US envoy impressed by Rahul Gandhi: Wikileaks

WASHINGTON: Thousands of secret US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks have revealed that an American diplomat was impressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Washington Post quoted the cables sent from the US Embassy in New Delhi in 2005 as saying that: “Gandhi conceded that many educated, upper middle class urban Indians dismiss politics as a dirty business, but he countered that there is a massive wave of interest in politics and service by younger Indians in small towns and rural areas”. “Noting that young people make up a majority of India’s population and electorate, Gandhi said that for many, politics is a ‘black box’ to which entry is opaque.

Noting unselfconsciously that most Indian politicians got into politics through family connections or friends, he said that establishing an open and transparent process of candidate recruitment starting at the most basic level and democratising the party would do much to aid Congress in the coming years by bringing in fresh faces and new ideas,” the diplomat said.

Summarising his impression about Gandhi, he said: “Gandhi came off as a practised politician who knew how to get his message across and was comfortable with the nuts and bolts of party organisation and vote counting. He was precise and articulate and demonstrated a mastery that belied the image some have of Gandhi as a dilettante. Given his commitment to party building, it seems unlikely he would seek a Cabinet position anytime soon”.

Describing a meeting between ruling Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi, another cable dated 2006 said that Sonia Gandhi’s ‘Italian personality is clearly evident’. “Despite her carefully erected Indian persona, her basic Italian personality is clearly evident in her mannerisms, speech and interests . She presents an intriguing enigma of a warm private personality that remains concealed and is available only to her closest confidants and family members,” the then deputy chief of mission Geoff Pyatt said.