The present Administration under Manmohan Singh has had a few weeks (months?) of setbacks, one after another.
Politically it stood neutered for several months on fight against corruption which started with the woolly Anna Hazare campaign, the unnecessary uproar in the Parliament by the Opposition, with their attempt to treat Ministers as outcast, the brouhaha with the LokPal bill, the fiasco with FDI in retail selling, and the setbacks in the courts over the 2G spectrum allotment scandal and the date of birth of the Army Chief.
But today’s decision by the CBI Magistrate throwing out the charge of criminal conspiracy against the present Home Minister in the 2G spectrum scam (after the Supreme Court judgement, it qualifies as a scam rather than a scandal), marks the turn of the tide.
For the Opposition, which bayed for blood of both the Home Minister and the Prime Minister, it is a setback - a setback which the ruling Congress party can exploit fully and ensure its victory in the General Elections three years down.
But that depends upon the ruling party to play its cards well. It is a God given opportunity, a reprieve for the ruling party to reclaim the political space. That it can accomplish in only one way - except for a brief period of exception.
The exception is for the UP elections underway. It can only go hammer and tongs at everyone who has been criticizing of its ‘supposed’ partiality to corruption. Till March 2012, when the final phase of the UP elections are to close, that is the only option.
Hit the opposition, which means everyone, from Maya to to Advani to Modi to Mulayam and everyone else, hard on the issue of vindication of the Home Minister.
But once the final phase closes down, it is time to change course and start to acknowledge that things have gone in ways not expected, without admitting guilt and start the process of remedial measures to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, ever.
Which brings out my chief grouse, which I had been expounding for last few months (if not years). That this governance by Cabinet Committee for XXXX should be done away with. Now, don’t take me wrong. I think the CCxxxxs have their place in governance. But the recommendations of the CCxxxxs should always be put through the gamut of the full Cabinet.
Now, that is not me talking. I am falling back on the wisdom of the founding fathers of the Constitution of India, when I insist that every policy decision of the Government of India should pass Cabinet scrutiny.
After all, that is the crux of the 2G scam and also that of my pet hate, the UIDAI database controversy - between UIDAI authority and the Home Ministry.
If the 2G decision had been put up before the Cabinet, the process which gave the opportunity for Raja to contaminate the process could have been avoided.
If the UIDAI had been discussed in full the Cabinet, the difference of opinion between UIDAI and Home Ministry could have been sorted out (as was done last month), long before.
If the problem with the Army Chief’s date of birth and tenure had been discussed in a full Cabinet, a possible solution could have been arrived at.
Is it even necessary to go into the fiasco with the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector, which was never put to a full cabinet decision?
Second, the Ministers should be told, by the PM to talk less, think more, act with humility and talk even less. Two days after I admire Kapil Sibal for his down to earth handling of the aftermath of the 2G verdict cancelling 122 Licences, he is off acting all and mighty - calling for everyone who doubted the Home Minster to personally apologize to the Home Minister.
If that is his view, then my take is that he did not keep his own counsel (no pun intended) when the 2G licences were struck down - he passed off his own earlier defence ‘there was zero loss’ as due to a Supreme Court verdict on policy.
Let us get this straight.
Why I say that the tide has turned is not because of this one particular instance. If we look back, we see the last year has been one of ‘Perfect Storm’ situation for the ruling party. It has been inundated with crisis, one after another, including that of the illness of the party leader.
If the ruling party has to face another ‘perfect storm’ an year or two down the line, because of failing to take heed of this warning, there would be simply no time to recover before the General Elections - even I wouldn’t be able to think/chart a way out.
As a sailor, I can sense when the worst is over - when my ship has had a thorough pounding, when machineries fail, when even nature seems to be against you, it is very difficult to brave through. But once the storm has passed by and you are through, it is time not to venture out on another voyage or fishing expedition; but the time to repair the ship - by berthing at a safe port - a harbour tried and tested, where you’ve time to overhaul and be renewed. Whether a crew change is necessary is best left to the owners.
For me, I am just a Thinker, Sailor, Blogger …
Politically it stood neutered for several months on fight against corruption which started with the woolly Anna Hazare campaign, the unnecessary uproar in the Parliament by the Opposition, with their attempt to treat Ministers as outcast, the brouhaha with the LokPal bill, the fiasco with FDI in retail selling, and the setbacks in the courts over the 2G spectrum allotment scandal and the date of birth of the Army Chief.
