By Karan Thapar

In India the smallest thing can turn into a controversy. But when Rahul Gandhi’s ‘interview’ to Tehelka metamorphosed into a political football only the Congress Party and the magazine were to blame. No doubt the 35-year-old MP said a few silly things but indiscretion is not a crime. Yet they turned his inexperience into a casualty and inflicted real blows to his reputation.

First, Rahul did say things that sound decidedly arrogant. Here’s an example : “I could have been PM at the age of 25 if I wanted to. But I decided I wouldn’t do things in that fashion. I would not go around yelling at my seniors, hoy you guys, you can’t do this or you can’t do that. I could easily have done it.” Here’s another : “If there is anything being done anywhere in Uttar Pradesh, it is in Amethi. In fact no other MP in the country is doing as much as I am.”

Of course, as Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi’s son Rahul could have become PM at 25 but if he had it would have been decidedly wrong. It’s not just that he chose not to, I trust Congress felt the same way too. And as for being better than others, well, that’s a matter of interpretation but a silly boast to make. Even if true it sounds childish.

Yet all of this should have been laughed away. Despite his parentage, Rahul is too young and inexperienced to take seriously. But Congress panicked. Believing the heir apparent had put both feet in his mouth its spokesman claimed it was a casual conversation and not an interview : “The write-up projected as an interview contains several misrepresentations and misquotations. In any event, they arose from a casual conversation.”

But given the conversation lasted an hour, extensive notes were taken and nothing was off the record – facts Congress does not deny – what’s the difference? Misrepresentation and misquotation don’t invalidate content; otherwise Indian journalism would cease to exist. Nor did Congress make this claim.

Congress insists Rahul did not make the PM-at-25 remark but won’t specifically deny anything else. In fact, its spokesman refused to “dissect sentences”, which suggests the rest is accurate.

At first Tehelka fought back. An initial statement insisted “it was a formal interview and there was nothing casual or private about it”. Also, “we don’t print anything that is off the record” and “our reporter reproduced the interview faithfully”.

Hours later Tehelka changed position. "This seems to be a clear case of misunderstanding. Mr Gandhi thought he was having a casual chat whereas our reporter took it to be a proper interview”. Then, more ominously : “Any errors in the interview are inadvertent and regretted.”

Worse, when Tarun Tejpal, Tehelka’s Editor-in-Chief, was invited to appear on CNBC to explain the facts of the ‘interview’ and defend his cover story and journalist he declined. More intriguingly, he refused to identify where the interview was wrong or inaccurate. So why had he regretted errors? Because Rahul claims there are some, he said. Quite frankly, this makes Tejpal’s position very confusing. How can an editor apologise for errors without specifying what they are whilst, sotto voce, insisting there are none?

It seems Congress lacks the courage to defend Rahul’s comments and Tehelka the conviction to defend its own journalist.

Yet there was much Rahul said that should have pleased Congress. For example : “I’m not like the other politicians. Anybody who wants me to do what the others are doing is making a mistake.” And : “I think one can’t be a complete human being if one has not dealt with failure. If I am to be a complete politician I think I must lose a couple of elections.”

Even his criticisms of Bihar are indisputably true. Embarrassing perhaps but proof he calls a spade a spade, which people admire. Congress hasn’t the wit or confidence to recognise this.

Tehelka, on the other hand, can no longer face the firing line. In 2001 it stood up to the BJP but in 2005 it crumbled in front of Congress. In fact, by accepting unspecified errors it has, by the same token, indicated there could have been some in the sting operation against Bangaru Laxman and Jaya Jaitly. Its greatest moment has been thrown into doubt.

Ultimately it’s young Rahul I feel sorry for. Even if his comments were folly, so what? We’re all entitled to make errors. I admire MPs who admit mistakes rather than blame the journalist or claim they never spoke at all. But neither Congress nor Tehelka will let him.