Go to the people!
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The Congress president may cry hoarse that he is her best man.
But must the world’s largest democracy be led by a man who has never won an election so far?
Dr Manmohan Singh may have been one of our best finance ministers. But this “accidental politician” has proved to be a weak Prime Minister for more reasons than one.
A government for the middle class?
Manmohan Singh, the architect of India’s economic reforms, and his policies may have helped the 300 million strong Indian middle class. But where does that leave the poor?
In a country where around 70 per cent of the population lives in rural areas or below the poverty line, the government’s focus is still on the upper strata of the society. The Centre has not been able to generate employment or stop farmer suicides across the country.
A farce called NREGA
The Congress manifesto says that welfare measures announced by the Manmohan-led government, like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or the farmers’ loan waiver scheme, have helped thousands of people.
The NREGA promises to provide people with jobs for at least 100 days a year. But reviews done by the Comptroller and Auditor General have found that there was no data on the number of people who demanded jobs and on who actually benefited. There were also complaints of delayed wages.
Congress projects Manmohan as PM
And what is to be said of an economist who advocates a scheme which waives the loan farmers have taken from banks? Most of the farmers in trouble are those who have taken loans from local moneylenders and are unable to qualify for loans from banks.
Resident of Assam?
As citizens clamour for accountability in every arena, Manmohan Singh prefers to enter Parliament through the Rajya Sabha, claiming to be a resident of Assam.
Why would the Prime Minister fight shy of elections if he were not confident enough of winning the people’s mandate?
No trust in allies
In this age of coalition politics, Manmohan Singh and his team do not seem to trust their allies. Many UPA member parties seemed ignorant about the Indo-US nuclear deal and its implication.
Perhaps Manmohan Singh, who was too busy dealing with the US, forgot that we don’t have a presidential system where he and his team could take decisions without taking anyone else into confidence.
Clinging to power
Delegation may be the buzz word for the rest of the world, but our Prime Minister would not let go of his post even when he was in hospital for a month. Pranab Mukherjee did discharge the duties of the Prime Minister, but not as acting Prime Minister.
Previous debate: Should there be a retirement age for politicians? | You are never too old | Retire with grace
Time for a change
It’s time to demand that we have the choice to elect fresher, fitter, younger voices to Parliament. Manmohan Singh has had his chance. Let a new generation shape the next five years.
Does Manmohan deserve to be PM again? Your say >>
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