Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emotional goodbye to Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra’s spirited speech underling the difference between cowardice and courage while lashing out at the BJP, and Rahul Gandhi’s jibe, “Hum Do Hamare Do”, were three instances from Parliament that went viral. In fact, when PM Modi broke down while recalling how Azad as the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had helped the Gujaratis, whose bus had been attacked by terrorists in Srinagar, also evoked a sentimental response from the veteran Congress leader, who has had a long and eventful career in the national politics and may now be preparing himself for yet another innings in the future. Azad’s detractors started speculating whether the BJP was wooing Azad to give him a plum position at the Centre, or did Modi praise him only because he was one of the 23 top Congress functionaries who had virtually revolted against the High Command in August. However, no one can take it away from Azad that he has seen events unfold from a ringside seat and has more organisational experience of his party than any other leader. He has been around from the time when Sanjay Gandhi picked him up to re-energise the Youth Congress, and later helped him in consolidating his position by providing him patronage. This he did in March 1980 by going along with his sister-in-law and brother-in-law to attend his wedding in Srinagar. The fact that Sanjay stayed for three days to join the celebrations showed how much trust he had in his young colleague.
Azad was also extremely close to Indira Gandhi and thereafter Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Sitaram Kesri, and finally Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh. He is seen as a great survivor and it would certainly not be surprising if he makes a comeback on the national stage. He has friends across political parties and enjoys tremendous goodwill. So far as the Prime Minister is concerned, he has mastered the art of communication and uses every kind of emotion to get his point through.
Coming to Mahua Moitra, she is without any doubt the most extraordinary parliamentarian of the current era. She has excellent command over the language and uses her vast knowledge to strike at her party’s opponents. Her critics often accuse her of using unacceptable language to hit out at her opponents, but no one can deny that she has all the makings of a future leader.
Rahul Gandhi’s dig at the two top leaders of the BJP as well as two leading industrialists was viewed by many analysts as unnecessary, though several leaders including those from the BJP seemed to have enjoyed the attack. Rahul inadvertently referred to the family planning slogan without realising that the Congress rout in the 1977 parliamentary polls was essentially because the then government was accused of promoting the small family norm by using coercive methods. He needs to have better advisers who would acquaint him with the historical perspective of this slogan. Finally, the two industrialists he has referred to accrued benefits even during the Congress and UPA regime and even prior to that. However, there is no denying that after a considerable period, Parliament proceedings were talked about and were not in the news for the wrong reasons.