11-15-2004, 02:55 AM
<b>Muddle called UPA</b>-Dina Nath Mishra -Pioneer
After six months of the UPA Government, it's time to compare it with
the NDA. First, the structural differences: The NDA alliance was harmonious. The BJP was in Government with the Shiv Sena, the Akali Dal and the Biju Janata Dal and the north-eastern regional parties. Its other allies were the DMK, Samata Party (JDU), Trinamool Congress, National Conference and other smaller parties with which it fought the 13th Lok Sabha election. The BJP also fought the Lok Sabha polls with the TDP and the INLD, which had supported the NDA Government from outside. Only once did the TDP hint at withdrawing support and that was if Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister continued after the Gujarat riots. In its governance, the NDA strengthened federalism irrespective of the party ruling the States.
In contrast, the Congress and the Left Front fought each other in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. The nature of the Left Front's outside support to the UPA Government is also different to what the TDP and INLD gave the NDA. Communists, in the heydays of the Soviet Union, had perfected the art of finishing allies from within and outside. In India, too, the Left Front has marginalised and made its partners totally dependent. The CPM has even resorted to extreme violence. Today, the CPM's protests ring the loudest, taking over the Opposition space. The Congress is bound to pay the price for this outside support in the the Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura Assembly elections.
Its noteworthy that the Left Front has always been winning between 45 to 55 Lok Sabha seats in the last few decades. But the six-odd more seats it won this time have gone to their head.
The Left Front is dictating the Government on every issue including foreign policy. No Tom, Dick and Harry of the Left Front ever forgets to mention that the UPA Government is totally dependent upon them. The result has been that the Manmohan Singh Government has never gained the stature, which a central government of India deserves. The PM has to work under the CPM, the super PM and is sandwiched by a crude Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav.
Further, mafias have occupied the central seat of power for the first time. Just this week, Laloo Prasad Yadav's bail had been extended for three months.
The criminalisation of the Central Government has now been internalised. For the first time since Independence, the Muslim League, which was responsible for the Partition, has a place in the Council of Ministers. This was a deliberate decision of the Congress high command, which was reflected in its other similar decisions including 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. In its desperate bid for power, the Congress even decided to take the support from banned leftist groups like the PWG in Andhra Pradesh and the ISI-linked ULFA in Assam. It further boosted the morale of the militants by announcing the POTA repeal before the Lok Sabha poll at the cost of national interest.
To cap it, the UPA has thrown democratic decency to the winds. First, it removed five Governors for links with the RSS. Then it unceremoniously removed Chief of Censor Board Anupam Kher, a non-controversial film personality. Then Home Minister Shivraj Patil informed Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that the Tamil Nadu Governor had been removed for failing to host the ceremonial party on Independence day. This ridiculous reasoning prompted a reader of 'The Hindu' to write to the editor offering that he was ready to throw a party daily if he is appointed Governor.
Further, the UPA's internal relations are less cohesive than the NDA. The tug-of- war between the Congress and the NCP after the Maharashtra elections and the manner in which the less-performing partner brow-beat the better party showed that no rule of politics had been adhered to.
The trust between the two was missing. In fact, the UPA as a whole lacks trust. The votes and seats thrown up by 'Election 2004' show the BJP and the Congress to be neck-and-neck. But having attained power, the Congress is showing itself to be at its vindictive best. Arrogance has become its way as Shivraj Patil demonstrated in telling Jayalalithaa: "This is our style".
Meaning they don't consult, they just inform.
After six months of the UPA Government, it's time to compare it with
the NDA. First, the structural differences: The NDA alliance was harmonious. The BJP was in Government with the Shiv Sena, the Akali Dal and the Biju Janata Dal and the north-eastern regional parties. Its other allies were the DMK, Samata Party (JDU), Trinamool Congress, National Conference and other smaller parties with which it fought the 13th Lok Sabha election. The BJP also fought the Lok Sabha polls with the TDP and the INLD, which had supported the NDA Government from outside. Only once did the TDP hint at withdrawing support and that was if Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister continued after the Gujarat riots. In its governance, the NDA strengthened federalism irrespective of the party ruling the States.
In contrast, the Congress and the Left Front fought each other in the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. The nature of the Left Front's outside support to the UPA Government is also different to what the TDP and INLD gave the NDA. Communists, in the heydays of the Soviet Union, had perfected the art of finishing allies from within and outside. In India, too, the Left Front has marginalised and made its partners totally dependent. The CPM has even resorted to extreme violence. Today, the CPM's protests ring the loudest, taking over the Opposition space. The Congress is bound to pay the price for this outside support in the the Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura Assembly elections.
Its noteworthy that the Left Front has always been winning between 45 to 55 Lok Sabha seats in the last few decades. But the six-odd more seats it won this time have gone to their head.
The Left Front is dictating the Government on every issue including foreign policy. No Tom, Dick and Harry of the Left Front ever forgets to mention that the UPA Government is totally dependent upon them. The result has been that the Manmohan Singh Government has never gained the stature, which a central government of India deserves. The PM has to work under the CPM, the super PM and is sandwiched by a crude Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav.
Further, mafias have occupied the central seat of power for the first time. Just this week, Laloo Prasad Yadav's bail had been extended for three months.
The criminalisation of the Central Government has now been internalised. For the first time since Independence, the Muslim League, which was responsible for the Partition, has a place in the Council of Ministers. This was a deliberate decision of the Congress high command, which was reflected in its other similar decisions including 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. In its desperate bid for power, the Congress even decided to take the support from banned leftist groups like the PWG in Andhra Pradesh and the ISI-linked ULFA in Assam. It further boosted the morale of the militants by announcing the POTA repeal before the Lok Sabha poll at the cost of national interest.
To cap it, the UPA has thrown democratic decency to the winds. First, it removed five Governors for links with the RSS. Then it unceremoniously removed Chief of Censor Board Anupam Kher, a non-controversial film personality. Then Home Minister Shivraj Patil informed Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that the Tamil Nadu Governor had been removed for failing to host the ceremonial party on Independence day. This ridiculous reasoning prompted a reader of 'The Hindu' to write to the editor offering that he was ready to throw a party daily if he is appointed Governor.
Further, the UPA's internal relations are less cohesive than the NDA. The tug-of- war between the Congress and the NCP after the Maharashtra elections and the manner in which the less-performing partner brow-beat the better party showed that no rule of politics had been adhered to.
The trust between the two was missing. In fact, the UPA as a whole lacks trust. The votes and seats thrown up by 'Election 2004' show the BJP and the Congress to be neck-and-neck. But having attained power, the Congress is showing itself to be at its vindictive best. Arrogance has become its way as Shivraj Patil demonstrated in telling Jayalalithaa: "This is our style".
Meaning they don't consult, they just inform.