After Operation Sindoor, ‘Saudagar’ Back In Business In Congress’s Political Parlance
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This begs the question: will ‘Sindoor ka Saudagar’ become a ‘Maut ka Saudagar’ redux, harming the Congress in the upcoming Bihar elections and beyond?
Rahul Gandhi believes the Jaishankar issue should be pursued, with the Sindoor ka Saudagar narrative having his backing. (File pic/PTI)
The 2007 Gujarat election was intensely contested, with Sonia Gandhi, then Congress president, leading the charge. Her attacks while campaigning against Narendra Modi, including the controversial “Maut ka Saudagar” (merchant of death) label, made the battle deeply personal. This strategy, used against the backdrop of the 2002 Gujarat riots, backfired, allowing Modi to portray the Congress as weak on terror and solidify his position in the state. Party insiders believe this comment contributed significantly to Modi’s enduring success in Gujarat, fostering Gujarati Asmita (pride) and generating sympathy for him. Even Sonia Gandhi’s advisers, like Ahmed Patel, acknowledged the comment’s detrimental impact. Consequently, the Congress in Gujarat shifted away from personal attacks on Modi.
In the current scenario, the Congress faces a similar situation with Operation Sindoor. The party, particularly MP Rahul Gandhi, has persistently questioned external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s handling of the situation, alleging he alerted Pakistan. This has led to the phrase “Sindoor ka Saudagar” (merchant of Sindoor) being used against Jaishankar and the Modi government. This raises concerns about a repeat of the “Maut ka Saudagar” debacle.
Rahul Gandhi believes the Jaishankar issue should be pursued, with the Sindoor ka Saudagar narrative having his backing. This strategy stems from the 2014 elections, where the BJP successfully painted the UPA government and then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as weak on terror. The Congress’s questioning of the 2019 Balakot airstrike against Pakistan played into the BJP’s hands, allowing it to accuse the grand old party of disrespecting the armed forces and lacking nationalism. This was acknowledged as a misstep by Congress leaders during a CWC meeting.
With Jaishankar’s clarifications and his reputation as a seasoned diplomat, some within the Congress believe that questioning him, especially during a sensitive multi-party delegation visit to Pakistan, was ill-timed. They fear that using terms like “Sindoor ka Saudagar”, “Mukhbir” (informer), “Jaichand” or “mole” will only bolster the BJP’s narrative of the Congress questioning the armed forces and lacking nationalistic fervour. Besides, Pakistan may use these statements to bolster its case on the global stage, they say.
The BJP is likely to exploit these comments, potentially harming the Congress and benefiting the saffron party politically. The situation draws parallels to Sonia Gandhi’s “Maut ka Saudagar” comment, which stemmed from personal resentment against Modi. Similarly, Rahul Gandhi’s strong feelings towards the Prime Minister are evident in his public interactions, mirroring the earlier scenario.
While the Congress argues that the BJP disrespects Rahul Gandhi, the ruling party consistently outmanoeuvres it on nationalism and diplomacy. Any misstep by the Congress, particularly regarding the BJP or the Prime Minister, could be detrimental. This begs the question: will “Sindoor ka Saudagar” become a “Maut ka Saudagar” redux, harming the Congress in the upcoming Bihar elections and beyond?
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