
The United Progressive Alliance, more an arrangement and less an alliance, is a conglomeration of parties in which power and authority are exercised by centers outside the government - the Congress president and the CPI(M) general secretary. Having separated responsibility from authority, the UPA has adopted a Common Minimum Programme, which fully reflects the confusion and opportunism that define the new government.
The CMP is nothing but flimsy wall paper to cover the cracks and gaps between the Alliance partners and their outside supporters in the UPA. If you tear away the paper, what is revealed is the hollowness and contradictions in the mandate that the Congress-led alliance claims to have received.
We have separately tabulated and analysed the National Democratic Alliance's pre-election manifesto -- "An Agenda for Development, Good Governance and Peace" - and the UPA's post-election CMP. It is distributed as a comparative study. Here we give a brief critique of the contents of the CMP.
Vision and Ambition
The first casualty of the CMP is a vision about India. The CMP projects no energizing vision before this nation of a billion people, home to the world's oldest civilization, with all the needed resources to emerge as a global power in the coming decades. The CMP neither mentions India's rich cultural and civilisational heritage, nor does it contain any aspiration about where India should be in the comity of nations in the years to come. It has also abandoned the goal of "making India a Developed Nation", an aspiration that Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee so passionately shared with the country on behalf of the NDA.
This is in stark contrast to the NDA's manifesto, which had stated, "The NDA is committed to make India an economic superpower through a seven-pronged strategy":
The CMP contains none of these ambitious but entirely realizable goals.
India as one of the poles in a new multi-polar world, and securing for India permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council were the stated goals of the NDA government. By leaving out any reference to these in the CMP, the new government has belittled national aspirations.
National Security: External and Internal
It is deeply disturbing that for the new government external and internal security do not even figure in the "Six Basic Principles" for governance, as stated in the preamble to the CMP. Most tellingly, in the entire document there is not even a mention of the menace of "cross-border terrorism". There is no mention of "terrorism" or "militancy" even in the context of Jammu & Kashmir. Apparently, the new government thinks that what has been happening in Jammu & Kashmir is not "terrorism" at all, but something else. The CMP's silence on this score, in the context of the terrorist strike in Kashmir last week that killed 33 BSF jawans and members of their families, as also the terrorist attack on the residence of Mirwaiz Omar Farooq in Srinagar, is extremely troubling.
The NDA alerts the nation that the new government's explicit refusal to even mention, leave alone acknowledge, the roots and objectives of terrorism will greatly impair India's fight against terrorism, as well as the country's efforts to strengthen national unity, integrity and security.
The commitment by the UPA to repeal POTA must be seen in this context. Of course, POTA's misuse must be prevented. But to abrogate the law itself is truly beyond understanding.
Nuclear capability
The CMP grudgingly talks about "maintaining a credible nuclear weapons programme". This obliges both the Congress party and the Communists either to express regrets for having opposed the NDA government's bold action in 1998, or to explain how the situation has changed now.
Growth with equity
The new ruling alliance terms itself as "progressive"; it is being supported from "outside" by parties that call themselves "revolutionary". Yet, the words "equity" and "egalitarianism" are conspicuous by their total absence. The CMP does not even recognize the need to bridge the rural-urban divide, much less propose any specific programme like PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas), which was adopted by the NDA government.
Agriculture
The CMP shows no understanding of the complexity of the problems facing Indian agriculture, nor of the opportunities before it. It does not even recognize the need to reform agricultural markets, remove internal trade barriers, develop efficient food chain management, minimize waste and damages, infuse R&D inputs into agriculture, and develop food processing industry on modern, globally competitive lines. The CMP's proposals totally lack specific solutions, which are rooted in today's reality of the national and international market place.
Employment
The Congress and the communists had mounted a highly negative campaign during the elections on the issue of unemployment, questioning the NDA government's promise of creating one crore additional employment opportunities each year. The Congress party, eager not to be seen as lagging, borrowed our promise and included it in its own manifesto. Now, it has quietly dropped that commitment from the CMP.
