Love him, hate him, but you can't ignore RaGa anymore

The opposition's role is to strive for power through electoral victories, not by attempting to overthrow an elected govt through agitation

- AJAY JHA

Years ago, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reportedly said, "She is a remarkable woman. You may love her or hate her, but you cannot ignore her."

Nehru was referring to Indira Gandhi, his daughter, whose growing involvement in politics and proximity to the Prime Minister's Office had begun to raise eyebrows in political circles. The same can now be said about Indira Gandhi's grandson, Rahul Gandhi. After spending over two decades in politics, he has finally reached a point where one may love him or hate him, but one can definitely not ignore him.

We are not getting into the futile debate over how many Indians love or hate him. What is beyond dispute is that he can no longer be dismissed, as he once was, when people mocked him and labelled him "Pappu", questioning his intellect. Rahul Gandhi is now setting the national agenda, and, whether willingly or unwillingly, the Modi government is being compelled to respond. He went hammer and tongs after the contentious farm laws, an agitation followed, and the bills were eventually scrapped by the government.