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PM’s first Press conference |
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In a bid to dispel the image of a low-key political leader, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 4 called a Press conference on the Government completing 100 days in office. He was frank and sincere in responding to pointed queries and did not shy away from controversial issues. Right from improving India’s relations with Pakistan, fighting terrorism to curbing inflation and retaining “tainted” ministers in his cabinet, the Prime Minister put across his views in a forthright manner. He also made it clear that there was no instability in the Government and it would last its full term of five years.
Observers feel this was an attempt by Manmohan Singh to emerge from the shadows of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and assert his authority. He avoided getting into a slanging match with the opposition and did not see much merit in their agitation against the government.
True to his style, the PM kept focus on important social issues - reforms, providing employment to the jobless and giving a better deal to the poor. Manmohan Singh expressed the hope that the private sector would show sensitivity towards the need to enlarge employment opportunities for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, other backward classes and other disadvantaged groups.
The Prime Minister’s first public articulation on the delicate issue came in the backdrop of the industry’s negative response on earmarking jobs for marginalised groups in a rapidly changing economy. Singh also sought to dispel apprehensions that the government would force job reservations down the private sector. “The modalities will have to be worked out in close consultation with the private sector. A Group of Ministers has been set up to engage in a constructive dialogue with the industry to see what is possible without legislation.”
On the current controversy over Hindutva thinker Veer Savarkar, that has led to an agitation by the Shiv Sena, Manmohan Singh played safe. On Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remarks about Savarkar, the Prime Minister said his statements were his personal views and not that of the Government. Veer Savarkar was a freedom fighter and a patriot. But there are aspects of his life which have created controversies. “He was associated with an ideology (read Hindutva we do not agree with.”
Manmohan Singh was more forthright on the issue of de-saffronisation and the attempts to reform the education system and history books. He made it clear that he was not in favour of any particular ideology being imposed. “We don’t want the educational system to become a prisoner of ideology and bureaucracy”, he said. “Our focus is on de-politicisation of institutions by giving them maximum autonomy to manage their concerns. But certain distortions were introduced in the last five or six years. These needed to be corrected. I’m opposed to fundamentalism of all kinds, whether from the Left or Right. What is recommended is that our education policy should motivate excellence”, the Prime Minister said.
On the issue of tainted ministers in his cabinet, the PM did give the impression that he was not too happy at the state of affairs. He pointed out time has come for political parties to evolve a mechanism to ensure that tainted persons of all shades don’t enter Parliament. There is an inconsistency in the system, where they can sit in judgement on important legislation, but not become ministers.
Singh spoke on the Punjab river waters row and the growing violence in Manipur. Whatever we do has to be done keeping in mind its sensitivity. The Centre has approached the Supreme Court. When the court gives its opinion, corrective steps will be taken.” “Manipur is grappling with a difficult situation. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act was enforced by the state government and they have a right to revoke or modify it,” he said.
He dismissed the media projection of Sonia Gandhi as super PM. He emphasised that there was no foundation for such a statement. As UPA chairperson and Congress president she has every right to know what goes on in the government.
Separately, on the eve of talks between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made it clear that there would be a problem sustaining the peace process if cross-border terrorism was not controlled. “The starting point of the composite dialogue process was the January 6, 2004 joint statement that Pakistani territory will not be allowed to be used for launching terrorist operations (against other states),” Singh said on Sept 4. “The dialogue will move forward only if terrorism is controlled,” he said. He also expressed his deep concern over the “increase in infiltration” from Pakistan-controlled territory into Jammu and Kashmir recently.
The Prime Minister emphasised, however, that the intention of his government was to carry forward the process and expressed the hope that it would, in due course, yield positive results. Singh played down his forthcoming meeting with Musharraf - their first - on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, saying it would “essentially be in the nature of mutual comprehension”.
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