'I chose politics long ago'

AMETHI: At the Munshiganj guest house, Rahul Gandhi has just been asked why he decided to join politics. He looks up and says, “I made the decision long ago, while traveling on the train carrying my father''s body. I saw a lot of people running after the train. And I thought I must do something for the people who loved my father. And yes, my father was great.He''s my hero.�
A day after Rahul’s heart-stopping debut at Amethi, journalists who’d waited hours to meet him, were irritable and crabby. All hostility evaporated once Rahul come out accompanied by Priyanka and Sonia. Mother Sonia apologised for the mismanagement. Rahul dimpled sweetly and said sorry. Sonia described Rahul''s political entry as an emotional journey. She said she had come with her husband in 1980 to Sultanpur. “When I watched Rahul filing his nomination, those memories came flooding back.� Once Rahul got talking, it was as if the floodgates had opened. He wouldn''t budge even to Sonia''s “Rahul, we should leave.�
“You guys have this opinion about me. But I’m not shy or reserved. I want to focus on Amethi and I don’t want to distract myself unnecessarily. That is why I’m hesitant to talk to the national media. Yes, a few days back I thought I would be uncomfortable in politics, but you won''t be if you believe in yourself and the people,� said Rahul when asked about his apparent makeover. Did he see himself as heir-apparent to India’s oldest political dynasty? “No, not at all. However, why should I be defensive about belonging to a political family? I''m not a criminal’s son. My grandmother was prime minister, my father was prime minister. They did good things for India.�
What if destiny repeated itself? “I don’t fear for my life. I used to tell my father that politics was dangerous, but he said that was his life.� And what about the constant sniping on the foreigner issue? “When Narendra Modi targets my mother and now us, we know we''re on the right track.� What about the Congress’s steady decline? “I will not claim I have a magic potion. My job is to be honest.