Some social handles today shared the two hours long video of Congress leader and leader of opposition Mr Rahul Gandhi’s address to university students and faculties of EIA university in bogota.
Surprisingly it was not shared by any official handles of either the Congress party or Mr Gandhi. They haven’t even shared any pictures of his meeting with the Colombian president. As an official tour, where he is meeting head of states, this is surprising.
There hasn’t been any such visit by opposition leaders in recent memory. Though his grandmother Mrs Gandhi during her brief stint in the opposition, did address foreign leaders and media.
For long the opposition has believed that, its only job is to expose the failures of the government and try to win the elections. That the opposition leader is the prime minister in waiting and needs to constantly work on all policy matters including foreign policy is not a part of our political traditions.
Mr Gandhi is trying to correct this. His official visit, is an outreach to hitherto neglected regions and cultivate both personal and national goodwill. As the government’s foreign policy is in shambles and we are pressed between an expansionist China and increasingly protectionist America, we need to explore the world beyond these powers.
Latin America is virgin territory for our foreign policy and offers markets, energy supplies and if dealt wisely, jobs for our engineers. Speaking to a packed house of engineers and doctors Mr Gandhi presented a nuanced view of the global flux.
The race to master the new technology of electric motor and batteries, that would replace the oil dependent engines. He also described the Indian tradition of decentralized political system and diversity management.
The democratic infrastructure that holds it together and how it has a reassuring appeal for the world. He also described the current assault on democracy as a serious challenge for India.
Humility and compassion, he said, are the fundamental values of Indian politics and they can help resolve much of the global crisis today.
While many may criticize, his negative comments in foreign soil, it should be noted that in a challenged democracy, especially after vote theft campaigns, international observers need to be appealed to.