But today’s decision by the CBI Magistrate throwing out the charge of criminal conspiracy against the present Home Minister in the 2G spectrum scam (after the Supreme Court judgement, it qualifies as a scam rather than a scandal), marks the turn of the tide.
For the Opposition, which bayed for blood of both the Home Minister and the Prime Minister, it is a setback - a setback which the ruling Congress party can exploit fully and ensure its victory in the General Elections three years down.
But that depends upon the ruling party to play its cards well. It is a God given opportunity, a reprieve for the ruling party to reclaim the political space. That it can accomplish in only one way - except for a brief period of exception.
The exception is for the UP elections underway. It can only go hammer and tongs at everyone who has been criticizing of its ‘supposed’ partiality to corruption. Till March 2012, when the final phase of the UP elections are to close, that is the only option.
Hit the opposition, which means everyone, from Maya to to Advani to Modi to Mulayam and everyone else, hard on the issue of vindication of the Home Minister.
But once the final phase closes down, it is time to change course and start to acknowledge that things have gone in ways not expected, without admitting guilt and start the process of remedial measures to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, ever.
Which brings out my chief grouse, which I had been expounding for last few months (if not years). That this governance by Cabinet Committee for XXXX should be done away with. Now, don’t take me wrong. I think the CCxxxxs have their place in governance. But the recommendations of the CCxxxxs should always be put through the gamut of the full Cabinet.
Now, that is not me talking. I am falling back on the wisdom of the founding fathers of the Constitution of India, when I insist that every policy decision of the Government of India should pass Cabinet scrutiny.
After all, that is the crux of the 2G scam and also that of my pet hate, the UIDAI database controversy - between UIDAI authority and the Home Ministry.
If the 2G decision had been put up before the Cabinet, the process which gave the opportunity for Raja to contaminate the process could have been avoided.
If the UIDAI had been discussed in full the Cabinet, the difference of opinion between UIDAI and Home Ministry could have been sorted out (as was done last month), long before.
If the problem with the Army Chief’s date of birth and tenure had been discussed in a full Cabinet, a possible solution could have been arrived at.
Is it even necessary to go into the fiasco with the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector, which was never put to a full cabinet decision?
Second, the Ministers should be told, by the PM to talk less, think more, act with humility and talk even less. Two days after I admire Kapil Sibal for his down to earth handling of the aftermath of the 2G verdict cancelling 122 Licences, he is off acting all and mighty - calling for everyone who doubted the Home Minster to personally apologize to the Home Minister.
If that is his view, then my take is that he did not keep his own counsel (no pun intended) when the 2G licences were struck down - he passed off his own earlier defence ‘there was zero loss’ as due to a Supreme Court verdict on policy.
Let us get this straight.
- Kapil Sibal wants anyone who thought that Chidambaram was involved in the 2G conspiracy to defraud to apologize, because the Magistrate court has deemed there is no justifiable cause for such.
- Kapil Sibal himself says that he believed that under the then existing 2G spectrum policy (whatever its precedent, I don’t want to go into it), that there was ‘zero loss’ to the GoI and ultimately the taxpaying public. Which policy has been struck down by the Supreme Court of India.
- But he doesn’t deem it necessary, correct or apt to apologize. His defence? He was right to think so, given the circumstances at that time.
- OTOH he doesn’t want to give anyone else, including the opposition, the same benefit (in the Home Ministers case).
Why I say that the tide has turned is not because of this one particular instance. If we look back, we see the last year has been one of ‘Perfect Storm’ situation for the ruling party. It has been inundated with crisis, one after another, including that of the illness of the party leader.
If the ruling party has to face another ‘perfect storm’ an year or two down the line, because of failing to take heed of this warning, there would be simply no time to recover before the General Elections - even I wouldn’t be able to think/chart a way out.
As a sailor, I can sense when the worst is over - when my ship has had a thorough pounding, when machineries fail, when even nature seems to be against you, it is very difficult to brave through. But once the storm has passed by and you are through, it is time not to venture out on another voyage or fishing expedition; but the time to repair the ship - by berthing at a safe port - a harbour tried and tested, where you’ve time to overhaul and be renewed. Whether a crew change is necessary is best left to the owners.
For me, I am just a Thinker, Sailor, Blogger …
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