The Chief Adviser's address to the nation puts the political parties in a tight corner. They have been given two options – to concede to the wishes of the interim government or go to the people to have their demands realised.
One wonders exactly what the difference between the two is. The best bet for an end to this infuriating game in the medium to long run — because there is no quick fix — is for the elected government to see out its effect, and slowly but surely shift the balance of power away from the army in favour of the people.
The chief adviser said the political parties should promise not to question the results of the general elections, which would be presided over by an Election Commission, which has already made itself controversial through various actions and inactions and whose credibility remains eminently questionable. When the chief adviser could so readily put paid to the aspirations of the political parties, it would be rather foolhardy to expect them to be enthusiastic about the dialogue. In such circumstances, one can perhaps only hope against hope that the talks would be fruitful.If the chief adviser was inconsiderate about the expectations of the political parties, he was cruel about the aspirations of the people at large. There was not the faintest indication as to how his government planned to revive the economy that it itself had rendered stagnant through a series of arbitrary actions.
It needs to make policy for the people, even at the risk of alienating the establishment. The military backed caretaker government needs to understand that its salvation lies in telling the truth, and exposing the intrigues of the general headquarters at every step along the way.
If it does not, ordinary citizens will continue to suffer, dirty politics will continue to prosper and very little will change.Ignorance of facts and pique should not be allowed to stand in the way of India's strategic interests. Politics' is made up of two words, 'poli,' which is Greek for 'many,' and 'tics,' which are blood-sucking insects.
I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government; I mean an additional article taking from the long waited dialogue with political parties the power of borrowing for a concerned quarters' interests.
Gopal Sengupta
Canada
