Manmohan’s Second Inning -A Hardly Inspiring Cabinet
Posted : May 26, 2009 at 4:46 am [IST]
The names in the list of the new cabinet hardly excited anyone. However, the high drama created by and for Karunanidhi clan, the other highly dynastic family of the country provided kept TV channels busy. I don’t find any inkling of the Manmohan(ic) contribution or say in the formation of the cabinet.
I quote a well-known columnist of the pink papers:
“Let us not forget to examine the most important allegation that Mr L. K. Advani made - that Manmohan Singh was the weakest prime minister that India had ever seen. Was he right? Here’s a test that can tell us how strong Dr Singh really is: will he be allowed by his ‘party’ to have the Finance Minister he wants? Will a technocrat finally become Finance Minister? Or will Dr Singh disappoint again by adopting the path of least resistance?”
Manmohan’s wish was demolished by a simple statement of the de facto Empress of India. Media reported well in advance that Sonia Gandhi favoured appointing only politicians as Cabinet ministers, since they were accountable to the people during elections, and preferred to keep “non-politicians” out. How did Sonia Gandhi decide this? Is it in the interest of the nation? With loyalty, as the prime criterion, the meritocracy doesnt grow.
A newspaper editor such as one of Sunday Times of India can bring about a major change and publish a short story of Salman Rusdie in its city edition that is very much unusual for the newspaper. But the prime minister of India can’t bring in a technocrat or specialist as finance minister or in any other ministry, be it Montek Singh or Sam Pitroda. Ministry making didn’t even consider person such as Shashi Tharoor who dared to undergo the grueling task of electioneering and won. It would have drained a good amount from his bank saving too. How can a person like me and many of my clan get any hope that Manmohan can bring about some drastic out-of-the-box changes for putting the country on a real fast track that can make China worry or others envy?
The profiles of the 19 ministers are interesting. 11 out of 19 are having the education of law. I don’t know if it can give some indication and provide inspiration. Eight of them are from the Rajya Sabha (not elected by people directly) and certainly no new recruit from the meritocracy has found any place. Almost all in cabinet are of the age when most in India are made to retire. Where is the representation of the young India?
Why should the speculation over portfolio allocations be left to the reporters of the small screens of various hues for so many days? Does it show the way the government will drag the policies? Only six big ones have got their portfolios till date.
The Congress party may celebrate the verdict. The party men may enjoy Bhangra on the street. But the people of India will hardly get anything big in return even after providing the clear win for Congress, as it lacks the guts to come out with radical reforms and innovative approaches to solve the burning problems of scarcities of basic amenities, be it power, roads, or water, the issues of the black money stashed in foreign banks by unscrupulous ones, or the wastage of food in millions of tones because of lack of storage. It doesn’t give cash to individuals for voting it, but will give credits to millions and waive it again before the next election in 2014.
However, let me confess one success of Manmohan Singh that is really commendable. He could get rid of Balloo, the most corrupt of his ministers in the last cabinet who derailed the road construction endeavours initiated by Bajpaiji. One single bad minister could put the country behind by five years and nothing could be done under the excuse of coalition dharma. However, as reported, Raja will still remain in cabinet with a portfolio to demolish the dreams of millions of Indian techies. Let us see what comes out today (Tuesday).
- Indra
Category: Government Policy/Administration |
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