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Created on Tuesday, 23 April 2019 03:15
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(Narendra Modi. Image Courtesy: PIB)
“Even in coalition governments if proper leadership is there and we can achieve good governance and take strong steps against forces that work for destabilizing the nation. Accountability as we all agree is one of the key components of good governance” stated Narendra Modi while delivering a speech on good governance on 5th June 2010.
Mr. Modi’s wisdom was independently articulated by Commission on Centre-State Relations (CCSR). When Mr. Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister he often hailed 7-volumes report of CCSR and pitched for its implementation.
Mr Modi, however, sustained UPA’s policy paralysis on CCSR recommendations submitted in April 2010. This is a separate story in itself.
CCSR, often referred to as Punchhi Commission, concluded: “Coalition government can be looked at as a sign of genuine accountability of the uniquely Indian polity and its system of governance”.
CCSR observed: “Coalition politics need not be inherently problematic as long as the parties follow the rules of the game and respect the authority of the law and the Constitution. It may slow-down the pace of development occasionally; but the practice of evolving the ‘Dharma’ of common minimum programme did help to overcome difficulties while controlling the excesses of the dominant coalition partners”.
We need to recall such observations of reputed panels & BJP’s own forgotten statements, etc. This might help voters balance Modiji’s sudden phobia of coalition politics. The phobia should also be countered by mulling over failures of regimes led by parties that won absolute majority.
Read more: Balance Mr. Modi's Phobia of Coalition Governments with Facts
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Created on Thursday, 04 April 2019 08:37
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(Image culled from a full photo available at mea.gov.in)
“This partition has been a mistake and has to be annulled some day or other. (An Hon. Member: By force?) Why should I not have a right to say that?” stated founder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
He was participating in a debate over the Bill for first amendment to the Constitution in Parliament on 16th May 1951.
Dr. Mookerjee stoutly opposed Partition before and after it happened in 1947. He ultimately quit Nehru cabinet & the Congress Party to start BJP (originally Bharatiya Jan Sangh). Alas, BJP has never transformed Dr. Mookerjee’s vision into a credible initiative on phased merger of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It owes an explanation (if apology is undignified) to people of Indian subcontinent on this count.
There can never be peace in Indian sub-continent without merger in which religion should be relegated strictly to private space. The Merger should be driven by focus on our common genes, common culture and common goal - jobs, happiness & prosperity for all. Who is scared of rationality & humanity-driven unification?
The only other alternative and very painful one is to secure peace through a war. If this option is exercised, it must lead to break-up of Pakistan, which has become a cradle for global terrorism. The break-up idea has been articulated well by BJP maverick MP, Dr. Subramanian Swamy.
In September 2018, Dr. Swamy reportedly stated: “Pakistan be broken into four regions - Sindh, Balochistan, Pakhtun and West Pakistan - and the first three must be handed over to India. “This is the only solution to the India-Pakistan conflict”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done nothing to exercise either option. He has an unflinching faith in Empty Bravado. He resorts to token action when faced with horrible events and the public resentment over inaction. He loves fear-mongering about Pakistan during the election campaigns. He first tasted fruits of this fear-generating strategy in December 2002 polls for Gujarat State Assembly.
Read more: Can Modiji Win Election Without Pakistan as his Trump Card?
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Created on Wednesday, 20 March 2019 14:40
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(Edited Image Courtesy: mplads.gov.in)
The Congress Party’s campaign seeking dismissal of Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani should turn focus on controversies-ridden Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
The focus should also be extended to similar scheme, Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALADS), which is funded by State Governments.
Both should be scrapped on fiscal, administrative, ethical and electoral grounds. The two schemes are apt instances of institutionalized corruption & fiscal mismanagement that no political party wants to scrap.
This is in spite of categorical recommendation from National Commission to Review the Working the Constitution (NCRWC). In its report submitted to Vajpayee Government in April 2002, NCRWC recommended “immediate discontinuance of the MP LAD Scheme as being inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution in many ways”.
Like this august panel of constitutional experts, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Government-commission studies have found numerous flaws in the schemes.
The Supreme Court, in two separate verdicts, has, however, upheld the constitutional validity of the two schemes. Central Information Commission has, on the other hand, called for law to ensure transparency and accountability of MPLADS.
Read more: Scrap MPs & MLAs-led 4th Governance Tier For Capital Expenditure
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Created on Wednesday, 27 February 2019 04:35
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(Image Courtesy: loksabha.nic.in)
Indian democracy touched a new low with the Promulgation of four ordinances post early closure of budget session of Parliament. There would have been no need for these temporary laws had the Parliament functioned till February-end, instead of ending budget session on 13th February.
The four transient laws are: 1) The Companies (Second Amendment) Ordinance 2019, 2) Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019 (popularly known as triple talaq law), 3) Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 & 4) Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019.
The new low is characterized by the Executive (the Government) usurping the powers of the Legislature (Parliament in this case) through repeated re-promulgation of ordinances.
Of the four ordinances notified on 21st February, the first three are re-promulgations for the third time in each case. All four would cease to be laws if the BJP fails to form the Government after the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls!
Read more: Reversing Parliament’s Soiled Image Must Figure in 2019 Manifestos
