At UPA anniversary, Congress flaunts new allies
From the lawns of 7, Race Course Road, the United Progressive Alliance sent out a message to all its opponents on its eighth anniversary: we may be going through a difficult patch, but we are still growing because we represent the forces of secularism and pluralism. For, on stage with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and representatives of the UPA allies were Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav — who won a spectacular victory in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year — and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Later, at a dinner, too, the two Yadavs were given pride of place as they sat, flanking Ms. Gandhi and her son, Rahul Gandhi. T.R. Baalu represented the DMK.
There was also a message to Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who stayed away from the UPA's celebrations and sent MoS Saugato Roy in her stead: the alliance was not short of numbers as it had the 21-MP strong SP backing it. Indeed, wittingly or unwittingly, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, along with other UPA members, held aloft the UPA's Report to the People for a photo-op, completing the picture of the extended family.
Underscoring the message, Ms. Gandhi, while attacking the Opposition for levelling “irresponsible accusations” against the UPA and taking note of the “storms” inside and outside Parliament that had to be weathered, underscored the need to return to basics: “We are committed to secular principles.”
Ms. Gandhi observed that the mandate in the next polls would depend on the work done, and not on promises.
If many Congress leaders were taken aback at Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav's presence on stage, the party's media managers were quick to offer their interpretations: “For the Congress and the UPA, the secular principle has always stood it in good stead,” a Minister said, emphasising, “We'll do till 2014.” Adding his bit, a senior functionary said, “A thin line separates an ally from a supporter: they should be treated equally as their impact is felt in precisely the same way.” Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, on his part, merely said that though he was not part of the UPA, he was supporting it from outside and he had been invited on stage.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gandhi, responding to a question on Uttar Pradesh, said the party needed to continue working hard in the State. Asked to explain Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav's presence on stage, he said, “These are two different things.”
So, even as the Congress demonstrated on Tuesday that it had the numbers to push through its own candidate in the upcoming Presidential polls, both Ms. Gandhi and Dr. Singh, in answer to questions whether there would soon be a change in the status of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee (whose name is in circulation for President), were non-committal. Ms. Gandhi simply said, “I can't say anything yet.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister, in his speech, conceded that the government needed to do better, and said he would welcome a constructive debate. Emphasising that poverty had declined at twice the rate than it had before the UPA government came to power, he pointed out, “Despite an adverse economic environment, India continued to be the second fastest growing economy at the rate of 7%.”
He urged all political parties to rise above partisan considerations so that India could face the uncertain global environment with greater confidence and rise united to the challenges the nation faces.
Keywords: UPA-II, third anniversary, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi
UPA II celebrated its three years in office followed by dinner when in a tragic rail accident earlier in the day 25 odd innocent lost their lives and scores injured. They had dined when so many were weeping for their kith and kin. The Railway Ministry has put the blame on the signalman who now faces the music. What achievements are these people talking about when aam admi is reeling under severe strain. With Dollar shooting up I am sure the Government would increase the prices of petroleum products which would further put strain on aam admi. Laloo, Mulayam have joined the bandwagon for their ulterior gains and motives. No politician worth the salt work for the country. We expect the armed forces, para military forces, police to maintain discipline and guard us while these politicians loot the country. I agree with Kiran Majumdar when she tells that if I were in UPA II I would not have celebrated. Furst perform and show results and then play with tax payers money. This is what every parent tells their children but the politcians look the other way.
UPA in general and Congress in particular must read its election manifesto of both 2004 & 2009 and prepare a report card of promises made and promises fulfilled. They must not forget that India that is Bharath is still a secular, socialistic and democratic republic and doing away with the socialistic pattern of society at the behest of Industrial lobby will not bring back the UPA back in to power in 2014.
