Why Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Sonia everywhere?......Public Views

A Surya Prakash

IN a systematic effort to gain an unfair advantage over others, the Congress party has named all major government programmes, projects and institutions in the country after three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family — Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru — who are its icons, and disturbed the level playing field in the electoral arena.

Over the last 18 years, on a rough estimate about 450 central and state government programmes, projects and national and state level institutions involving public expenditure of hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees have been named after these three individuals.

While it is the prerogative of a government to name an institution after a person whom it considers to be a national or state leader, government programmes initiated to ameliorate the lives of millions of citizens (drinking water, housing and employment guarantee schemes and old age pensions) fall into an entirely different category.

If the nomenclature of these programmes is not politically neutral, the sanctity of the democratic system would be in jeopardy.

Among the big ticket programmes named after members of this family by the Union government to extract unjust electoral mileage is the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (rural electrification programme), which involves an outgo of Rs 28,000 crore during the Eleventh Plan period (Rs 5,500 crore in fiscal 2008-09). The drinking water mission, with an allocation of Rs 21,000 crore over three years (Rs 7,300 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 7,400 crore in 2009-10) is called the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission. Other schemes that bear his name are the Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers; Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana and the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana (both insurance schemes).

Likewise, many mega programmes are named after Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. The budgetary allocation for the Indira Awas Yojana to house the poor is Rs 7,919 crore in 2008-09 and Rs 7,914.70 crore in 2009-10. Also named after her is the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Rs 3,443 cr in 2008- 09). Programmes named after Jawaharlal Nehru over the last two decades are the Jahawarlal Nehru Rojgar Yojana and the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission.

The Union government proposes to spend Rs 50,000 crore over seven years on the latter mission.

This trend is even more apparent in the states, which have vied with each other to name programmes after these three members of the family whenever the Congress was in power. Here is a sample: Rajiv Gandhi Breakfast Scheme, Puducherry; Rajiv Ratna Awas Yojana, Delhi; Rajiv Arogyasri Health Insurance scheme, Andhra Pradesh; Rajiv Gandhi Computer Literacy Mission, Assam; Rajiv Gandhi Bridges and Roads Infrastructure Development Programme, Haryana; Rajiv Gandhi Vidyarthi Suraksha Yojana, Maharastra; Rajiv Gandhi Tourism Development Mission, Rajasthan; Indira Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Indira Gandhi Landless Agriculture Labour Scheme, Maharashtra; Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Vivah Shagun Yojana, Haryana; Indira Gandhi Calf-Rearing Scheme, Andhra Pradesh.

Obviously, the plan is to ensure maximum recall of Brand Congress among voters at every stage in life. Indira Gandhi comes in when the poor want a house subsidised and you think of Nehru when urban renewal comes into play. The Congress has taken its obsession with this family to such an extent that even calf-rearing schemes are named after them.

The list of 450 government programmes, schemes, institutions, etc, named after these three members of the family broadly fall into the following categories: Central government (12), state government (52), universities and educational institutions (98), ports and airports (6), awards, scholarships and fellowships (66), sports tournaments, trophies and stadia (47), national parks and sanctuaries (15), hospitals and medical institutions (39), national scientific and research institutions, chairs and festivals (37), roads, buildings and places (74).

Apart from violating the electoral law, the naming spree has crossed all limits of decency. Every major sports tournament has been named after the Nehru-Gandhis, as if nobody else matters, not even the greats in Indian sports. Such is the obsession of Congress governments with this family that they name India’s biggest open university after Indira Gandhi and name fellowships granted there after Rajiv Gandhi. For long years we have been familiar with the Fullbright scholarships. Now it is known as the Fullbright-Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship.

We are unlikely to see anything so gross even in dictatorships such as North Korea.

This blatant attempt to package and market government programmes run on public money as munificent offerings from a single family to the people has made a mockery of the Model Code of Conduct drawn up by the Election Commission for observance by all political parties.

I have therefore petitioned the chief election commissioner and requested him to immediately issue directions to the Union government and to all the governments in the states and direct them to remove the names of individuals, who are seen by the people as icons of specific political parties, from all government programmes and schemes funded by the exchequer and to immediately give these programmes politically neutral names. Such a direction from the Election Commission will ensure enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit and will also be in consonance with the various directions and instructions issued by the Commission from time to time.

