The Hindu : National : Easy to be armchair critics, says Congress

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Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009
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Easy to be armchair critics, says Congress

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday described the criticism of the United Progressive Alliance by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in its manifesto as “unfair, hypocritical and dishonest.”

At the party’s routine briefing, its spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said: “Like an ostrich, the Left parties have chosen to ignore the inclusive and pro-poor focused agenda that the UPA promised and implemented.”

And, he went on to reel off some of the government’s key programmes, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and Bharat Nirman.

Stating that the Left parties revel in being part of the power equation without being held accountable, the Congress accused the CPI(M) of indulging in perennial criticism. “It is easy to be armchair critics, but difficult to give good governance.”

Further, the Congress sought to point out that the UPA and the National Common Minimum Programme was good enough for the CPI(M) from 2004-2008. “Suddenly, everything about this government is bad and all black; without even shades of grey.”

Referring to the Left parties’ effort to put together a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative, Mr. Singhvi said: “Little do they realise that this could well help the communal forces. The Left does not realise that they will be held responsible for dividing the secular front.”

As for the CPI(M) taking credit for the NREGA and stopping banking sector reforms that in turn helped India weather the global meltdown, Mr. Singhvi said: “This is an old disease with the Left; it takes credit for all good things and blames us for all bad things. They have got used to exercising power without responsibility. Their claim would have been correct had they joined the government.”

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