ripe for a change at the top now?

5. The government has sought to amend the Land Acquisition bill and wants it to be passed by the Parliament. Were my specific views sought on the subject, either in the party or in the Parliament?

6. Congress President Sonia Gandhi led a walk to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the Land Bill. 14 parties presented a memorandum to the President against the Bill. Would my presence have added to the voice of the 43 other fellow Congressmen in Parliament and other political parties?

7. Farmer suicides are now spreading to Uttar Pradesh and it seems the government has not moved much beyond announcing a hike in compensation to the affected farmers. Have I missed out in raising the issue as its impact is now being felt in north India too?

8. I believe that a large number of Valmikis in Uttar Pradesh have converted to Islam to save their homes. Did the Congress party come out in support of them and raise the issue at the state and national level?

9. I believe that some people in the government were trying to snoop on me. Really? Psst… I always knew the impact my presence, or absence, can have on the government!

10. Since I have had an eight-week leave, I feel I am now ready to fight for the Congress party. Would you all want to take leave so that you are charged up too?

Most of us should not be surprised that Rahul will not ask these, and other similar, questions.

A good leader is one who does not ask questions. He is the one who has the answers.

(About the author: This article has been written by Ashutosh Sinha, who is a Delhi-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter @ashutoshsinha00)

(Image credits: www.viwallpaper.com)