HVK Archives: India's PM needs help!
India's PM needs help! - The Indian Express
Rajat Sharma
()
27 July 1997
Title: India's PM needs help!
Author: Rajat Sharma
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 27, 1997
It is sad to see I. K. Gujral calling himself lachaar. How can the Prime
Minister of India be such a helpless creature?
It would have been all right for Chandra Shekhar to say this. He had just
40-odd MPs with him when he became prime minister. He had Rajiv Gandhi's
sword hanging over him all the time. But he never even for a moment
appeared to be a prisoner of circumstances. Chandra Shekhar ruled with the
fullest authority. He favoured friends, settled scores with enemies, and
resigned at the slightest provocation.
Even today, Chandra Shekhar's party has no other member in the Lok Sabha
who can stand by the former prime minister. Yet, his is one of the most
powerful voices in Parliament. Chandra Shekhar speaks with conviction, most
of the time out of turn, and has made prime ministers even change their
decisions. He has the guts to call a spade a spade. For Chandra Shekhar is
not scared that someone may point a finger at him.
Atal Behari Vajpayee was the prime minister for just 13 days. At no point
did he believe he would be allowed to continue as prime minister beyond two
weeks. He was leading a party which was the single-largest entity in
Parliament, but totally isolated. Yet, Vajpayee governed with the complete
authority that vests in the prime minister.
As supreme leader of the country he did not hesitate in taking policy
decisions. He altered the Sangh Parivar's agenda, amended the party's
programme and presented a plan ideal for any democratic secular coalition
government. BJP lost the government, but Vajpayee gained tremendously in
terms of image and attained the status of a statesman. Vajpayee never
expressed helplessness, not even on the day he made an emotional speech in
the Lok Sabha before announcing his resignation. He measured up to the
dignity of the prime minister's chair every minute he spent in the
country's highest office.
Even today, Vajpayee leads a party which does not fully subscribe to his
liberalism. Vajpayee would never admit it, but he is certainly more
accepted outside his party than inside. Yet, he has tremendous confidence
in his own ability. Vajpayee is aware that he's a born leader. He
commands a position which no one dares to challenge. The man may be
waiting in the wings to become prime minister once again. But he has never
felt helpless.
H. D. Gowda spent most of his time in Karnataka, the local leader who felt
uncomfortable in Delhi. He had come to the Capital as a confident chief
minister to help others select a prime minister. He was least interested
in the top job. But the moment he arrived at South Block, he started to
assert his authority.
Deve Gowda never felt helpless leading a government of 14 parties. He had
communists criticising him all the time. His own home minister lambasted
him in the open. His finance minister bulldozed his way on policy
decisions; his defence minister concentrated all his energies on his home
state - Uttar Pradesh.
Deve Gowda was also handicapped by the language barrier. And he faced the
biggest challenge from his supporting party - the Congress president,
Sitaram Kesri, called him a nikamma and communal; he threatened to throw
Deve Gowda out every second day. But never once did Deve Gowda say that he
was helpless. On the contrary, he sounded over-confident.
He took drastic steps as prime minister, which included fixing his foes and
promoting his friends. It is a different matter that he lost the government
as a result of this. He believed his government was there to change the
course of history. He took complete control over the CBI and Enforcement
Directorate. He talked about judicial reforms and even proposed to
legislate on broadcasting.
Even Kesri's decision to withdraw support did not make Deve Gowda feel
helpless. He went down fighting his own party and the Congress. And today,
once again Deve Gowda is nurturing dreams of making a comeback.
Gujral must learn from his three immediate predecessors. He enjoys
tremendous goodwill. He has experience on his side and he does not have to
bother about his political future - he must know that he is here for a
short time. The country has given him the highest position. There is
nothing for him to feel sorry about. What more can the country give him?
Now, it is his turn to repay the nation.
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