Prime Minister's Initiate To Reassure Citizens in Crisis

The office of prime minister in a parliamentary democracy is considered to be an office of extraordinary significance and of great prestige, because he heads the government consisting of people's elected representatives. It is under his leadership and guidance that the council of ministers takes the country on the path of progress and prosperity through important policies and welfare schemes. Such measures add to the stature of the country in the comity of nations.

Scams and Irregularities
Because of the 2G Spectrum, the S-band spectrum, the Commonwealth Games, and Adarsh Housing scams, the United Progressive Alliance government was facing serious allegations owing to the misdeeds of some of its ministers and officials, which were being highlighted in media. The opposition had launched a concerted and continuous campaign against the government. So much so that the winter session of Parliament got completely washed out on the insistence of the demand for the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate into these scams.

The opposition consistently demanded that the prime minister and union ministers explain and clarify their stand vis-à-vis these allegations. Under these circumstances, it had become imperative for the prime minister, in his position as the head of the government, personally to interact with the media and clarify his position and that of his government to the public, so that the confidence deficit-anxiety, and frustration that have taken roots among the people because of sky rocketing price-rise, could be allayed.

It was because of it that in reply to a question at the meeting with editors and representatives of TV news channels held at his residence, the prime minister said that he does not claim that he has never committed an error, yet he is not as big a culprit as he is being made out to be. He said it in response to a question whether being the head of the government he feels himself equally responsible for the scam and irregularities. He said that he was fully aware of his personal responsibility but to run a coalition, one had to make some compromises.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "I want to assure the people that my government is serious to bring to book the guilty in corruption cases, regardless of the position they held." He also urged the media not to focus excessively on the negative aspects, as it affects the self-confidence of the country. He further urged that they should refrain from projecting India as a country of scams only, as it may also have an adverse impact on the domestic and international situation. He added that it is a situation, which is eating into our strength. Therefore, he said, the good works done by the country should also be reported truthfully. He asserted that he was prepared to appear before any committee, including the JPC. The coalition government has its compulsions too. He added that naturally all is not in the shape as I want to see."

Resolving Issues
Replying to another query with regard to bringing an end to discretionary powers of ministers so as to prevent corruption, he informed that a group of ministers, headed by Pranab Mukherjee, h as been constituted which will suggest the way to deal with the issue. The group has been asked to submit its report within 60 days. He emphasized that all countries in the world respect India as a democratic country and, therefore, we all should together inculcate new strength, new sentiment and renewed self-confidence. If we face certain issues, we have the ways to resolve them too, he said and exuded confidence that we will succeed in resolving all these issues.

Criticizing the prime minister after his interaction with the media, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Left parties referred to his assertion that in a coalition government some compromises have to be made, and accused the prime minister of defending corruption. These parties also ridiculed his comparison between the 2G Spectrum and the subsidy being given to the poor. BJP President Nitin Gadkari said that coalition politics is related only to the 2G Spectrum, and S-band ISRO case, Commonwealth Games and the Adarsh Housing scams have little link with these. According to Gadkari, "If one sees between the lines, it is nothing but an attempt to sweep corruption under the carpet."

Extending Subsidies
Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechuri expressed almost similar sentiments and added, "On issues like corruption and price-rise, the prime minister says that to deal with these two burning issues, nothing much can be done which implies that the prime minister has thrown up his hands failing to resolve these basic and major issues facing the country". According to Yechuri, "Extending subsidies to the poor is an entirely different issue, while extending subsidies to the wealthy people and maintaining that to do so is necessary is sheer nonsense". Both the BJP and Left have targeted the government for the washout of the winter session of Parliament. Gadkari said: "If you are now prepared to appear before any committee, why didn't you do it earlier, so that such a situation would not have a risen."

Let the opposition and the critics term the interaction of the prime minister with the electronic media as an attempt to suppress corruption, yet it is a hard fact that in view of the debate raging for several months on the scams, the impasse in Parliament and the concern of the people, it can only be termed as a welcome and positive initiative. One can hope that the prime minister may continue to carry what is in his mind to people through media in the future.

Congress Silence About Gujarat Issue

We are not at all surprised that despite the investigation report submitted to the Supreme Court holding Chief Minister Narendra Modi accountable in the Gujarat massacre of Muslims in 2002, the Congress has so far made no statement. We were also not surprised when Home Minister P. Chidambaram's use of the term 'Hindu terrorism' was loudly objected by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and he remained silent, whereas some Congress party men objected to linking terrorism with any religion. The entire Congress maintained silence on this objection.

Meanwhile, the media, having affiliation with the BJP and the Sangh Parivar (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and allies) had frequently been using the term 'Islamic terrorism' and 'jihadi terrorism.'

Major Scams and Corruption
We have now stopped thinking about the Congress attitude as in our considered opinion a large part of the Congress feel frightened to face the BJP or their outlook is the same. Imagine had this report indicted a Congress minister what hue and cry the BJP would have made. If you think that the Congress is silent because it is badly entangled and does not want the repeat of disturbance created by the BJP in the budget session, or the Congress is silent because of its involvement in the 2G Spectrum, the Adarsh Society, and other big scams, your assessment is almost true. However, this is not the real cause of its silence. In fact the party fears the BJP. Tell us as to where the Congress faced the BJP and if faced, what is the outcome? It was defeated by the BJP in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh, with exception to Rajasthan.

However, Rajasthan's success is not due to the efforts of the Congress party but due to the internal dispute among members of BJP Chief Minister Vijay Raje Scindia's party. As far as Gujarat is concerned, someone among the lieutenants of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi has advised them to keep silent about Modi. That adviser whosoever he may be has presented the logic that calling Modi the trader of death adversely benefited him, winning the election. Although this logic is bogus, if at all there is such an adviser, he is Modi's agent.

Point Against BJP
The real cause of defeat was the Congress party's allotment of tickets to those people who clandestinely supported the carnage in 2002. You must have noticed that the BJP getting a small point against the Congress makes a molehill out of molecule and the Congress by getting a serious point against the BJP reduces it to the size of atom, which even amazes the BJP. The Adarsh Society is one such example. The local issue of Maharashtra was hyped by the BJP across the country.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa's matter was bigger than the Adarsh Society, but the Congress party played with it like a rubber toy. Acting upon the counsel of adviser to keep silent on Gujarat may cost the Congress party dearly, and like in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, it may never return to power easily.