Instead, there is the completely misleading assurance of a "legal guarantee for at least 100 days of employment on asset-creating public works programmes every year for at least one able-bodied person in every rural, urban poor and lower-middle class household." This assurance is doomed to fail for the simple reason that panchayats and municipal bodies, which alone can take up public works, are starved of resources. The financial health of the State Governments is precarious. Many of them use development funds to pay staff salaries. Even the Congress-led government in Maharashtra, where the Employment Guarantee Scheme was first launched, is financially so bankrupt that it is unable to make its contribution for running the scheme. The NDA demands that the new government inform the people how much money would be needed to fulfill this assurance, how it is going to provide these funds and what would be the Centre's legal and fiscal responsibility for enforcement of the proposed Employment Guarantee Act.
The CMP's superficial remarks on creating employment by merely listing the KVIC and craft sector without going into any details betrays its inability to match the specific programmes mentioned in the NDA manifesto and demonstrates a lack of imagination and innovative thinking.
Infrastructure development
In the name of examining its feasibility, it is unfortunate that the new government is stalling the river-linking project. Feasibility studies have already been conducted in respect of several specific river-link projects. The UPA has offered no solution at all for the equitable provision and control of a crucial natural resource like water. It is again telling that the word "drought" does not even appear in the entire CMP, even though the country has been facing droughts, and thirsting for an effective solution to it on a long term basis.
The CMP has taken an indifferent view of the Connectivity Revolution ushered in by the NDA government. It makes no mention of the National Highway Development Project and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the two dream projects successfully implemented by the Vajpayee government. Unlike our government, it gives no targets or timelines for expanding and modernizing India's infrastructure. The words "airports" and "civil aviation" do not even figure in the CMP. Indeed, by backtracking on the implementation of the reform-oriented Electricity Bill, 2003, the new government has signalled the worsening of the power situation in the country.
The casual treatment to the telecom and IT sectors in the CMP borders on the dismissive, even though there is a crying need to further accelerate the progress that India has made in these sectors during the past six years. The CMP makes no mention whatsoever of the export potential in IT, a sector in which India has become a global leader and in which our country's earnings have gone from Rs. 8,000 crore to Rs. 45,000 crore in the past six years. There is also no mention of biotechnology, in which India has the potential to emerge as a global leader. Indeed, there is no mention of the "Knowledge Economy" either. So much for the "progressiveness" of the United Progressive Government!
India's export potential
Had the CMP not been the manifesto of a Government of India, it might well have been dismissed as a cut-and-paste document of little consequence. But when new ruling alliance has adopted it with much fanfare as its blueprint for action, it is troubling to see how much the CMP has missed. For instance, there is not a single policy or programmatic measure proposed to boost India's exports. There is not even a mention of SEZs, although Special Economic Zones have been highly successful in many countries, including in India, in promoting exports.
Women Empowerment
Regarding women empowerment, the NDA has committed in its manifesto to introduce the Bill for 33% reservation in the very first Session of Parliament. However, the UPA meekly states that it will "take the lead" to introduce this legislation without any timeframe. The UPA's promise of legal equality for women in all spheres is a welcome step and should be applicable to all citizens irrespective of gender. It may like to point out how it would go about it in the face of existing personal laws.
Panchayati Raj
The NDA notes that the principles of governance pertaining to Panchayati Raj adopted in the CMP are a pale imitation of what was stated in the NDA manifesto. The words 'funds, functions and functionaries', and emphasis on 'Gramsabhas' are straight repetitions of the NDA manifesto, with no added idea except of destroying the spirit of federalism enshrined in the Constitution by suggesting that the funding of elected panchayats be done directly by the Central Government.
Food and Nutrition Security
The UPA has merely tinkered with the overall concepts presented by the NDA without offering any specifics in terms of implementation. It is, however, troubling that the CMP makes no mention of continuing the 'Antyodaya Anna Yojana', the massive food security scheme started by the NDA government, under which two crore poorest families are given wheat and rice at highly subsidized rates of Rs. 2 per kg and Rs. 3 per kg respectively. Indeed, the NDA was committed to extend the scheme to five crore poor families. The concept of 'Antyodaya Cards' in the CMP is simply lifted from the NDA manifesto - regrettably by both diluting its coverage and limiting its benefits.
