Unfazed by the DMK’s withdrawal of support to the UPA, government on Wednesday asserted it was “absolutely stable” and not a “lame duck” and said it will move amendments to the resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC to send a “resolute message” on that country’s human rights.
The government fielded three ministers — P. Chidambaram, Kamal Nath and Manish Tewari — before the media to insist that DMK’s demands were in the process of being considered and wondered why the ally changed its position after promising to reconsider its decision to withdraw support.
With questions being raised about the stability of the government, Mr. Kamal Nath said, “We are not a lame duck government.”
“The government is neither lame nor is it a duck. We are absolutely stable. No political party has come out to challenge our majority,” he said.
Stating that India wanted the UN Human Rights Council to adopt a “strong” resolution on Sri Lanka, Mr. Chidambaram said India will move amendments to the draft to send a “resolute message” to that country on alleged human rights violations of Tamils and “goad” it to have an independent inquiry, a key demand of the DMK.
The Finance Minister also dismissed allegations that India had sought dilution of the strongly-worded resolution by the US, saying it was an absolute “canard”.
He said DMK’s other demand for a resolution to be adopted by Parliament on Sri Lankan Tamils issue was also in the process of consultations with other parties.
Mr. Chidambaram claimed that the DMK was aware of the government’s position on the issue but had changed its position between the night of March 18 and morning of March 19.
“We are not aware of the reasons why the DMK changed its position between the night of March 18 and the morning of March 19,” Mr. Chidambaram said, while noting that DMK chief Karunanidhi had said the party would reconsider decision to withdraw support if Parliament adopts a resolution before the end of current sittings on March 22.
“Just because one ally pulled out, the government has not become weak... There is no political instability or political uncertainty... Nobody has questioned our stability except for few voices in the media,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
Keywords: UPA government, DMK, Sri Lankan Tamils, UNHRC, P. Chidambaram
Till yesterday, the UPA-II under the Congress leadership had managed to maintain the required number of MPs by using various means and methods in order to portray itself to be enjoying the majority; that was strict legal formalism to squat on the Power Throne. Now, the Congress has become a party void of the very democratic spirit that people expect in and connect themselves with any political party in a representative Republic, due to various corruptions, kickback and common land encroachments and anti-people economic policies such as the FDI (a capitalist economic project) in a poverty-stricken country. Very clearly, what people demand is not that the Congress should prove its democratic strength in the Parliament through numbers, but a fresh mandate that would allow people to elect other political parties that can focus on social-economic developments without dismantling the Public Distribution System and opening up market to profit-mongers.
Mr.Chidambaram's press briefing exposes the brittleness of UPA's current
status. Even if survives, it will be momentary. It is better for
Congress to get the house dissolved and go for a fresh mandate. Which
will certainly make the nation understand the ground reality.
Mr. Chiddu- come 2014 you will see how you lose your deposit.
Sir, dated 10th march 2013, The Hindu, one of the best English news
papers of the world, published a news item under the heading "When India drew Top Secret
‘red line’ in Mauritius, which divulged the plan of the then Prime
Minister , Mrs.indira Gandhi to military intervene in Mauritius in
1983 to save Prime Minster Mr Anerood Jugnauth who was of Indian
origin. Earlier, as we all know, Mrs Gandhi in 1971 intervened
militarily in the then East Pakistan and liberated it from the
genocidal west Pakistan army and free sovereign Bangla Desh was born.
In the case of Eezamite tamils why mere parliamentary resolution
despite obvious and recurring genocidal campaign by Singalese army
against the ehninic tamils ? is it because Mrs.Indira gandhi was
colossal in global image and her Congress was really strong? let us
see what the Parliament of india resolves!
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