06-07-2004, 08:54 PM
<b>Terrorism doesn't cross Govt's mind </b>
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday said the outcome of the election is indicative of people's yearning for inclusiveness - economic, social and cultural, and their rejection of the forces of divisiveness. He said the verdict is for establishing the rule of law and repairing "our secular fabric". President APJ Abdul Kalam being escorted by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Parliament House in New Delhi on Monday - Alwin Singh/ Pioneer
What, however, raised eyebrows in political circles is that the presidential address to Parliament skipped the vital issue of cross-border terrorism which has agitated minds for more than a decade. Nowhere in the text, the Government has expressed its concerns on this issue. The Government has stressed on the need for a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan but ignored its nefarious activities altogether.
This is even more surprising as the PDP-Congress Government is grappling with the menace of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. While terrorist strikes continued in the Valley all along, a major tragedy occurred when over 30 people were killed the very day this Government assumed office. The first Cabinet meeting of the UPA Government was convened to discuss that terrorist strike.
Even in the context of internal security, the Government has not spoken its mind. It dwells on the misuse of the POTA and promises to repeal it but does not spell out its strategy to counter threats to internal security. The President, however, announced a new law to counter communal violence.
Giving the customary address to the joint session of Parliament, in which the Government outlines its agenda for governance, the President was extremely critical of the NDA Government on two points, communalism and inequitable distribution and use of resources. Other points in the United Progressive Alliance's common minimum programme, like pro-agriculture thrust in policies, the Employment Guarantee Act, accelerating economic reforms, decommunalising education and reservation for women in legislatures formed part of the presidential address.
Dr Kalam said: "It is a matter of serious concern that the forces of communalism have been able to vitiate the atmosphere in the country leading to outbreak of riots, the most gruesome face of which was witnessed recently in Gujarat. The Government will adopt all possible measures to promote and maintain communal peace and harmony so that minorities feel completely secure.
My Government will enact a model law to deal with communal violence and encourage states to adopt it." The speech was also critical on the question of distribution of resources. It said: "It is a matter of concern that regional imbalances have been accentuated not only by historical neglect but also by distortions in Plan allocations.
The Government is committed to redressing growing regional imbalances both among states, as well as within states through fiscal, administrative and other means."The Government also envisages a structured and transparent approach to alleviate the burden of debt on states to enable them to increase social sector investments. It said: "All non-statutory resource transfers from the Central Government will be weighed in favour of the poor and backward states."
The Government will consider establishing a Backward States Grant Fund that will be used to create productive assets in these states but with performance parameters as well. The Government has also promised to set up a new commission for looking into Centre-state relations, keeping in view the sea-changes that have taken place in the polity and economy of the country.
The President, while saying that the Government was committed to providing the right ambience for fulfiling the aspirations implicit in the people's mandate, finally observed: "The mandate they have given is to treat power as a sacred societal trust to be used for the good of society, paying particular attention to the pressing needs of our farmers and other downtrodden sections.
My Government will stay faithful to this vision." The Lok Sabha will have a ten-hour discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. The decision to start the 10-hour discussion from Tuesday morning was taken at an all-party meeting convened by the Speaker on Monday afternoon. At the meeting, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee appealed to all parties to avoid acrimony and maintain decorum and decency inside the House.
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday said the outcome of the election is indicative of people's yearning for inclusiveness - economic, social and cultural, and their rejection of the forces of divisiveness. He said the verdict is for establishing the rule of law and repairing "our secular fabric". President APJ Abdul Kalam being escorted by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Parliament House in New Delhi on Monday - Alwin Singh/ Pioneer
What, however, raised eyebrows in political circles is that the presidential address to Parliament skipped the vital issue of cross-border terrorism which has agitated minds for more than a decade. Nowhere in the text, the Government has expressed its concerns on this issue. The Government has stressed on the need for a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan but ignored its nefarious activities altogether.
This is even more surprising as the PDP-Congress Government is grappling with the menace of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. While terrorist strikes continued in the Valley all along, a major tragedy occurred when over 30 people were killed the very day this Government assumed office. The first Cabinet meeting of the UPA Government was convened to discuss that terrorist strike.
Even in the context of internal security, the Government has not spoken its mind. It dwells on the misuse of the POTA and promises to repeal it but does not spell out its strategy to counter threats to internal security. The President, however, announced a new law to counter communal violence.
Giving the customary address to the joint session of Parliament, in which the Government outlines its agenda for governance, the President was extremely critical of the NDA Government on two points, communalism and inequitable distribution and use of resources. Other points in the United Progressive Alliance's common minimum programme, like pro-agriculture thrust in policies, the Employment Guarantee Act, accelerating economic reforms, decommunalising education and reservation for women in legislatures formed part of the presidential address.
Dr Kalam said: "It is a matter of serious concern that the forces of communalism have been able to vitiate the atmosphere in the country leading to outbreak of riots, the most gruesome face of which was witnessed recently in Gujarat. The Government will adopt all possible measures to promote and maintain communal peace and harmony so that minorities feel completely secure.
My Government will enact a model law to deal with communal violence and encourage states to adopt it." The speech was also critical on the question of distribution of resources. It said: "It is a matter of concern that regional imbalances have been accentuated not only by historical neglect but also by distortions in Plan allocations.
The Government is committed to redressing growing regional imbalances both among states, as well as within states through fiscal, administrative and other means."The Government also envisages a structured and transparent approach to alleviate the burden of debt on states to enable them to increase social sector investments. It said: "All non-statutory resource transfers from the Central Government will be weighed in favour of the poor and backward states."
The Government will consider establishing a Backward States Grant Fund that will be used to create productive assets in these states but with performance parameters as well. The Government has also promised to set up a new commission for looking into Centre-state relations, keeping in view the sea-changes that have taken place in the polity and economy of the country.
The President, while saying that the Government was committed to providing the right ambience for fulfiling the aspirations implicit in the people's mandate, finally observed: "The mandate they have given is to treat power as a sacred societal trust to be used for the good of society, paying particular attention to the pressing needs of our farmers and other downtrodden sections.
My Government will stay faithful to this vision." The Lok Sabha will have a ten-hour discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. The decision to start the 10-hour discussion from Tuesday morning was taken at an all-party meeting convened by the Speaker on Monday afternoon. At the meeting, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee appealed to all parties to avoid acrimony and maintain decorum and decency inside the House.