Gandhi, Nehru, Indira, Rajiv were the national assets of Congress Party? Like Terrorists are the National Assets of Pakistan.
By Dinesh
3/26/2009 6:57:00 PM

This is surprising why other political parties dont APPROACH THE SUPREME COURT TO BAN SUCH COLLOSAL MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THE ADVANTAGE OF VESTED INTEREST OF GAINING POLITICAL ADVANTAGE BY THE CONGRSS PARTY
By gvs rao
3/26/2009 6:16:00 PM

Mixing up Gandhi's name with Nehru family tree is an insult to Mahatma. Congress has become family business platform which is a shame for democracy and our hypothetical political leaders, who are simply tail-lickers of the Nehru family to improve their own position in political power share are in insult to Indian society. Biggest democracy on earth should learn to come out of this and lead to demonstrate the real leaders can come from any section of the society.
By Sathya
3/26/2009 4:02:00 PM

Politics in India is a business. Some get into it to do business, some get into it save their backside (criminals). In politics number criminals are more than good common citizen, hence, criminals are more aware of political affairs in the country and they actively participate and get their "right" candidate in place. Hence, by hook or by crook criminals succeed more than the honest hard working citizens. Common people who are too good or too honest does not find it worthy of exercising their right - same with educated mass who, unfortunately out of their "educated ignorance" or "ignorant education" don't bother to exercise their right to vote the right candidate. Of course, whether their is any right candidate or not, this is another a question. In the interim India might make voting compulsory with an option to make first, second and third preference in the voting instead of ending in circus when after voting the voter does not know with him the concerned party will be aligning with
By Anil
3/26/2009 2:34:00 PM

If we rank all the countries in the subcontinent (although previously one), all must have got some sort of independence (at least trying) except India. India still in its infancy of political development and can't yet find a worthy leader out of one BILLION people. If you can't find a leader to rule, of course you are worthy of getting kicked around and that is what is happening.
By Anil
3/26/2009 2:18:00 PM

Some time ago an International magazine is reported to have stated " It is unfortunate that a nation with a billion people should lean over one family for leadership" . Sure, insensitivity, scycophancy and dishonesty are key elements required to grow in Indian Politics. Eg Congress
By Raman Rian
3/26/2009 12:10:00 PM

India my beloved country and one of the greatest nations on earth is being raped by not only the Gandhi family for decades but by all political parties. There has been many great leaders who have sacrificed their lives for Independence but wherever you go around India today it seems like only the Gandhi family has been doing everything for the people. This branding needs to be stopped and many of the so called institutions names must be changed and credit should be given to other leaders, poets, scientists, artists, professors etc. who have done value addition to the nation. Moreover if Bombay can be changed to Mumbai, Cochin to Kochi, Madras to Chennai then we should be doing the same by changing the names of these institutions too. There is a urgent need to put into effect a law which permits only one institution to be named after a leader and this must me made mandatory. Also all leaders who are responsible for creating hate crimes must be put behind bars and stringent action tak
By Cecil Joseph
3/26/2009 11:00:00 AM

Now only some journalists are waking up and realising they have some brains too.Indian media is a disgrace highlighting small small incidents and remaining silent when genocide like crimes have been going on for so many decades against hindus and sikhs. Has any one seen any report in indian media when more than 50000 minority hindus,sikhs and buddhists have been ruthlessly butchred and eliminated by muslim jehadi majority with help from muslim parties and with generous help from muslim appeasing crooked congress party?Have you seen even one media report when so many thousands of minority hindus and sikhs and buddhists have been butchered by christian fanatic thugs in north eastern states? None so far. The crimes of media and psuedo-intellectuals are too many to be cited. BJP must go for aggressive hinduvta now and majority hindus must vote in large numbers for BJP and allies to save the hindus from miserty and terror to eliminate crroked corrupt Nehru dynasty.We need more Vaun Gandhis
By V.Mehta
3/26/2009 9:38:00 AM

Congress party has no current leaders whose portraits could attract the attention of people. Hence they are playing the same old game of ALL IN THE FAMILY. Sonia has made sure that Indian leaders in the Cpngress party will never be united to elect their own Prime Minister. She will keep Singh for some more time till she gets another obedient puppet.
By Vaidya
3/26/2009 9:13:00 AM

someday someone will put "some" gandhi AIDS yogdan upakram
By sunil
3/25/2009 6:04:00 PM

It is not surprising that it is the practice all over india in all states that when they come to power with some intention and to retain they would always carry with their agenda of keeping the same name for all its projects, districts, towns, municipalities, panchayats, streets, buildings and except their family members.
By r.venkatesan
3/25/2009 12:10:00 PM

dear on line editor, Hero worship sycophancy are two recognised ways to be accepted in political society hence every state government run by congress name every scheme by these leaders but Comminists are also not behind look at LDF kerala schemes under EMS or AKG etc all are heroworshippers only dated 25th March 2009 Time 1145hrs Ist AM
By P.M.g.Pillai
3/25/2009 11:46:00 AM

When will India named as 'Rajiv Gandhi Desh'?
By Rahul Kumar
3/25/2009 11:44:00 AM

It is a wonderful suggestion SURYAPRAKASH. Keep up the good work.
By nimitha
3/25/2009 11:20:00 AM

How can Chief Election Commissioner of the day give directions to the Union Govt. & State Govts. to undo the mistakes committed in the past ? He can only check things, after the Elections are notified.
By PUTTAVEERARAJ URS HV
3/25/2009 10:10:00 AM

Were there no other Leaders in Congress other than the Nehru-Gandhi family ? Congress leaders cannot look beyond this family. Their next leader is Priyanka's son.
By Krish
3/25/2009 10:03:00 AM