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Dubai NRIs welcome Sonia
as new Prime Minister
DUBAI/ABU DHABI, May 16, 2004 Sonia Gandhi's election as the leader of the 119-year-old Congress Parliamentary Party on Saturday cleared the way for her to become the country's first prime minister of foreign origin.
In the 2004 general elections, she led the Congress in a political campaign that saw personal attacks on her arising out of her Italian antecedents and heavily accentuated speeches, but she braved it all as she criss-crossed the country to strike a chord with the common man who did not disappoint her in the end. A cross-section of the Indian expatriate population interviewed by Khaleej Times on Saturday, on the eve of Sonia Gandhi taking on the mantle of India's next prime minister, said that they had absolutely no misgivings about her Italian origin and felt that her baptism into Indian politics was complete, hoping that she would continue with the good work of the previous NDA government. A few however said that India with a population of more than a billion people should have elected a prime minister who was born Indian. Amin Rajwani, partner of Rangmanch Theatre Events, felt that both the Congress and the NDA had similar ideologies, the only difference being BJP's thrust on Hindutva. "There should not be any problem now that the Congress has taken over, the process of economic development and foreign investment should continue," he said. Regarding Sonia Gandhi becoming the prime minister, Mr Rajwani believed that she had not only stayed in the country for over three decades but also adopted herself to the Indian way of life. "She has worked hard to keep the Congress flag flying even during trying times and deserves the success and the mantle of being India's next prime minister." Eminent NRI businessman Ram Buxani said, "We must respect the verdict of the masses. Now that the Congress has emerged as the largest party in the 543-member Lok Sabha, it is natural that Sonia Gandhi will become the prime minister. "The Congress party has ruled the country for more than 47 years and it is they who have initiated the economic reforms. It now remains to be seen if the party can provide the same stable governance under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi." Rajesh Bhandari, Inventory, Warehousing and Distribution Manager at Al Futtaim Trading Enterprises, Dubai, is of the opinion that Sonia thoroughly deserves to lead the country, despite her Italian origin. "She is the architect of the party's victory in the current elections and by becoming the next prime minister, she will only vindicate the confidence imposed on her by the masses. " It is also a good opportunity for her to live up to her promises and improve the lot of the poor in the country," he added. Mannan Desai, Chief Operating Officer of Charters Towers, Dubai, said that a foreigner should not be allowed to take up a position as important as the prime minister. "A foreigner should be barred from taking up such a position," he said, admitting that he had no objection in seeing Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi taking up the position. "I am not opposed to dynastic rule and the Congress party has indeed done a great deal for the country, but accepting Sonia Gandhi as a prime minister is difficult for me." His words are echoed by Mohammed Ismail from Emaar Properties who while conceding that Sonia Gandhi was the right candidate for being the prime minister after the Congress party's triumph in the current elections, however felt apprehensive about her Italian origins. As a widow of the late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and the mother of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, I respect her and so does the entire nation. But surely the Congress can elect a person of Indian origin as the leader of the country instead of Sonia, till Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi is ready to take over, " he asked. In Abu Dhabi, strangely, a majority of the women residents spoken to, were of the opinion that the future does not augur well, as they went on to cite regimes in various countries where women leaders who rule the roost, have not lived up to the expectations of their masses. The criticism was dismissed with equal derision by another section that found the argument that Sonia is a woman of foreign origin and, therefore, should be kept out of the scene, totally untenable. William Alva, Resident Manager, Park Residence, "I am happy with the change of scenario. She may be a novice to politics, but that is no disqualification. Many of us, expatriates here including me, landed here to take up jobs not related to our experience back home. Have we not done well? Again, if it is dynasty rule that is being perpetrated, nobody is forcing it down our throats; it is all the result of people's choice. Imtiyaz Desnavi, civil engineer, "I am not for dynasty rule, but still happy that Sonia has emerged as the leader. In fact, she will strive harder than any other locally born and bred leader, to vindicate her credentials. Her children are born in India, and she has also developed the prowess to speak well in Hindi. From her body language and demeanour, I can vouch that she will do well. Dr. Bilquis Fatima, Managing Director, Indian Modern Science School, "Personally, I don't like the idea of having Sonia at the helm. Is there not a single qualified fellow in the entire country to take up the reponsibility? Vasanth Kumar, General Manager, Fathima Group of Companies, "I'm totally against the notion of a foreigner becoming the prime minister. Sonia is neither a leader, communicator, nor a planner. I am sure Congress will be extra cautious not to repeat their old mistakes." |
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