Farce called Gandhianism

Gandhianism is one of those flawed ideologies that is so abstract, utopian and impractical that even the person who conceived it agreed it was not practical at all times. However it has become a mantle piece for any diplomat, bureaucrat who wants to carp on issues using moral grand standing. Case in point MK Bhadra Kumar commenting on the recent riots in Libya and comparing the violence there to Afghanistan.
Somehow he tries to inject Gandhianism into the whole discussion as some sort of moral higher ground.

The irony is that non-violence in Libya becomes the rubric for militarisation of foreign policy. After referring Mr. Qadhafi to the ICC, shouldn't India sign the Rome Statute and become an ICC member-country? Ideally, we should also persuade Mr. Obama, who admires Gandhiji, to revoke his predecessor's decision to pull the U.S. out of the ICC.

When are we going to get rid of the nonsense carpet that Gandhianism means something in today's world?

RSS-China MoU?

Mr.Bhadrakumar claims in the lead op-ed today that China concluded a memorandum with RSS leaders last year and senior RSS figures were hosted by Beijing. Is this true? I have not read anything about this in the mainstream press and a google search turned up nothing today. It seems a little strange though for the Chinese government to be doing such a thing with the RSS. For one thing, I suspect it would have made more news if RSS leaders had been invited to Beijing. Organiser might have been expected to report it (I cannot recall seeing anything about this). Secondly, it seems the Chinese would rather have talked to the BJP leadership which would make more sense since the BJP is the leading opposition party. Thirdly, it is one thing for the Chinese to invite RSS leaders to promote mutual understanding but signing a memorandum? What exactly would they be agreeing to since the RSS is not even officially a political organization? I find this difficult to believe. If anyone knows anything about this, please post a comment.

Lastly, it is quite a stretch and an insult to the integrity and intelligence of RSS leaders if Bhadrakumar is implying here that China has purchased the RSS' silence through an MoU. The RSS ought to respond to this claim and clear the air.