But this did not happen in Rajasthan. Instead of meekly surrendering to the designs of the BJP, the chief minister Ashok Gehlot stood to hs ground and much against the advice of some senior Congress leaders chose to the take battle against BJP to its den.

Unfortunate for Narendra Modi and his lieutenant Amit Shah they had not thought of this nature of riposte. After their royal coup in Madhya Pradesh, they nursed the impression that Gehlot will follow in the footsteps of Kamal Nath and vacate the office. But they were proved wrong. Gehlot through his action has sent a loud and clear message that Congress can also retort; it can pay them in their own coin.

The BJP leadership could not image that Gehlot would ever muster courage to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly. It is his retort that has unnerved the BJP. BJP is worried that Gehlot will eventually succeed in proving his majority if the assembly is allowed to be convened. But more than it, the worry is over the Congress projecting itself as a party which is committed to protect democratic values and for that it would even prefer to change its political character to a party of streets. Which is why it has been misusing the office of Governor to foil his move.

It would be utopian to believe that Kalraj Mishra who has worked under Modi would dare to go against the wishes of his boss. In fact the BJP is trying to build a case to allege a constitutional crisis by accusing the chief minister of threatening the governor.

Initially when the crisis broke, the BJP had demanded that Gehlot prove his majority. But the moment it realised that Pilot would not succeed to give a shape to its plot the party leaders quickly changed its line. By seeking the floor test Gehlot has turned the position of Sachin Pilot vulnerable. Either he will have to side with Congress or his supporters stand to lose the membership of the assembly. Both ways the BJP would be the loser. Kalraj Mishra would not like that the design of his opponent succeed. While Gehlot’s move would eclipse the political career of Sachin Pilot and see the end of the “young” rebellion, it would also shatter the Chanakya image of Amit Shah.

Usually the Congress is perceived to be a party born to rule. This impression has been created by the political behaviour of its leaders. Though Rahul Gandhi through his tweets and statements has been trying to send the message that it was not hesitant to hit the streets and take to street smart movement, Gehlot has taken the first step in this direction by announcing that the Rajasthan unit would resort to agitation against the design of the BJP to subvert democracy.

The fact is Gehlot has not violated the Constitutional provisions by demanding a floor test. He has been within his Constitutional rights to seek the trust of the house in his government. This has been the usual practice. BJP which has been indulging in nefarious game, has for the first time caught in its own trap. Probably the BJP’s top leaders, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah who had nursed the impression that they would successfully enact the MP plot, have been floored.

The BJP on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Governor Kalraj Mishra, complaining of “anarchy” and “breakdown of law and order” in Rajasthan, seeking to build a case of constitutional crisis in the state. It has even accused Gehlot of violating Section 124 of the IPC with his “threat suggesting gherao of the governor’s house and expressing inability to provide security”. This has been BJP’s tactics to strengthen Mishra in his tirade against Gehlot.

Strange enough the BJP has even been trying to create an impression that “a situation of breakdown of law and order is prevailing due to the kind of language used by the chief minister and his activities along with his ministers and MLAs”. In its memorandum to Mishra it accused Gehlot and his MLAs of “terrorising” the governor.

This shakiness and fear gripping the BJP sends a strong message that Congress must raise its voice and resort to the tactics of looking straight into the eyes of the BJP. This is not the only the BJP’s exclusive domain. The Congress rightly on Sunday has asked the people of India to raise their voice to save the Constitution and democracy from the “BJP’s assault”, lamenting it had become difficult to hope for justice from the judiciary.

Some people nurse the view that they should cooperate the Modi government in managing the country. But this is applicable only in the case when the leadership is concerned of the welfare of the country. A closer look will at the functioning of the Modi government makes it explicit that the government is pursuing its own agenda and is least bothered of the welfare of the people or country.

The Congress must have a serious look at the social media campaign under the hashtag “SpeakUpForDemocracy”. Rahul Gandhi led the senior leaders, MPs, chief ministers and office-bearers in highlighting the “threat to the Constitution” amid concerns that an attempt was being made to subvert the people’s mandate in Rajasthan after Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and some other states.

People have by and large come to nurse the view that the Modi government has endangered the democracy and ruined almost all the constitutional institutions. This situation cannot be allowed to run for long. India’s democracy will have to run on the basis of the Constitution and people’s will. The people must protect the democracy and Constitution by defeating the BJP’s machinations and conspiracies.

Kalraj Mishra’s reluctance to call assembly session, after the chief minister asked for one to prove his majority is a part of the BJP design to subvert the democracy. In the prevailing situation Gehlot has rightly asked his MLAs to be prepared to take their protest to Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Prime Minister’s Office, if needed. It is sad that legal and constitutional recourse have so far failed to protect a legally elected government against potential horse-trading.

Whenever a young Congress leader raises voice against the party, an attempt is being made by the anti-Congress forces and especially by the BJP to project it as the manifestation of the generation rebellion in the Old Party. No doubt young leaders should be encouraged and entrusted with more responsibility, the old leaders must make space for them, but at no stage the centrist, secular and liberal forces should be made victims of the rightist conspiracy.

This war of attrition between the young and old is the product of the post globalisation economic politics and policies. Even the BJP is inflicted with this malaise. But Modi’s consistent attack on Congress has diverted the public attention from this. No one ever raised any objection to the sidelining of L K Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi or other veterans.

The Congress leadership must initiate corrective measures and ensure that the party becomes a victim of the designs of the rightist forces. The party must ensure that the young leaders lead the war against the BJP and revive the party. The younger leaders ought to realise that path to parliament is from the streets and anyone who harms the party at its weakest moment is a traitor. (IPA Service)