BLOGS / BUZZ The Congress And The Gandhis

BLOGS / BUZZ The Congress And The Gandhis http://blogs.outlookindia.com/default.aspx?ddm=10&pid=2580#iframetimelinechronologicalmainpostname

Delhi had already been abuzz about Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi's absence from Delhi during the Monsoon session. More fuel got added to speculation about the possible reasons for their absence with the announcement from Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi today: "Smt Sonia Gandhi has been recently diagnosed with a medial condition that requires surgery. On the advise of doctors, she has travelled abroad and she is likely to be away for two-three weeks" Mrs Gandhi, accompanied by her son Rahul, had left earlier this week to an undisclosed destination in the US.  Mrs Gandhi's daughter Priyanka is also with them. The Congress party refused to share any details about when she left, what she was ailing from, how serious it was, and where she was undergoing treatment.  Dwivedi had earlier said that Gandhi had undergone a successful surgery but clarified later that the operation would be carried out in a day or two. As if that was not enough for the Delhi grapevine, then came the political part. He said Sonia Gandhi has decided that in her absence a group comprising Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders AK Antony, Ahmed Patel and Dwivedi will look after party affairs. Since Rahul Gandhi is not back from the USA yet, it is understood that Ahmed Patel is in charge of all party affairs, which is said to be causing a lot of heart-burn among analysts. As The Guardian commented: Siddharth Varadarajan, editor of The Hindu, said that the real importance was not that Rahul Gandhi had been nominated but that Sonia Gandhi might be ailing. "The timing of this announcement means she is telling us whose hands she wants the party to be in should she be no longer in a position to run things," he said. Some analysts have even raised the possibility that Sonia Gandhi might not return to politics, though Congress party officials said there was "totally, absolutely no question" of any immediate retirement. Among the analysts, Brahma Chellaney was far more direct: Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari refused to entertain questions about her health condition and the kind of surgery she had to undergo.  "Even public personalities are entitled to certain amount of privacy in so far as their medical condition is concerned. Our friends in media should bear that sensitivity in mind" Inevitably, speculation mounted on Twitter, which got futher aggravated when it was reported that the UPA chairperson had been admitted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Soon therafter, the Times of India added that renowned oncologist Dr Dattatreyudu Nori, director of the cancer centre at the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, was attending on Sonia Gandhi and that her surgery had been successful.  However, the original tweet about the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was later deleted, confounding the confusion even more. The TOI also changed their earlier story to add that they were told by sources that Mrs Gandhi was not in New York. The hospital would not confirm her presence. Party sources said the secrecy was necessary because of the concerns of the Special Protection Group that is in charge of her security. Some of the selected tweets: Speculation Over Sonia Gandhi's Health By Outlook, 16 hours ago Email Embed story ReplyRetweet Shades of the Soviet Union in how the Indian press handles the first family. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/sonia-gandhi-unwell-operated-upon-in-us-124195 dhume01August 4, 2011 at 13:28 ReplyRetweet Have come to know through media about Mrs Sonia Gandhi's surgery. I pray for her speedy recovery & good health. narendramodiAugust 4, 2011 at 13:36 ReplyRetweet To be fair, it was the same with Vajpayee. The same exaggerated deference to power even when it involves things people have a right to know. dhume01August 4, 2011 at 13:44 ReplyRetweet @drinkcircle Yes. The city where she's being treated and the broad nature of her ailment ought to be reported immediately and routinely. dhume01August 4, 2011 at 13:41 ReplyRetweet So, Sonia Gandhi cannot find one competent doctor in India? rahulpanditaAugust 4, 2011 at 15:45 ReplyRetweet When Manmohan Singh had bypass surgery it was done in India, if memory serves. lpolgreenAugust 4, 2011 at 15:48 ReplyRetweet @lpolgreen sonia gandhi chose to bypass india for her surgery venkateshkmAugust 4, 2011 at 16:32 ReplyRetweet Can we wait to knw more abt Mrs G's ailment before we throw barbs abt her bypassing Indian docs n hospitals? It's only fair urjournoAugust 4, 2011 at 16:59 ReplyRetweet Sonia Gandhi to have surgery abroadhttp://reut.rs/pJViGQ via @reuters [If she doesn't trust Indian doctors, then the US is a weird choice!] tunkuvAugust 4, 2011 at 17:07 ReplyRetweet @tunkuv of course most of the best Indian docs in the US are busy writing books or being television reporters. lpolgreenAugust 4, 2011 at 17:12 ReplyRetweet One should evaluate a country's tinpot status by whether its leaders go abroad for medical treatment or get it at home.