Indians may be the biggest critics of their own country but they don’t half hate foreign meddling.
The issue is particularly sensitive given India’s centuries of foreign invasions and subjugation. After having thrown off the imperial yoke nearly 80 years ago, we certainly don’t want outside powers interfering in our affairs today.
So it is quite a surprise that the Tura MP, Saleng Sangma of the Congress Party, has appealed to foreign countries to lean on India’s central government on the amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
Saleng, of course, has a long history of putting his foot in his mouth. He has on more than one occasion used colourful words in the Assembly and he has a reputation of outrageous statements. In this he is quite similar to someone like South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai. Both get into the news for what they say, even if the comments are rather throwaway.
However, on this occasion, Saleng can only hope that his words are forgotten about in a hurry. Inviting foreigners to get involved in India’s internal affairs is a surefire way of getting a load of criticism from anti-Congress parties.
So it has come to pass with Tuesday’s reprimand by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma of the National People’s Party and others are sure to follow.
This kind of issue is especially sensitive for the Congress, which is criticised over and over again by the Bharatiya Janata Party for referring (just after independence) the issue of Jammu and Kashmir to the United Nations.
And then, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi gives speeches abroad, these are invariably criticised by the BJP. Or when, annually, the United States warns of religious intolerance in India, it is our government’s hackles that are raised. More for the foreign interference than for the actual criticism of our religious intolerance.
But luckily for Saleng, this should blow over in a while – he is simply not big enough for it to become a major controversy. He will get some brickbats in Meghalaya but his words might actually gain him some popularity from those really concerned about the FCRA amendment. Otherwise, they will pass. We’ve all come to expect brash words from Saleng. And he does not disappoint.
