Rahul's Mr Confident avatar: Why his Hindu interview is the best yet

On the day of the Tamil Nadu poll, The Hindu newspaper has published an interview with the Congress Vice-President, which unveils a tougher, more confident Rahul Gandhi. Taking on Narendra Modi’s attempts to deride him as a ‘Shehazada’ to warning of the dangers of his ideology, Rahul sounds like a far different man than the tentative, unsettled politician who became the instant object of derision after his Times Now interview. The Hindu interview marks the first time Rahul Gandhi actually sounds like the leader of a major national party. Below are some of the most notable ’tough’ Rahul moments, but you can read the interview in its entirety here on the Hindu website. [caption id=“attachment_149513” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Rahul Gandhi was at his wittiest when asked why his remarks about decentralisation sounds much like those of Modi. AFP[/caption] On the business of being called ‘shehazada’ by Modi, Rahul struck an exceptionally strong note:  “He carries hatred around with him, and he probably has reasons to carry hatred around with him. That has nothing to do with me. That has only to do with him. What Modiji wants to call me, the abuses that he wants to hurl at me, has nothing to do with me. That has to do with him.” He then went on to narrate a story about Buddha who refused to respond to a man who abused him, saying that just as Buddha refused to accept the “gift of anger”, he also doesn’t “see the need to accept any of these gifts that Modiji is giving me. He can keep these gifts with himself.” He was then asked about the difference between Modi’s leadership of the BJP compared to the past under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rahul responded, “Under the current BJP leadership, this ideology has acquired a particularly virulent character. It has shed any semblance of respect for the democratic, secular and inclusive fabric of our nation. It is a politics of hubris, anger, and divisiveness… Tolerance appears to have little place in their thought process. But my resolve is firm and my response to this brand of politics and those who practise it is to quote what someone once said famously: ‘You do your worst, we’ll do our best.’” Rahul drew a sharp contrast between the two national parties, saying, “We are now faced with a contest between two competing ideas of India. The Congress’ idea of India is about inclusion, decentralisation, empowering people and building partnerships for economic growth. The Opposition’s idea seeks to divide the country on communal lines, capture resources for a select few, and centralise decision-making by putting all power into the hands of one individual.” And he was at his wittiest — or at least as close as Rahul has ever come to being witty — when asked why his remarks about decentralisation sounds much like those of Modi. “If Mr Modi believes these things he is saying now, then I must congratulate our own campaign. If we have succeeded in converting someone who is on the other extreme of the ideological spectrum, surely we’ve won the battle,” he riposted Rahul also denied any conflict with Manmohan Singh, saying, “The Prime Minister and my mother are both my gurus and political mentors whom I love and admire greatly.” That’s pretty good for a man best known for awkward analogies like escape velocity and beehives. Perhaps practice does make perfect — or if not perfect, at least, better. We should note that  part of the interview was conducted via email and The Hindu does not indicate those parts. With only the last leg of the polling remaining, and two-thirds of the country already having voted, this interview maybe too little, too late.