#chavez #sonia tunkuvAugust 4, 2011 at 17:20 ReplyRetweet @tunkuv yes but AIIMS was good enough for Manmohan Singh's bypass, nah? lpolgreenAugust 4, 2011 at 17:22 ReplyRetweet @lpolgreen Manmohan Singh is a decent man. I bet he takes a tiffin box to work from home. tunkuvAugust 4, 2011 at 17:23 ReplyRetweet @tunkuv apparently he eats two rotis and a spoonful of dal only for lunch. lpolgreenAugust 4, 2011 at 17:28 ReplyRetweet Irony - Americans traveling to India due to healthcare costs. Elite Indians traveling to America for quality healthcare ! offstumpedAugust 4, 2011 at 17:48 ReplyRetweet Surely Sonia Gandhi and her family should get the privacy they seek right now instead of relentless speclation on medical condition. BDUTTAugust 4, 2011 at 18:30 ReplyRetweet sonia gandhi 'unwell', hands over reins to group of 4 led by rahul. amazing they managed to keep it silent in age of breaking news. sardesairajdeepAugust 4, 2011 at 18:54 ReplyRetweet the real surprise is not rahul in group of 4, but ak antony. is he the one minister the gandhi family trusts? sardesairajdeepAugust 4, 2011 at 18:54 ReplyRetweet I see nothing wrong in SG's family not talking abt her illness and in taking her to US for treatment SORBONNE75August 4, 2011 at 17:52 ReplyRetweet @avitags One shd not speculate about such issues.I consider it indecent. SORBONNE75August 4, 2011 at 18:01 ReplyRetweet A propos of Sonia Gandhi, it occurs to me that rich Indians go to the US for medical treatment, and poor Americans come to India for theirs. tunkuvAugust 4, 2011 at 18:36 ReplyRetweet FLASH: Sonia Gandhi in NY for an urgent surgery for an undisclosed "medical condition", admitted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center tehelkadotcomAugust 4, 2011 at 19:00 ReplyRetweet All Sonia jokes suspended till she gets well. Hope that is soon. Wish her speedy recovery. SoniaGaXdhiAugust 4, 2011 at 19:12 ReplyRetweet Of course one wishes sonia gandhi speedy recovery and good health, but why this kremlin/beijing-like news management? saliltripathiAugust 4, 2011 at 19:33 Read More FILED IN:  CONGRESS|DYNASTIES|HEALTH- MEDICINE- FITNESS|MEDIA|PRIVACY|A.K. ANTONY|AHMED PATEL|GANDHIS|RAHUL GANDHI|SONIA GANDHI POSTED BY BUZZ ON AUG 04, 2011 AT 20:45 IST  TRANSLATE INTO: Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianArabicBelarusianBulgarianCatalanChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CroatianCzechDanishDutchEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchGalicianGermanGreekHaitian CreoleHebrewHindiHungarianIcelandicIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseKoreanLatvianLithuanianMacedonianMalayMalteseNorwegianPersianPolishPortugueseRomanianRussianSerbianSlovakSlovenianSpanishSwahiliSwedishThaiTurkishUkrainianVietnameseWelshYiddish Powered by Translate SHARE Order by                                           Oldest                                           Latest                                           Liked                                               Disliked                                           HAVE YOUR SAY AUG 04, 2011 09:15 PM 1 See the composition of the Congress party in Sonia's absence.Two Christians,Rahul and Antony,one Muslim Ahmed Patel and an also ran Hindu called Dwivedi.And this is supposed to be a Hindu majority country.Sonia may have early stages of cancer,but India surely has medical expertise to address her illness. S.S.NAGARAJ BANGALORE, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (17)  |   DISLIKE (9)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 04, 2011 10:21 PM 2 "See the composition of the Congress party in Sonia's absence." - SS Nagaraj What has this got to do with religion? Anyway, Rahul- to my knowledge - is a Hindu. Ahmed Patel is one of the must trusted persons at 10 Janpath. We may despise her, but Sonia has the right to decide on how she wants to do, whatever she wants to do. THE IRREVERENT INDIAN ONLINE, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (5)  |   DISLIKE (13)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 04, 2011 11:06 PM 3 >> Anyway, Rahul- to my knowledge - is a Hindu While it's not relevant at all, if we really want to go into details, he is half Christian, quarter Parsi and Quarter Hindu. He knows best the religion he professes to follow (if any). WHATS INANAME SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (9)  |   DISLIKE (3)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 04, 2011 11:39 PM 4  Irrelevents started talking sensible ! must be "the cable guy" visited him  :-) LOPAMUDRA MUMBAI, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (2)  |   DISLIKE (5)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 03:18 AM 5 My best wishes for Mrs Gandhi's speedy recovery from whatever she is suffering. However, I agree with those who think that the Congress should have been more transparent. This is typical smoke and mirror stuff, and the news publication that first tweeted and then deleted that she was admitted in Sloan Kettering were definitely not kite flying. It was too specific. Either they were indiscreet and have caused security issues for the Gandhis. Or they were just trying to spread disinformation. They clearly had an agenda. What that was will perhaps be clear in the days to come. YASHODHARA NEW YORK, UNITED STATES  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (5)  |   DISLIKE (1)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 03:27 AM 6   Whatever is our opposition to her policies, corruption and dynastic power, Please refrain bad comments on her health. My mother in law passwed away with cancer a year ago. It