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I’ve no plans to become a Prime Minister right now or in the future. I’m just day-dreaming which is, as you all know, quite in order. I can recall someone who, not very long ago, wanted to be a Swargadeo and I was prepared to go along with the idea. However, I do not think that was the right approach. Words and expressions must agree with modern usages in a political context. Who is a Swargadeo? He is the modern equivalent of a powerful, benign, benevolent President, elected or not. As a Prime Minister of the day, I will certainly choose a majority, popular party like the Labour Party in the United Kingdom which the other day won a second term to govern the country although with a reduced majority. For the sake of argument, you might ask why I’m not a Conservative or even a Liberal or National Frontist. That is a different question altogether warranting exclusive treatment. For the present, the Labour is still the majority party in the UK Don’t be nonplussed about it. The Prime Minister is not only the Prime Minister but also chairman of the national Labour party. Therefore there is no room for conflict within the party as in India or Assam. This departure from the principle steadfastly adhered to by the Mother of Parliament is a lesson to be learnt by those who are loudmouthed about reforms either in the party structure or in the government itself.. A non-elected Prime Minister in a formidable democracy like ours is a disgrace to the country. BTW : no disrespect to Dr Manmohanji though! If I can, I avoid hurling gratuitous expletives at our politicians who I believe are rather to be pitied than vilified. Enough about my own standing. Let’s do some business. First my esteemed colleagues, the Ministers. I know the people who elected me to be their leader otherwise I would not be here. I should know them better than their wives do. I will not choose Ministers on the basis of caste, creed and sex. I will choose my colleagues on the strength of their loyalty to me, to the party, integrity, generosity and above all ability. A man is not dishonest because the Press says so or just because of unfounded rumours. Party funding by well-wishers is democratic. Certain information can be withheld from the public in national interest. The British people were pragmatic and that is why they were able to rule for such a long time. An Assam Tea Garden was facing bankruptcy. The Directors in London found that unless they appointed an able man, they were all kaput. They found a man with proven record of achievement, who, however, didn’t have an unblemished career. In spite of it, the man was given the job and the man justified the Board’s trust in him. It is true sometimes we are carried away by external appearances. We judge a person by his physical attractions, gift of the gab, family background, academic brilliance and so on ultimately to find that we had chosen the wrong person. Say for instance a man like de Lorean. He charmed governments to lending him millions to launch industries. All the money went down the drains; nothing to show today. Well, it has to be accepted that tsunamis do occur and we cannot insure ourselves against every type of emergency. And corruption does not affect national economy. Now I am going astray. I will treat this subject separately in future; it justifies further elucidation. That government is best when it governs least. I don’t possess a copy of the Dictionary of Quotations so I cannot trace the author of this dictum. Don’t worry: I’ve very competent staff and they will find it for you. The question of transparency and accountability does not arise in my type of democracy. Our government will be concerned with policies alone which the country needs and approves of. The policies are to be implemented by the local institutions. (You call them NGOs) Small executive bodies will run them and they will be accountable to their masters; the local people. People will have no occasion to run to the Ministers with petitions and resort to pressure politics. My government will hold on to the purse-strings as usual Votes will be sought for the annual and supplementary budgets while the function of making necessary legislation will go on with full heat. Like the funds earmarked for Defence, our pay and allowances will not be subject to a vote in the Parliament. (To be concluded).
Bhuban |
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