Cry My Beloved Country?

One hopes that the first hours and days of the Narendra Modi government are not indicative of the shape of things to come. Despite hectic parleys among leaders extending over days, despite the BJP by itself winning 285 Lok Sabha seats, the Prime Minister failed to identify a suitable Minister of Defence for his cabinet. He could have held temporary charge of the portfolio himself until a suitable candidate was found. Instead he gave temporary additional charge of the Defence ministry to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who also holds charge of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Technically holding both the Defence ministry and Finance ministry can create a conflict of interest because the former approaches the latter for financial allocations. However this messy arrangement is likely to be very temporary.

The government appointed a Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in violation of law because his current post disallowed such appointment. A newspaper pointed out this legal lapse. The government promptly issued an Ordinance to change the existing law to okay the appointment!

A Minister attached to the PMO issued a statement on Article 370 without any visible relevance to current developments to rake up a huge and unnecessary controversy. People are wondering if he could have made that statement without clearance by the PM. If not, will any suitable action be taken against him?

After appointing the Minister of External Affairs the Prime Minister has decided to appoint a special Adviser on Foreign Affairs who will directly report to the PMO, bypassing the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This is bound to create confusion and conflict in the days ahead. It is mystifying why need was felt to create this post. If there was not sufficient confidence in the capability of MEA Minister Sushma Swaraj, should not someone else have been appointed?

It is not clear whether these decisions reflect teething troubles or the sloppy approach that will be adopted by the new government. It may be noted that when Narendra Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister, LK Advani, overcome with emotion, cried and thanked him for his service to the party. On hearing Advani’s praise, Narendra Modi, overcome with emotion, cried and said that the BJP, like India, was also a mother to him. The next day Anandiben Patel was sworn in as the Gujarat Chief Minister to fill the post vacated by Modi. Overcome with emotion, she cried when taking oath.

What remains to be seen is whether a day will come when the whole nation will also cry.

01-Jun-2014

More by : Dr. Rajinder Puri

Top | Analysis

Views: 3563 Comments: 6

Mr. Puri seems to be very biased and has already passed verdict on the new Government. Unwanted derision is evident in his write. Well, judging by what he was endlessly writing before the polls, nothing better than criticism of the new Government could be expected from him. He is also trying to drive a wedge between the PM and Smt. Swaraj. I am sure the whole nation prays for Modi. His success will, no doubt, bring tears of job in the eyes of millions of patriotic Indians all over the world. Vande Maataram! Jai Hind!

madathilnair
03-Jun-2014 07:56 AM

Mr. Puri, as a writer you had to say something about the new government, but unlike your previous articles this one seemed rather shallow.

The task of forming a perfect government in a country misruled for decades, where Ministers, Officials, and Babus don't know the meaning of accountability is a very tall order. I am sure that Modi will make some mistakes and learn from them, however, remember that mistakes are made by those who do something.

I used to think that the Indians were the only ones overcome by emotions, but having lived outside India for over 60 years, I discovered that all cultures have decent human beings who become emotional when touched by unusual circumstances.

Paul Sayal
02-Jun-2014 06:27 AM

A presidential system of administration was advocated for India.

Now, there is a prime minister, assuming all powers of the head of the nation as one would have got in presidential system of administration.

Only the name of the post is different.

This means more power to the post of PM, BUT ALSO all the blame to the same post/person if the govt fails to deliver.

If Mr. Modi fails to deliver (what he promised and what the voters expect) then he will bear all the blame (and loose next Loksabha elections ?)
I suppose, this is still better than a remote controlled PM.

Dinesh Kumar Bohre
02-Jun-2014 04:12 AM

Aansu bahakar paap dhul jate agar,
sant kahlaate dariya ke sab 'Magar' ,......'ainy'

farhat farooqui
02-Jun-2014 00:57 AM

Ibteda-e-ishq ko rota hai kya,
aage aur dekhiye hota hai kya ."

farhat farooqui
02-Jun-2014 00:50 AM

Mr.Puri, for sure "the whole nation will cry" but not for sadness -- it will be tears of joy and happiness.
Bande Mataram.

Buddha D.Rudra
01-Jun-2014 22:52 PM

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