The issue of Telangana
The NDA believes that the UPA has played a trick on its ally, the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti, by employing bureaucratic obfuscation for a separate State. It has placed the promise on the shelf of a cold store of inaction by using phrases like "will consider (the issue)…at an appropriate time… after due consultations and consensus…". It is now clearly running away from a solemn election commitment.
People's participation in development
The CMP does not mention the need or the government's willingness to encourage people's participation in implementing policies and programmes. It is almost completely silent on the contribution of voluntary organizations to the development process.
"Corruption-free government"
The CMP claims to provide a "corruption-free government". However, the UPA government already carries the birthmarks of corruption and crime. Several MPs, chargesheeted in cases of corruption and other serious criminal offences, have been inducted into the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister, who once said in Parliament that "Caesar's wife should be above suspicion", has even defended the inclusion of tainted ministers in the government led by him. Members of supporting parties have already expressed their opposition to such persons holding office as Ministers in the UPA government. Their opposition should either be meaningful or else it will be considered mere lip-service to the concept of integrity.
Ayodhya: Double-speak
The Congress and the communist parties made a lot of noise over the inclusion of the Ayodhya issue in the manifesto of the NDA. Our manifesto stated that, since we believe that it is an issue of national importance, its speedy resolution would strengthen national integration and social harmony. It further stated that the judicial verdict should be accepted by all and a negotiated settlement could be intensified through dialogue. It is obvious that if a settlement was to be reached, it would be presented before the court as a basis for withdrawal of the cases before it.
The UPA has also thought it fit to mention Ayodhya, and merely repeats the contention of the NDA in different words, demonstrating the willful manipulation of the perception of the minorities for electoral purposes alone.
India and the WTO
In the section on WTO, the CMP states: "In keeping with the stance adopted by the late Shri Murasoli Maran at Doha, the UPA government will fully protect the national interest, particularly of farmers, in all WTO negotiations." The political pettiness in this formulation is truly mind-boggling. Was the stance adopted by Maran at the Doha meeting his own, or that of the government which he represented with distinction ? He was then the custodian of the brief given to him as a Minister of Commerce in the Vajpayee Government.
Defence modernization
When our Government assumed office, one of the tasks we undertook was to modernize our armed forces whose budget had been reduced on the instructions of the World Bank. We consistently increased the defence outlay and began the process of modernization. A great deal has been achieved. There are projects which are about to be completed and once they are completed, we shall have highly modernized armed forces. The NDA believes that this is an area where "continuity" is what is needed, not "change".
Ex-Servicemen
The problems of ex-servicemen and their welfare was the subject of a study by a Committee headed by the immediate past Raksha Mantri. The Committee included representatives of the ex-servicemen, Chief Ministers of States and senior serving officials. The Committee examined all aspects of ex-servicemen's problems and their welfare. That report needs to be implemented rather than going for creating another Department, as promised in the CMP.
Social security for unorganized workers
Yet another area where the new government would do well to continue the good work initiated by its predecessor is social security for workers in the unorganized sector.
The NDA Government has delivered a comprehensive and innovative programme for the welfare of the unorganized labour in the country. The new Government need not waste time in going for another programme, as promised in the CMP. It would do good to the working class if our programme were implemented by the new Government.
Workers' rights
After breaking strikes, jailing and shooting down workers (remember the 1974 Railway strike when 50,000 workers were thrown out by the Congress government, and also the prolonged Mumbai Textile Workers Strike, in which the Congress government's inaction destroyed the lives of most of the striking workers and ruined the textile industry in Mumbai), it is music to hear that they are now wanting to "look at" the problems of the workers. Going by past experience, this will be another promise meant for breaking.
India is forewarned
The CMP is completely silent on how it is going to raise resources for many of its grandiose plans. Its cut and paste approach is a sure recipe for chaos and confusion which will have a direct bearing on the common man.
The CMP is nothing but flimsy wall paper to cover the cracks and gaps between the Alliance partners and their outside supporters in the UPA. If you tear away the paper, what is revealed is the hollowness and contradictions in the mandate that the Congress-led alliance claims to have received.
We have separately tabulated and analysed the National Democratic Alliance's pre-election manifesto -- "An Agenda for Development, Good Governance and Peace" - and the UPA's post-election CMP. It is distributed as a comparative study. Here we give a brief critique of the contents of the CMP.
Vision and Ambition
The first casualty of the CMP is a vision about India. The CMP projects no energizing vision before this nation of a billion people, home to the world's oldest civilization, with all the needed resources to emerge as a global power in the coming decades. The CMP neither mentions India's rich cultural and civilisational heritage, nor does it contain any aspiration about where India should be in the comity of nations in the years to come. It has also abandoned the goal of "making India a Developed Nation", an aspiration that Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee so passionately shared with the country on behalf of the NDA.
This is in stark contrast to the NDA's manifesto, which had stated, "The NDA is committed to make India an economic superpower through a seven-pronged strategy":
- To make India the food factory of the world;
- To make India the global manufacturing hub;
- To make India the service provider to the world;
- To make India the centre for the Knowledge Economy;
- To make India the global tourism destination;
- To make India the global healthcare destination;
- To make India the global higher education destination.
The CMP contains none of these ambitious but entirely realizable goals.
India as one of the poles in a new multi-polar world, and securing for India permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council were the stated goals of the NDA government. By leaving out any reference to these in the CMP, the new government has belittled national aspirations.
National Security: External and Internal
It is deeply disturbing that for the new government external and internal security do not even figure in the "Six Basic Principles" for governance, as stated in the preamble to the CMP. Most tellingly, in the entire document there is not even a mention of the menace of "cross-border terrorism". There is no mention of "terrorism" or "militancy" even in the context of Jammu & Kashmir. Apparently, the new government thinks that what has been happening in Jammu & Kashmir is not "terrorism" at all, but something else. The CMP's silence on this score, in the context of the terrorist strike in Kashmir last week that killed 33 BSF jawans and members of their families, as also the terrorist attack on the residence of Mirwaiz Omar Farooq in Srinagar, is extremely troubling.
The NDA alerts the nation that the new government's explicit refusal to even mention, leave alone acknowledge, the roots and objectives of terrorism will greatly impair India's fight against terrorism, as well as the country's efforts to strengthen national unity, integrity and security.
The commitment by the UPA to repeal POTA must be seen in this context. Of course, POTA's misuse must be prevented. But to abrogate the law itself is truly beyond understanding.
Nuclear capability
The CMP grudgingly talks about "maintaining a credible nuclear weapons programme". This obliges both the Congress party and the Communists either to express regrets for having opposed the NDA government's bold action in 1998, or to explain how the situation has changed now.
Growth with equity
The new ruling alliance terms itself as "progressive"; it is being supported from "outside" by parties that call themselves "revolutionary". Yet, the words "equity" and "egalitarianism" are conspicuous by their total absence. The CMP does not even recognize the need to bridge the rural-urban divide, much less propose any specific programme like PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas), which was adopted by the NDA government.
Agriculture
The CMP shows no understanding of the complexity of the problems facing Indian agriculture, nor of the opportunities before it. It does not even recognize the need to reform agricultural markets, remove internal trade barriers, develop efficient food chain management, minimize waste and damages, infuse R&D inputs into agriculture, and develop food processing industry on modern, globally competitive lines. The CMP's proposals totally lack specific solutions, which are rooted in today's reality of the national and international market place.
Employment
The Congress and the communists had mounted a highly negative campaign during the elections on the issue of unemployment, questioning the NDA government's promise of creating one crore additional employment opportunities each year. The Congress party, eager not to be seen as lagging, borrowed our promise and included it in its own manifesto. Now, it has quietly dropped that commitment from the CMP.
Instead, there is the completely misleading assurance of a "legal guarantee for at least 100 days of employment on asset-creating public works programmes every year for at least one able-bodied person in every rural, urban poor and lower-middle class household." This assurance is doomed to fail for the simple reason that panchayats and municipal bodies, which alone can take up public works, are starved of resources. The financial health of the State Governments is precarious. Many of them use development funds to pay staff salaries. Even the Congress-led government in Maharashtra, where the Employment Guarantee Scheme was first launched, is financially so bankrupt that it is unable to make its contribution for running the scheme. The NDA demands that the new government inform the people how much money would be needed to fulfill this assurance, how it is going to provide these funds and what would be the Centre's legal and fiscal responsibility for enforcement of the proposed Employment Guarantee Act.
The CMP's superficial remarks on creating employment by merely listing the KVIC and craft sector without going into any details betrays its inability to match the specific programmes mentioned in the NDA manifesto and demonstrates a lack of imagination and innovative thinking.
Infrastructure development
In the name of examining its feasibility, it is unfortunate that the new government is stalling the river-linking project. Feasibility studies have already been conducted in respect of several specific river-link projects. The UPA has offered no solution at all for the equitable provision and control of a crucial natural resource like water. It is again telling that the word "drought" does not even appear in the entire CMP, even though the country has been facing droughts, and thirsting for an effective solution to it on a long term basis.
The CMP has taken an indifferent view of the Connectivity Revolution ushered in by the NDA government. It makes no mention of the National Highway Development Project and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the two dream projects successfully implemented by the Vajpayee government. Unlike our government, it gives no targets or timelines for expanding and modernizing India's infrastructure. The words "airports" and "civil aviation" do not even figure in the CMP. Indeed, by backtracking on the implementation of the reform-oriented Electricity Bill, 2003, the new government has signalled the worsening of the power situation in the country.
The casual treatment to the telecom and IT sectors in the CMP borders on the dismissive, even though there is a crying need to further accelerate the progress that India has made in these sectors during the past six years. The CMP makes no mention whatsoever of the export potential in IT, a sector in which India has become a global leader and in which our country's earnings have gone from Rs. 8,000 crore to Rs. 45,000 crore in the past six years. There is also no mention of biotechnology, in which India has the potential to emerge as a global leader. Indeed, there is no mention of the "Knowledge Economy" either. So much for the "progressiveness" of the United Progressive Government!
India's export potential
Had the CMP not been the manifesto of a Government of India, it might well have been dismissed as a cut-and-paste document of little consequence. But when new ruling alliance has adopted it with much fanfare as its blueprint for action, it is troubling to see how much the CMP has missed. For instance, there is not a single policy or programmatic measure proposed to boost India's exports. There is not even a mention of SEZs, although Special Economic Zones have been highly successful in many countries, including in India, in promoting exports.
Women Empowerment
Regarding women empowerment, the NDA has committed in its manifesto to introduce the Bill for 33% reservation in the very first Session of Parliament. However, the UPA meekly states that it will "take the lead" to introduce this legislation without any timeframe. The UPA's promise of legal equality for women in all spheres is a welcome step and should be applicable to all citizens irrespective of gender. It may like to point out how it would go about it in the face of existing personal laws.
Panchayati Raj
The NDA notes that the principles of governance pertaining to Panchayati Raj adopted in the CMP are a pale imitation of what was stated in the NDA manifesto. The words 'funds, functions and functionaries', and emphasis on 'Gramsabhas' are straight repetitions of the NDA manifesto, with no added idea except of destroying the spirit of federalism enshrined in the Constitution by suggesting that the funding of elected panchayats be done directly by the Central Government.
Food and Nutrition Security
The UPA has merely tinkered with the overall concepts presented by the NDA without offering any specifics in terms of implementation. It is, however, troubling that the CMP makes no mention of continuing the 'Antyodaya Anna Yojana', the massive food security scheme started by the NDA government, under which two crore poorest families are given wheat and rice at highly subsidized rates of Rs. 2 per kg and Rs. 3 per kg respectively. Indeed, the NDA was committed to extend the scheme to five crore poor families. The concept of 'Antyodaya Cards' in the CMP is simply lifted from the NDA manifesto - regrettably by both diluting its coverage and limiting its benefits.
