HVK Archives: A drowning Prime Minister
A drowning Prime Minister - The Observer (New Delhi)
Dina Nath Mishra
()
7 August 1997
Title: A drowning Prime Minister
Author: Dina Nath Mishra
Publication: The Observer (New Delhi)
Date: August 7, 1997
Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral had to stage a walkout from the Janata
Dal national council conference. The reason: He was not allowed to complete
his speech by slogan shouting JD workers who were demanding imposition of
President's rule in Bihar and removal of three RJD ministers. No Prime
Minister had had to walk out from his own party's conference during the
last 50 years. On the contrary, the arrival of the Prime Minister in party
conferences had always an electrifying impact. Whenever Nehru, Indira
Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Rajiv Gandhi or even V P Singh and Chandrashekhar
arrived at their respective party conferences, thunderous jindabad and loud
cheering followed. The PM's presence in the conference had always been
inspiring and his speech had invariably surcharged the party workers.
The way JD leaders treated Gujral's walkout increased his humiliation.
Nobody went to escort him. Speeches continued as if nothing had happened.
Worse, even afterwards no leader tried to stop the unruly elements among
Janata Dal workers when Gujral was speaking. It is true that the next day
party president Sharad Yadav issued a formal apology for record's sake.
This may look a small incident but it is a very significant event, for it
has given signals to all concerned that this Prime Minister is weak,
helpless and tactless. It may be recalled that at a gathering of local
Congressmen at Talkatora stadium former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao too
faced slogan shouting by a section of audience planted by a group of local
Congress leaders. But he did not leave the podium. He waited and handled
the situation tactfully. The disgraceful event of walkout is a humiliation
not only to Gujral, but to the institution of Prime Minister.
Unfortunately, this institution has suffered a great fall during the last
100 days. This is the most disturbing factor which calls for serious
thinking on the part of the establishment.
Gujral, too, is to be blamed for his loss of moral authority. He has
proved himself weak, helpless and indecisive; in effect, a paper Prime
Minister. Constitutionally, the institution of prime minister is not only
highest office, notwithstanding the federal structure, but the mightiest
also. Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi had proved it. Morarji Desai had
shown it. Even Rajiv Gandhi and V P Singh handled it gracefully and did
not denigrate it. Chandrashekhar was the Prime Minister for a few months.
Despite his handicap of very small support, he was a powerful Prime
Minister all through. Vajpayee was Prime Minister for. the shortest
duration. But remember, with what grace he resigned! H D Deve Gowda was
the Prime Minister of the same United Front, supported by the same
Congress, but he was never a powerless and a weak man.
In contrast, Gujral has faulted right from day one. He was the first Prime
Minister who accepted the whole team of ministers as inheritance. He
appointed an OSD in PMO, Bhawani Sen Gupta, only to remove him just within
48 hours. He spoke a meaningless untruth about the refuelling facility for
US war planes during the Gulf War that it has he who permitted it. He had
to eat his words. Recently, in a condolence meeting of the reputed
journalist S P Singh, he narrated how he knew S P Singh from the days of
his Nai Duniya editorship when he (Gujral) used to write for Nai Duniya.
Also, just four days back before his death Singh interviewed him. The fact
is Singh was never in Nai Duniya and he was in coma for 12 days prior to
his death. So much for Gujral's love for truth and sense of exactitude.
Gujral started his prime ministership in a very congenial atmosphere
wherein he was described as a perfect gentleman, an intellectual with vast
experience, an administrator with diplomatic skills and a shrewd
politician. But he exhausted goodwill week by week.
The fact that he aligned himself with Laloo Prasad Yadav cost him most. In
the initial stages, he tried to keep distance in order to save his image
from being sullied. But, his actions betrayed the alliance. The former
CBI chief Joginder Singh was thoroughly professional. He was not out to
hang Laloo Prasad. But when he demonstrated the murky details of the
fodder scam in the form of evidence, records and other materials, Joginder
Singh too was convinced like U N Biswas, the joint director of CBI.
It was certain that the case was leading to the arrest of Laloo Prasad
under the supervision of the court. Gujral removed Joginder Singh and
brought R C Sharma to this post. It became evident that Gujral was out to
help Sitaram Kesri and his friend and Laloo Prasad Yadav in several ongoing
investigations. One can concede the argument that the Constitution does
not provide any power to Prime Minister to force the duly elected chief
minister of any state to resign even if the chief minister is
chargesheeted. But who prevented Gujral from dropping three fodder seam
tainted ministers from his council of ministers? There cannot be any
political reason also, for even if RJD withdrew support from Gujral
government it was not likely to fall. DMK which has threatened to quit on
this issue had reconciled. Many constituents of UF were demanding the
removal of three ministers. But Gujral did not give in for the obvious
reason of maintaining the tacit understanding with Laloo Prasad. The
resignation of Laloo Prasad and subsequently making his wife the chief
minister of Bihar was a drama enacted with Gujral's acquiescence.
After the rejection of anticipatory bail petition in Supreme Court, Laloo
Prasad had exhausted all his legal routes to save himself from arrest. At
this stage, he was conveyed by the Centre that after the arrest, the Centre
will have to impose President's rule. He was advised to get his wife
elected as the leader of RJD legislative party to retain power by proxy.
When Rabri went for vote of confidence, Congress came in her open support
and voted in favour of Rabri Devi's government. The axis of Sitaram Kesri,
Laloo Prasad and Gujral became apparent. All this eroded the moral
authority of Prime Minister Gujral. That is what resulted in his walkout
from JD conference.
It goes without saying that he is the weakest Prime Minister India has had
during the last five decades. Imagine a Prime Minister publicly declaring
the intention of the government week after week that petroleum prices would
be enhanced. Months passed by but it could not be done under the pressure
of too many partners and supporting parties. One can understand the
contradictory pressures in a coalition like this. But then, why go on
making public pronouncements and land in ridiculous situations and expose
the weakness of the government?
A weak and helpless Prime Minister at the Centre is a matter of great
concern; for what we see is devaluation of the institution of the Prime
Minister.
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