was painful for the whole family. Based on her hosiptal, we can only guess what is going on. It is very tragic situation for families to deal. This also shows the bankruptcy of the CON party. If some thing happens to the dynasty, only Ghandhi or their loyal servants are trusted. Not even some one like Pranabda who served the nation and party honestly for so long. VIVEK HYDERABAD, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (7)  |   DISLIKE (1)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 03:59 AM 7 So apart from Congress party's word, and Tehelka's disinformation, do we really know what is wrong with Mrs Gandhi? If she is really unwell, it goes without saying, let's hope it is nothing very serious and all the best wishes to her for a speedy recovery. AJIT TENDULKAR SEATTLE, UNITED STATES  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (3)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 04:16 AM 8 I torally agree with Brahma Chellaney, though. The men known to be the most incompetent have been chosen to run the Congress party. And in this scheme of things, now the PM has been so demeaned that even Mrs Sonia Gandhi's secretary and his own not very bright defence minister now can order him around. We will not talk about the man who should actually have been beaten with that shoe (or was that just a Congress wag the dog?) or the other man who was certified by none other than Syed Naqvi to have "emotional problems" in Wikileaks. AJIT TENDULKAR SEATTLE, UNITED STATES  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (9)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 04:22 AM 9 Comment removed for violation of Website Policy INDIAN DESHI HYDERABAD, INDIA AUG 05, 2011 04:24 AM 10 Comment removed for violation of Website Policy INDIAN DESHI HYDERABAD, INDIA AUG 05, 2011 08:22 AM 11 I do wish Ms Sonia Gandhi a speedy recovery and healthy and long life ahead. I tried my best, but can't hold it. It is sad that we are exposed standing next to dictators in such situation. When only person Fidel Castro could find and trust was his own brother Raul under same circumstances, we said that how dictators work. Similarities of names is pure coincident. SANTOSH GAIROLA HSINCHU, TAIWAN  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (4)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 09:13 AM 12 Comment removed for violation of Website Policy INDIAN DESHI HYDERABAD, INDIA AUG 05, 2011 01:37 PM 13 Being a female, a VIP at that, has huge potential for gaining sympathy among males AND females in India.  The Congress might try to wring out a sympathy wave using this.  MALE UNBLOCKED CHENNAI, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (7)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 04:01 PM 14 Her illness is her personal affair and she has a right to keep it confidential. The quatret of dumbs will monitor dumbest PM of India. Sardar mongrel do you feel ashamed of yourself of being bullied by stupid Rahul who has spent most of his time in his Colombian girlfriends arms. While other three are complete jokers. Unfortunately Dicky Raja the Albert Einstein is missing. I think point was to look secular ( rather anti hindu) by including members from all religions. Sonia Gandhi Mafioso wilh the help of Congi Jaichands's and MirJafars has been plundering our country. Now poor taxpayer will have to foot the bill for barmaids medical treatment. She should have used the facilities in India. Farmers commit suicide and this shameless women has no compunction in spending Indians money. Italiano having a nice time at the expense of we stupid Indians. We still want to look after this family of snakes who single handedly has destroyed our motherland. JITENDRA DELHI, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (3)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE AUG 05, 2011 06:18 PM 15 Looks like an elaborate smokescreen to replace the "useful idiot" !   Even the media hat is completely in the paybooks of the congress has been caught off guard !!! TD HYDERABAD, INDIA  PERMALINK  |   LIKE (0)  |   DISLIKE (0)  |   REPORT ABUSE Order by                                           Oldest                                           Latest                                           Liked                                               Disliked                                           Post a Comment Share your thoughts You are not logged in, please log in or register RELATED WIRES : MP: Bhuria Criticizes Participation of Employees in RSS  AUG 05, 2011 Civil Society Has No Right to Override Parliament: Dikshit  AUG 05, 2011 Don't Equate K'taka Lokayukta, CWG Reports: Khurshid  AUG 05, 2011 Sonia's Surgery: Rosaiah for Break to Telangana Stir  AUG 05, 2011 Karuna Wishes Sonia a Speedy Recovery  AUG 05, 2011 SC Slams Delhi Police on Cash-for-Vote Probe Again  AUG 05, 2011 Sonia Gandhi Recovering in ICU After Surgery  AUG 05, 2011 Produce Inquiry Reports of NRHM Scam: HC to UP Govt  AUG 04, 2011 Hazare Team Burns Copies of the Lokpal Bill  AUG 04, 2011 WB: LF Workers to Hold Protest in Front of Assembly  AUG 04, 2011 Burning of Lokpal Bill Insult to Parliament: Sibal  AUG 04, 2011 Assam: Case Against Editor-in-Chief of Local Channel  AUG 04, 2011 MCD Trifurcation Plan Politically Motivated: Delhi Mayor  AUG 04, 2011 TB A Cause of Death Among HIV/AIDS Patients: Report  AUG 04, 2011 Quit Party for Telangana Goal: TRS to Cong Leaders  AUG 04, 2011