kmp writes in, in response to NDA's Report Card Is Out :
Devaluation of the PM's office may be happening - but then it is a vague and subjective thing. See the Governor's office. Everyone agrees that some governors have acted dubiously. Yet I have not seen anyone saying the office is devalued. Governors (apart from the suspects) are still respected I think. And if the PM were sincere (like The Hindu's opinion writer) then the 2 a.m. thing would be justified. Even if he was not others may still not think the PM's office is being devalued - they would put it down to the fact that coalition politics is a leveller. Everyone is mowed down.
These are bad precedents being set and that is a serious issue. But unless the two major parties sit down and talk about it, nothing will change.
As for the Left - they have won a big chunk of seats. They have their constituency. They have their own ideas. The opportunity is golden. And they are pushing for their ideas. They are giving in on many things. The government is giving in on many things. Parliamentary democracy - however flawed it may be! On some things the Left position seems antiquated and wrong. But they are not too rigid on these. Thus BHEL is now up for some divestment. FDI hike in telecom went through. The stake allowed in private banks for foreign institutions went up. FDI in retail should go through, inspite of the Left's opposition. Yes the EPF rate hike to 9.5 was their doing. It is an unsustainable increase I believe. But it may be just a precondition for Pension "reform". Quid pro quo.
I also think the Left is letting out a lot of hot air too - they may not want to be seen to be giving in against their perceived policies and principles - playing to their constituency's galleries as it were. They may be slowing down things - specifically divestment - and that is definitely a problem. On the other hand, I'm not sure which Left policy was taken as a whole and implemented. Let me know.
“Devaluation” of Prime Minister's postValid points. I'm not defending Laloo or what he is doing to the government. However, I don't know which current leader would have done otherwise when Laloo (or someone in his position) came calling. Just see what George Fernandes did to the erstwhile government - he was not dropped for a long time and then reinstated without any change in circumstances. Inspite of the Tehelka tapes. This, though everyone agrees that Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a leader. True there were no 2 a.m. action items, but that is all that can be said.
I will have to agree with this…connecting this to my earlier remark on whether a leader requires “Authority and Aura”. If one Minister can brow-beat the Government (or PMO or Cabinet) to take decisions at 2 am in the night (even when Prez is out of country), or call for a meeting and release a statement at 10 in the night on “attack on life” (and not about the accident) and make a man known for “Personal integrity” to defend tainted ministers…[BTW, NDA had tainted ministers (political or otherwise – and Congress boycotted George when he was re-instated after resignation). It was wrong then, it is wrong now.]
Left's Position...
Left definitely are in an enviable position…I mean they are Omnipresent – they are in “Ruling Camp” and they are in “Opposition” and they are the core of “Third front” etc. Aren’t they are like arm-chair (like our company's online bulletin board) critics? Now they can get all their policies implemented thru some kind of “black-mailing” and if the policy backfires (like NDA’s “fast-paced” reforms), it affects Congress (or UPA) than the Left, isn’t it? that’s Accountability (or lack of it). But, Congress should worry about that, not NDA.
Devaluation of the PM's office may be happening - but then it is a vague and subjective thing. See the Governor's office. Everyone agrees that some governors have acted dubiously. Yet I have not seen anyone saying the office is devalued. Governors (apart from the suspects) are still respected I think. And if the PM were sincere (like The Hindu's opinion writer) then the 2 a.m. thing would be justified. Even if he was not others may still not think the PM's office is being devalued - they would put it down to the fact that coalition politics is a leveller. Everyone is mowed down.
These are bad precedents being set and that is a serious issue. But unless the two major parties sit down and talk about it, nothing will change.
As for the Left - they have won a big chunk of seats. They have their constituency. They have their own ideas. The opportunity is golden. And they are pushing for their ideas. They are giving in on many things. The government is giving in on many things. Parliamentary democracy - however flawed it may be! On some things the Left position seems antiquated and wrong. But they are not too rigid on these. Thus BHEL is now up for some divestment. FDI hike in telecom went through. The stake allowed in private banks for foreign institutions went up. FDI in retail should go through, inspite of the Left's opposition. Yes the EPF rate hike to 9.5 was their doing. It is an unsustainable increase I believe. But it may be just a precondition for Pension "reform". Quid pro quo.
I also think the Left is letting out a lot of hot air too - they may not want to be seen to be giving in against their perceived policies and principles - playing to their constituency's galleries as it were. They may be slowing down things - specifically divestment - and that is definitely a problem. On the other hand, I'm not sure which Left policy was taken as a whole and implemented. Let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment