Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan once again displayed his blind admiration for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Rajan blamed the 2014 infamous interview with journalist Arnab Goswami for the “wrong portrayal” of Gandhi. The interview left Gandhi as someone incapable of thinking and leading. One might almost admire Rajan’s steadfast commitment to rewriting reality.
Raghuram Rajan in Denial
Speaking to ThePrint on May 28, Rajan valiantly defended Gandhi, claiming that the 2014 interview “totally disfigured” Gandhi’s image. “Rahul Gandhi is often depicted because of that totally disfiguring interview with Arnab Goswami way back, as someone who doesn’t have the capabilities to think and lead,” Rajan lamented. Ah yes, because a single interview can surely obliterate all evidence of someone’s intellectual prowess and leadership potential.
Rajan then praised Gandhi’s resilience in the face of personal tragedy, saying, “To engage in politics, to be in the midst of crowds… if I had that experience, I would be hiding in a bed all the time.” Clearly, Rajan sees Gandhi’s ability to show up in public as the pinnacle of political acumen.
The Infamous 2014 Interview with Arnab Goswami
Let’s revisit the 2014 interview that Rajan believes so unjustly maligned Gandhi. In his first televised interview, Gandhi’s repetitive and evasive responses became legendary for all the wrong reasons. His inability to directly address questions about BJP’s Narendra Modi and his contradictory stances on the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots versus the 2002 Gujarat Riots painted a picture of a leader out of his depth. But to Rajan, this disaster was just a minor hiccup, a mere blip in an otherwise sterling record of political mastery.
Blind Loyalty at Its Best
Rajan’s unwavering support for Gandhi isn’t a new development. In December 2022, he even joined Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan, solidifying his role as Gandhi’s most loyal cheerleader. Rajan has often portrayed Gandhi as a reasonable leader with strong convictions, contrasting him with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose policies Rajan seems to criticize with glee.
In January 2023, Rajan described Gandhi as “young, curious, and smart,” firmly rejecting the label “Pappu” used by Gandhi’s detractors. Rajan praised Gandhi’s understanding of priorities and risk evaluation, conveniently ignoring the more controversial aspects of Gandhi’s policies, such as his stances on caste and wealth redistribution. Perhaps Rajan believes that Gandhi’s repeated blunders and inconsistencies are just charming quirks of a misunderstood genius.
Raghuram Rajan’s relentless praise for Rahul Gandhi is nothing short of remarkable. In a world where evidence and public perception often align, Rajan stands as a beacon of blind loyalty and unwavering support. His attempts to paint Gandhi as a misunderstood genius, rather than a leader repeatedly caught in displays of ineptitude, might almost be admirable if they weren’t so tragically out of touch with reality.