The best way to redeem from the brink is to discard the open market policies pursued at the instance of vested interest and raise revenues and extend subsidies for the deserving sections of the society. Universal free health care, universal PDS and affordable housing by setting up Housing Development Regulatory authority to stop developers exploiting the middle class will increase the acceptability of the UPA among aam aadmi. The petro product prices particularly LPG must not be raised at all.Instead 1 LPG per month for a family must be provided at subsidisd rate & rest @ market rate
With the steady decline in the value of Rupee per USD, after 3 to 4 months, a review committee on BPL might try to establish that UPA has finally succeeded in driving out poverty once and for all from India, on the basis that if an urban Indian spends Rs 25/- and his rural counterpart 20/- per day on essentials, both will be considered as above poverty line. This is how the concept of BPL should now be understood by the vast majority of our people.Immediately after Independence, a family earning Rs.150/- was considered as belonging to middle class, while to retain the same worn out family tag of 'middle class' it has to earn Rs 25,000/- p.m.at the minimum level. Sir, this is the economics a plumber or a construction worker or an electrician, or a fairly educated housewife with a family of four excluding her dependent aged parents or in laws, with no visible/mandatory social security measures in place, understands Compulsory Economics. Bankers,be ready to roll out Grocery Loan products.
Looking at the pictorial presentations in this news and also some
earlier notes and opinions and continued projection of Jayalalitha and
anti-Chidambaram issues and a consistent drive to project BJP, I think
The Hindu is becoming a tool of the BJP. It does not upkeep neutrality.
Today may be the last day I open up your online news. Bye-bye.
Mrs Sonia Gandhi may well be advised to take off her pink glasses,
descend from her ivory tower and see for herself the tattered state the
UPA is in today.Never has the Congress been in such a pathetic
condition. And it has none other than itself to blame. The Prime
Minister is nothing more than a puppet thanks to the puppeteer and the
allies that the party had chosen.Let's hope this is not the swan song of
this party.
People of India are fed up of "isms" trotted out by politicians.They want a corrupt free economic development where the benefits flow down to the lowest rungs of society.At this level people are too busy and too desperate eking out a livelihood for themselves and their families to worry about high faluting words like secularism and plurism which these shallow and corrupt politicians constantly thrust down people's throats to buy votes.Don't these people understand that if they improved the livelihood of the marginalized society they will win votes ?
while most of MPS both ruling and opposition were performing very well, amased wealth in crores at the cost 0f the parliament session each day spendoing crores of poublc funds.Till now what they done squaarely for the common man? whether all the citizens are having food,water and shelter by now after nearly 60 years of congress rule?
subrmania bharithiyar sang "THANI MANIDHANUKKU UNAVU ILLAI YENRAL JAGATHINAI AZHITHIDUVOM",this is what going on now.THERE ARE MORE POVERY AND PLENTY RUNNING OF PARREL LINES.
I am impressed by Sonia Gandhi's observation that the next election will be determined by the performance and not promises. The elections has been tarnished by promises by the ruling parties and the opposition parties. Both the literate and non-literate go after the promises rather than the performances. Many of the promises are of not of priority, impractical, unconstituional, economically unfeasable, politically favouritism and ideological rather than national interest. The electorate has to be educated about the performance of the political parties and elections are the time for that. It is the responsibility of the parties to launch their election propaganda based on performance. The public is getting more educated about the political system after each election and they will not believe or tolerate any more of the vague promises of any political party or candidate.
With white washing its failures on various fronts the Congress cannot stage a comeback in the 2014 general elections.
Dear Ms. Gandhi ! If the leader has honest intentions of taking the country forward, If the leader really loves the country and its people, he/she will not have to worry about being in power and save the party from drowning. People will automatically support the leader who will deliver and not just promise, who will love the people through actions and not words. What your party has done is the past few years is completely opposite. Therefore, sorry to say, even if you perform a little better in this economic downfall arena, triggered due to mismanagement of your party and ministers, you have a little hope to come back to power. People of the nation have lost the interest in you and your party.
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