The issue of Telangana
The NDA believes that the UPA has played a trick on its ally, the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti, by employing bureaucratic obfuscation for a separate State. It has placed the promise on the shelf of a cold store of inaction by using phrases like "will consider (the issue)…at an appropriate time… after due consultations and consensus…". It is now clearly running away from a solemn election commitment.
People's participation in development
The CMP does not mention the need or the government's willingness to encourage people's participation in implementing policies and programmes. It is almost completely silent on the contribution of voluntary organizations to the development process.
"Corruption-free government"
The CMP claims to provide a "corruption-free government". However, the UPA government already carries the birthmarks of corruption and crime. Several MPs, chargesheeted in cases of corruption and other serious criminal offences, have been inducted into the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister, who once said in Parliament that "Caesar's wife should be above suspicion", has even defended the inclusion of tainted ministers in the government led by him. Members of supporting parties have already expressed their opposition to such persons holding office as Ministers in the UPA government. Their opposition should either be meaningful or else it will be considered mere lip-service to the concept of integrity.
Ayodhya: Double-speak
The Congress and the communist parties made a lot of noise over the inclusion of the Ayodhya issue in the manifesto of the NDA. Our manifesto stated that, since we believe that it is an issue of national importance, its speedy resolution would strengthen national integration and social harmony. It further stated that the judicial verdict should be accepted by all and a negotiated settlement could be intensified through dialogue. It is obvious that if a settlement was to be reached, it would be presented before the court as a basis for withdrawal of the cases before it.
The UPA has also thought it fit to mention Ayodhya, and merely repeats the contention of the NDA in different words, demonstrating the willful manipulation of the perception of the minorities for electoral purposes alone.
India and the WTO
In the section on WTO, the CMP states: "In keeping with the stance adopted by the late Shri Murasoli Maran at Doha, the UPA government will fully protect the national interest, particularly of farmers, in all WTO negotiations." The political pettiness in this formulation is truly mind-boggling. Was the stance adopted by Maran at the Doha meeting his own, or that of the government which he represented with distinction ? He was then the custodian of the brief given to him as a Minister of Commerce in the Vajpayee Government.
Defence modernization
When our Government assumed office, one of the tasks we undertook was to modernize our armed forces whose budget had been reduced on the instructions of the World Bank. We consistently increased the defence outlay and began the process of modernization. A great deal has been achieved. There are projects which are about to be completed and once they are completed, we shall have highly modernized armed forces. The NDA believes that this is an area where "continuity" is what is needed, not "change".
Ex-Servicemen
The problems of ex-servicemen and their welfare was the subject of a study by a Committee headed by the immediate past Raksha Mantri. The Committee included representatives of the ex-servicemen, Chief Ministers of States and senior serving officials. The Committee examined all aspects of ex-servicemen's problems and their welfare. That report needs to be implemented rather than going for creating another Department, as promised in the CMP.
Social security for unorganized workers
Yet another area where the new government would do well to continue the good work initiated by its predecessor is social security for workers in the unorganized sector.
The NDA Government has delivered a comprehensive and innovative programme for the welfare of the unorganized labour in the country. The new Government need not waste time in going for another programme, as promised in the CMP. It would do good to the working class if our programme were implemented by the new Government.
Workers' rights
After breaking strikes, jailing and shooting down workers (remember the 1974 Railway strike when 50,000 workers were thrown out by the Congress government, and also the prolonged Mumbai Textile Workers Strike, in which the Congress government's inaction destroyed the lives of most of the striking workers and ruined the textile industry in Mumbai), it is music to hear that they are now wanting to "look at" the problems of the workers. Going by past experience, this will be another promise meant for breaking.
India is forewarned
The CMP is completely silent on how it is going to raise resources for many of its grandiose plans. Its cut and paste approach is a sure recipe for chaos and confusion which will have a direct bearing on the common man.
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