A Question of Answers: Of principles and loyalty

There has been an unending stream of visitors at R.K. Dhawan's Golf Links home here ever since Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced a reshuffle in the top ranks of the organisation last weekend. Dhawan has been brought back into the Congress Working Commitee (CWC) and asked to look after party affairs in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand.

Dhawan is not a tall leader with a popular following. But people flock to him because they know that he wields substantial influence, that he is an ultra-loyalist of the Nehru Gandhi family.

But he is careful not to flaunt his connection with India's first family, though he declares quietly: "I shall always remain loyal to the Nehru-Gandhi family," his talisman for survival.

Asked about the flow of visitors, he says in his unassuming way that he had been in the Prime Minister's house from 1962, with the implication that he has been in the thick of affairs for a long time, and it is not surprising that people turn to him.

He has served three prime ministers, the last years of Jawaharlal Nehru, the short period with Lal Bahadur Shastri, and then more-than-a-decade with Indira Gandhi. It was his association with Indira Gandhi that brought him brick-bats, especially after the infamous Emergency of 1975.

But he recalls with a touch of bitterness and pride that he stood by Indira Gandhi when her ostensible loyalists betrayed her in the post-emergency days, and who deposed against her before various commissions that the Janata Party government of 1977 had set up.

According to reports, Dhawan, along with old war-horse Arjun Singh, had fought a rearguard battle against the dominance of the group led by general secretary Ambika Soni.

The reshuffle has been interpreted as a victory of sorts for Arjun Singh and Dhawan.

The interview with Gulf News, came after two hours of waiting because of Congress leaders and workers from Bihar, Haryana and Delhi flocking to congratulate him with flowers for his new assignment.

Excerpts from the interview:

What does this reshuffle mean to you?
I am grateful that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has given me this assignment.

Is the reshuffle a balancing of different factions in the party?
I don't think there is factionalism in the party.

What is the significance of the new team she has set in place?
It is not a new team as such. The earlier team was also doing good work. But as the elections are coming up, the work has increased. So it became necessary to induct more people to look after party work. As a result, the others who had been overburdened can focus better on the work they have.

You have been given charge of Bihar and Jharkhand? Are you planning to strengthen the Congress in Bihar, or will you continue to work with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Laloo Yadav?
I have to go to Bihar and find out what needs to be done.

How does the Congress hope to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next election?
There is no need to challenge the BJP. The people are doing it. The BJP stands exposed before the people because of the various scandals in which it is involved, its corruption and its inability to govern the country. It is only the Congress which can save the country.

Does the fact that you have been around for such a long time help? Is it the reason that so many people come to see you?
Yes. I have watched men and matters closely when I was in the prime minister's house, and it is of great help. I have seen people who were loyalists of Indira turn against her, and depose before the various commissions when she was out of power, falsely implicating her. My loyalty is always with the Nehru-Gandhi family. I have been in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) since 1992. I have never sought power or position in the party.

What is the lesson you have learned from these experiences?
I have learned that one should not deviate from principles and loyalty.