Bad Company or Bad Politics

by Indra
October 10, 2005

Supreme Court gave its judgment on the dissolution of the Bihar assembly by declaring it as ‘unconstitutional’. Every one is asking for Buta’s head. But is he really responsible for the advice that he gave or was he asked to give that recommendation? First of all, why was this staunch Congressman with not very clean credentials except for the total loyalty to the Gandhi family selected as the governor of Bihar? Bihar was known to even a kid in India as a state with very poor standard of governance, with no law and order in place, and with no possibility of carrying out any development work in Bihar because of the rampant interference of mafia gangsters. It was also known that a family had been ruling the state for the last 15 years without any contribution in improving the conditions of the people. Earlier rulers were no better. Was it not the responsibility of the respectable professional Prime Minister to select a right person to fill the post of governor who could help in improving the condition as well as image of the state? Why could not he do that? Was it because of Shri Laloo or as the Congress wanted someone who can bring back the party as a force in the state? Whosoever was behind the move, it was certainly against the overall interest of the state.

Then the Governor advised for the dissolution of the assembly and to bring the state under the President’s rule. Reason according to his report was the unlawful and perhaps unethical horse-trading of MLAs that was going on to cobble a majority to form a government. Was the home ministry at the Centre not having any intelligence working? Was the Prime Minister not having the information about the real situation? Didn’t he realize that the opposition could go to court against the undesired imposition of President law? All the hurry shown in the late night cabinet meeting and faxing for the President approval for declaring of President’s rule to the sleeping President in Moscow brought doubt. It appears it was not Prime Minister who was taking the decision but someone else from behind was making him do that. Naturally, the two possible persons responsible for the going on were Laloo and Mrs. Gandhi who is poorly advised by her coterie. But in that case, the PM should not go on posing always as if he is taking his independent decision. It is misguiding the people of the country.

Unfortunately, now even the honest and forthright President will stop believing in the respectable PM. I wish PM could work with other political parties after this incident and take some honest steps so that similar situation doesn’t arise in future. Some similar suggestions have surprisingly come from CPM too. I wish only nonpartisan persons of repute from different areas instead of politicians could fill the post of Governor. Our President is one such example. Why can’t similar persons be the Governors of the states?

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