Column Looking for energetic leadership

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Dear Mr Rahul Gandhi,

I hope you do not mind my using this format of an open letter to write to you. I do so because I got the idea of this letter from your speech and the subsequent bedlam during the parliamentary debate on the civil nuclear agreement.

Your speech gave hope. Your opening statement that you spoke not as a member of a political party but as an Indian; your implicit message that ‘energy security’ was not about international agreements, individual egos and fine words but about the fundamentals of human well-being; your emphasis on the importance of reliable, clean and affordable energy for a life of dignity and quality—were hopeful signs that the debate would rise above partisan politics and be set against the backdrop of national interest.

But that was not to be. The ungainly sight of raving parliamentarians and wads of cash put paid to any such hope. It became clear (if such clarity were needed) that Indian politics had become too conflictual for a subject like energy security to be discussed with dispassion and reason in the halls of Parliament. It also became clear that there were many who shared your sentiment but who, either because of loyalty to the party whip or lack of opportunity, did not, or could not, make public their views. Omar Abdullah was their eloquent spokesman.