Insider speaks against dynasty

NEW DELHI, April 4: Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao is opposed to the concept of dynastic rule in modern-day India. In an interview,...

NEW DELHI, April 4: Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao is opposed to the concept of dynastic rule in modern-day India. In an interview, in connection with the forthcoming release of his book The Insider, the extremely publicity-shy Rao hinted at his unhappiness with the current state of his party.

Rao is aware that some of the references in his book to Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, such as the hero being unable to reconcile to the fact that "loyalty to his party meant not just to Nehru and the party’s ideology but to the family as a whole", could be misinterpreted by some of his political opponents in the Congress to malign him.

Rao, who is not very popular in the Congress, cares little about whether his party is mature enough to accept his honest criticism in the right spirit. He is aware that tell-tales go back to Sonia Gandhi to complain "that so and so is doing this or doing that." But Rao stands by his assessments of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in his book. "I have workedunder them. I have my opinion. I can’t change my assessment because somebody is going to carry tales." he said. Stating that he is not concerned about possible political repercussions, Rao said, "I am a former prime minister, what are you going to give me? I have lived my life in a very contented manner, in a very successful manner." Rao’s strongest remarks were reserved for the use of the word "dynasty" in regard to the Gandhi family. "The word dynasty is itself inapplicable except for a royal family. We have the Ashoka dynasty, the Maurya dynasty. We don’t have a Coomi Kapoor dynasty. Why do you call it a dynasty? Who constitutes a dynasty? There may be 10 persons, 10 generations in a family. Is that a dynasty?"