UPA v.2.0

After coming back to power with a resounding victory, one would have expected Manmohan Singh to display signs of control and talk about a reformist and a socialist agenda for his new government. Disappointingly, we miss the flashes of brilliance and the astute political mind which he displayed during the Confidence motion brought in Parliament over the passage of the Nuclear Deal. It was then that I felt the PM was not “weak”. Manmohan Singh had such strong convictions about the N-Deal and its benefits for the country that he decided to put his chair to stake. How could a PM who staked his chair because of his strong convictions be considered weak? The only thing was that he and his policies had a human touch which India had missed sorely during the previous governments (without any disrespect to Mr. Vajpayee, the contemporary politician I admire the most).

But his second stint hasn’t been as rewarding as his first. Among the many gaffes committed by him and the PMO are the Baluchistan fiasco and the end-user agreement signed with the US. The PM while catering to Pakistani counterpart has gone on record to say that India and Pakistan are the common victims of the same type of terrorism. A totally unfounded statement. While we suffer terrorism originating from across the border, Pakistan is suffering their own making. The PM has only vindicated Pakistan. Next time there’s a terrorist attack on Indian soil, Pakistan can simply wash its hands off the issue by saying both the countries are the victims of terrorism.

The mention of Baluchistan in the joint declaration with Pakistan is another fiasco that had the foreign policy think-tank and the Parliament demanding and explanation in chorus. The situation came to such a pass that the outgoing foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon had to give a clarification in the Lok Sabha. He termed it as a drafting error. It’s to be seen how much this drafting error costs India in the international forum in the long run. Then there’s a delinking of terrorist activities and the peace process initiated between the two countries. This is exactly opposite to the stand that the PM had taken when he met the Pakistani president, Asif Ali Zardari and snubbed him in public. The change in stance is reportedly being ascribed to US pressure. And the PM is supposed to have bowed down to that pressure. The issue of the end-user agreement for military equipments signed during Hillary Clinton’s visit caused a lot of noise in the Parliament. Then there’s the bad handling of the Shopian rape case in Kashmir which has only allowed separatists to become stronger. If nothing else, the demand for “aazadi” was clearly audible during the entire drama. The economic recession has only added salt to the wounds of the already beleaguered PM.

It’s not to say that UPA version 2.0 is a failure. There has been progress on a host of issues. But a lot of expectations were attached with this government – especially when it became clear that the government was not in pressure to cater to the demands of its allies but was free to pursue its own will. It’s to be seen whether Manmohan Singh can stand on the pedestal and fulfill the needs and aspirations of the teeming millions. Till then, let’s keep our fingers crossed.