Political Diary
New Delhi, 16 July 2011
Govt Rejig, Terror
Attack
SYSTEM ONE BIG ‘DK
BOSE’
By Poonam I Kaushish
The more things change, the more they remain the same. This
dear bhai-bandhu is the ghisa-pita sum total of two events last
week. The much-hyped but flat Cabinet reshuffle which neither reinvented nor revitalised
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s ‘paralysed’ Government. Followed by the cataclysmic
terror strikes in Mumbai that yet again left egg on our security apparatus.
Sadly, both underscored the system continues to be one ‘DK Bose’, to use Delhi Belly’s crude but crassly fashionable
words.
The ministerial reshuffle, we were told, was based on
performance, clean record and public image to ensure that the Council of
Ministers performs cohesively prior to the 2014 elections. And to finally put
an end to the relentless but well-deserved ten months Government bashing to a
point of ridicule.
Alas, not only does Manmohan Singh’s re-jig lack imagination
and ambition but it failed to rope in fresh talent and dynamic leaders. Instead
of totally overhauling his Ministerial brood he chose status-quo-ante. Resulting in a botched exercise, no weeding of
inefficient Ministers and reallocation of portfolios to match available talent.
Worse, the UPA continues with its debilitating image
deficit, good governance a far cry. At best, Sonia’s double-edged sword:
Support the Prime Minister but refuse to empower him to crack the whip and show
he is boss. At worst, a re-distribution
of power within the Congress to handle the power struggles within the Party.
See how the Minister of State for Railways refused to abide
by the Prime Minister’s “advise” to visit the train crash sites, preferring
instead to follow his leader Mamata Banerjee. What to say, of five-term
Maharashtra MP who cocked a snook for being “demoted” to a minor ministerial
portfolio, the Union Law Minister accused “vested interests,” for his transfer to
Corporate affairs and a former Maharashtra Chief Minister shrugged it of as
“Delhi’s kho-kho politics”.
Sadly, the Prime Minister floundered in challenging existing
power equations. Arguably, what is so sacrosanct about the four senior-most
Ministers? Why have they not been shuffled? It is no secret that India needs a more dynamic Foreign Minister to
chart India’s
foreign policy in the ever-changing world kaleidoscope. Also, a new Home
Minister he not only talks tough but translates them into action.
Most scandalous is the fact, that out-going Corporate Affairs
Minister Murli Deora made his son’s entry into the Council of Ministers a
pre-condition to his exit. One had gotten used to hereditary membership to
legislatures but inherited Minister-ship makes nonsense of the criteria of
merit. Ditto the case of Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad and Agatha Sangma. Our babalog see electoral politics as an extension of their family
fiefdom. Blessed with an exaggerated sense of entitlement. As Rahul
Gandhi made plain, “politics is all about a surname, yaar!
As also age. Think. While 14 Cabinet Ministers, including Manmohan
Singh are in their 70s, just one, Kumari Selja is in her late forties. The
average age of “young” Ministers of State is a ‘senior’ 55-plus. Thus, 60 is
the average age of UPA II Council of Ministers. Compare this to UK’s 45-year-old Prime Minister David Cameron
and a 50-year-old US
President Barack Obama
Significantly, the UPA failed to appreciate that it cannot
improve its own image, or that of the individual constituents of the alliance,
including the Congress, if it allows the Prime Minister's authority and image
to weaken. What was needed was a Kamaraj Plan. Recall, in the 60’s old Congress
war horse asked all Ministers to tender their resignation and allow the Prime
Minister to choose his team. But according to sources, the Congress High
Command was not inclined to oblige.
True, notwithstanding the lingering bad stench of a
governance paralysis, the UPA remains stable and enjoys adequate support in the
Lok Sabha. Nothing more nothing less.
Thanks to an adrift Opposition. The BJP is caught in its
moribund politics and unable to create a new identity for itself even when the Government
is offering so many opportunities and issues, and the so-called Third Front is
in disarray.
Barely had the Prime Minister finished patting himself on
his back that peace was shattered by three terror strikes in Mumbai on 13 Black
Wednesday. Which once again highlighted that the Government continues to wallow
in the false belief that wars are games born in the minds of men --- won
peacefully by waving the white flag.
Coming after a two year eight month lull post 26/11, the
political reactions were predictable. VVIP after VVIP fell over one another in
condemning the perpetrators ‘cowardly’ (sic) act. Followed by a series of
high-profile appear-and-vanish visits to the city to profess their angst and,
hopefully, extract, political mileage.
“India
will not be cowed down”, the perpetrators will be brought to book”, was the
typical common refrain. Then followed the usual more of the same, Government
forces were rushed replete with more promises to act tough et al. Yawn so
predictable. Never mind, its India’s
18th attack since 2000 and the terrorist still roam scot free.
Then came the bloomers. Instead of calming the frayed aam aadmi’s nerves and allying fears, asserted
Union Home Minister, “All Indian cities are vulnerable”. Added Maharashtra
Chief Minister, “Mumbai’s not geared to fight terror”. Chipped in Rahul Gandhi,
“It is difficult to stop every terrorist attack”. Why? Simply because over 60
per cent of the security forces are too busy protecting our VVIPs. Besides, no neta has the stomach to take hard
decisions and act.
Scandalously, the attack exposed how ill-prepared the
Government is in ensuring timely action. Not only was there a massive
intelligence failure but till date no correctives have been put in place. For
instance, no CCTV cameras have been installed in crowded bye-lanes of various
markets or beat constables deployed in terror-prone areas. It also raises serious
questions about the effectiveness of the intelligence apparatus and the level
of coordination between the Centre and the State agencies
From Kargil to Mumbai the story, comments and diagnoses have
been heard before. Questionably, why has no attack taken place in the US since 2001 or the UK after 2005? Bluntly, the
terrorist know they would have to pay with double measure. Remember post 9/11 Washington destroyed Afghanistan and recently “smoked
out” Osama bin Laden. But India
will continue to be under assault as our security infrastructure is abysmal and
we are renowned to be a “soft” State.
Examples abound. Post 26/11 the much-promised National
Counter Terrorism Centre is nowhere in sight. The National Intelligence Grid is
behind schedule. The National Security Guards hubs in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
and Hyderabad for
quicker response to terror strikes have yet to materialize. The Maritime Security Advisory and Maritime
Security Adviser have been thwarted by turf war. Our coastal security apparatus
comprising registration of vessels & ID cards to fishermen are both
incomplete.
Clearly, the time has come for the Government to smell the
coffee. The Prime Minister needs to urgently pick up the gauntlet. Ideas are
aplenty; the imperative need is to act firmly. As an adage goes: When the going
gets tough, the tough get going. Both the Prime Minister and his Government must
realize that the going has got tough. Before it is too late. No longer will “work
in progress” suffice. The time has come to cry a halt to the system continuing
to be a ‘DK Bose’. Enough is enough! ---- INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature
Alliance)
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