A sharp political controversy has erupted following remarks made by Union Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy regarding former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. As the war of words intensifies, senior Bihar leader Shivanand Tiwari has launched a counter-attack, questioning whether the ruling power at the centre is currently facing a serious crisis.
Turning to Facebook to Target Kumaraswamy
Shivanand Tiwari took to the social media platform Facebook to pen a detailed post condemning HD Kumaraswamy for bringing up Sonia Gandhi's Italian origins. Tiwari raised a pointed question, recalling that back in 2018, Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister of Karnataka with the active backing and support of the Congress party. He asked why Kumaraswamy did not remember Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins at that specific point in time when his own political survival depended on her party.
Reminding Him of Family History
Elaborating further, Shivanand Tiwari reminded the public that HD Kumaraswamy's own father, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, had also risen to the nation's highest executive office with the support of the Congress party. Tiwari argued that political leaders conveniently accept support when it suits their ambitions but resort to personal and cultural attacks when it serves their immediate rhetoric.
The Controversy Over Vande Mataram
This entire political flashpoint originated amidst an ongoing debate regarding the national anthem and ‘Vande Mataram’. Speaking in this context, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy launched a scathing attack, claiming that since Sonia Gandhi hails from Italy, Italian blood runs through her veins. While interacting with the media, Kumaraswamy stated that Congress does not like ‘Vande Mataram’ and asserted that leaders need not display a narrow-minded approach towards issues connected with national symbols. He added that Sonia Gandhi came to India after her marriage, but her roots and the blood in her veins remain Italian.
Citing Indian Cultural Traditions
Challenging Kumaraswamy's logic through the lens of Indian cultural traditions, Shivanand Tiwari wrote that in traditional Indian society, a daughter's permanent home is her husband's house rather than her father's. Following marriage, not only does a woman's household change, but her gotra also changes, and the keys to the household are handed over to the daughter-in-law. Although Sonia Gandhi was originally born in Italy, marrying an Indian made her an Indian daughter-in-law in the truest sense.
The 2004 Political Precedent
Recalling the political landscape of 2004, Tiwari noted that the citizens of the country handed over the reins of power to the nation's daughter-in-law when the coalition secured a majority under Sonia Gandhi's leadership. At that juncture, nothing stood in the way of her claiming the prime ministerial chair. However, she chose to step aside and appointed Manmohan Singh to that position, walking away from a chair for which the country has often witnessed fierce power struggles.
Calling Kumaraswamy's statement extremely childish, Tiwari concluded that questions are naturally meant to be asked of those in power. However, when those sitting in power start cross-examining the opposition with such rhetoric, it only indicates that the ruling establishment is feeling the heat of a deeper crisis.
