Miles to Go before We sleep

Congress seems to be like humpty dumpty. They seem to be living in a blunder land. Except that the Opposition is in tethers, there is nothing positive about the UPA Coalition which is slowly drowning. Even a massive transplant cannot save India’s grand old party. The party seems to have lost its glow. Its magic wand. Midas touch. It is groping in the dark, and before long, will end up with past legacy. It is a repeat story of mistakes, one after another, due to lack of sagacity, political maturity, and pragmatic realism and brinkmanship. It has many votaries who imagine them to be its spokesmen. But they babble in lot of drab, littering the political landscape with their blunders and howlers. They speak to bring disgrace to the Organization, they represent. All of them have the foot-in-the-mouth disease. Congress party cannot live without power, is accustomed to pampering, which eludes the party from reflecting on its errors and introspection on its failures. The Party does not have intellectual leaders, men on the hour to catch the finest hour, who can call a Spade a spade, and yet win over people for their honesty, sincerity, and humility. Reasoning is not congressman’s forte. It does not dawn on him that he is slowly ebbing out of the mind of the average Indian. The party is in its stupor. It is the indecision that is the hall mark of its working; but when pilloried and blackmailed, takes high voltage decision which aggravates the problem and eludes the solution for which it was taken with hesitation. This happened in the case of Anna Hazare. In the 2G scam. FDI in Retail. When the Prime minister of India stakes his prestige and signs the Nuclear Deal with America, despite the Left who were staunch supporters of UPA opposing the deal tooth and nail, he underscores the need for nuclear energy to solve India’s perennial power problem. Yet, in another breadth, he is candid that United States is trying to sabotage India’s nuclear programme by funding NGOs to spearhead an anti nuclear programme movement in Tamilnadu. Does it mean, US supports India with supply of nuclear energy equipments but opposes India’s dealing with Russia as the fast breeder reactor is from Russia in Tamilnadu? Why did the protestors wait till end of the construction of the plant to start its stir? Sharad Pawar, talks of farmers’ woes when he argues for continuation of Cotton export shipment. He is categorical that such a move would harm the farmer. Cotton exports have exceeded its target of 84 lakh bales by an additional10 lakh bales. Cotton is already in shortage for conversion into value added products. The same Agricultural Minister is happy to import uncontrolled quantity of edible oil, even though it critically affects the homegrown edible oil, solvent extraction domestic industry and oil seed farmers! Mamata may not be happy with the signing of river water treaty with Bangladesh, but her opposition to the UPA of which she is an inseparable part is astounding. Jayalalita’s rouse against the Centre is political. Modi’s anger comes out of the Congresses blatant accusation that he is a villan instead of a hero. Nitesh Kumar, Biju Panaik, and other states ruled by the Opposition cry hoarse against the centre for lack of patronizing them. There is merit in their accusations. But, all states should be taken as equals, and Centre is nothing but a Union of States. It should blend the resources equally to be divided amongst states so that they will beget revenue to embark on economization. Progress must be uniform and over spreading to the near by state from the metropolis. Hosur takes the advantage of Bangalore, while Kasargod is supported by Mangalore. Noida gets the support of Delhi. Government does not have political colour even though the Party that has gained the majority forms the government. Government policies and party politics are divided by oceans, though the waves may flow to and fro the beaches. Congress needs to re-invent. Instead of being passive to the issues, it must be proactive to draw solutions anticipating issues. Both the ruling dispensation and the Opposition can criticize one proposal or policy, if they can point out a viable alternative proposal. Blind opposition will not do the country any good. Today’s Congress leaders do not see the sunshine of tomorrow, but believes that the dusk has come, to postpone its problem to the next day. This is a wrong attitude, please.