It is not true that the prime minister has permitted his cabinet colleagues to use their cellphones while the cabinet is in session. It is equally false to state that the PM as well as his colleagues keep consulting Madam while the meeting is on.
As the new government settles down to the business of ruling the nation, its opponents have started spreading canards about how the cabinet functions. ...
It is not true that the prime minister has permitted his cabinet colleagues to use their cellphones while the cabinet is in session. It is equally false to state that the PM as well as his colleagues keep consulting Madam while the meeting is on.
It is not true that cabinet minister Shibu Soren was hiding in the home minister's residence during the time that the police were hunting him for arrest. Neither is it true that the PM had advised the HM to triple the security police guarding the minister. Nor had the weapons of his security guards been upgraded to enable a successful defence of the minister in case the police caught up with him.
It is not true that a Member of Parliament from Bihar, absconding to evade arrest by the police, had warned the PM that he would not surrender unless he was first appointed as a cabinet minister. Nor is it true that a revolt against the government is brewing among a group of MPs—being harassed by the police for various criminal charges—who are demanding equal treatment and ministerial posts.
It is not true that pressure by an ad agency, worried about preserving India's image, finally led to the demand for Soren's resignation.
It is not true that Sonia Gandhi sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore relief for drought-stricken farmers and the PM was apprised of this only later by Ambika Soni.
It is not true that President Musharraf refused to meet the prime minister unless first a meeting with Sonia Gandhi was arranged to enable a proper appraisal of the status of the Indo-Pak peace process.
What is true, however, is that the central government is deeply disturbed by Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's irresponsible behaviour. "He is destroying the basis of our federal democracy," the PM privately exclaimed.
Students of history should know what that is. The 1947 Partition, the application of the linguistic states' formula, the status of Chandigarh and the adjudication of water-sharing created the firm foundation for Indian federalism. The experts know that whenever Punjab is divided and India united, federalism is healthy. But Amarinder Singh is reversing the process. He is uniting Punjab and dividing India. Tsk-tsk! Naughty fellow! What will that do to our democracy and federalism?
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)