O J’s Corner

Power sans responsibility

Which are the most powerful outfits in the UPA dispensation? With no hesitation one can point out that the Left parties have been enjoying a gala time lecturing the Manmohan Singh Government to do what and what not to do. Lucky chap Prakash Karat, the country’s celebrity armchair Communist, could strut about dictating terms. Poor Congressmen/women have been bearing with him/the leftists simply to see that the government is not pulled down. The spectre of the NDA, led by right-wing BJP, recapturing power at the Centre was unthinkable to one and all, except L K Advani & Co.


Likes and dislikes were put aside by Congress and the Leftists to maintain the power equation necessitated by circumstances calling for the exclusion of the BJP. All the same, the Communists, particularly the CPM, were walking away with glory. They could hold Congress, so far, to the line that nuclear agreement with the US should not materialize. At the same time, they could criticize the government led by Dr Manmohan Singh for its debacle in Assembly elections in 12 States. No party in the world would be so care-free as to enjoy power without responsibility in toto.

The Congress could have taught the Leftists a lesson in November 2007 by calling for elections. With inflation rising day by day, and the common man’s woes getting worser, it may not be congenial time for declaring elections to the Lok Sabha.

Still, it could work out an agreement with Samajwadi Party, BSP, and a lot of other parties to sustain the government, if the Leftists withdraw support on the nuclear deal plank. Manmohan Singh cannot continue without taking measures to wrap up the nuclear deal.

Harsh decisions have to be taken by all, whether they are individuals or governments, or other institutions in their lives. Statesmanship calls for strong measures at the cost of superficial gains.