The News of PM’s interaction with the press aroused so much of enthusiasm, curiosity in the Press as if such occasions are rare, unprecedented and aren’t to be expected in a democracy. As soon as the News broke out of the weekly interactions of PM with Press from 29th June onwards, it drew unprecedented attention of the Press. On the eve of first such interaction, whole media started discussing and speculating on various aspects of these interactions viz. people responsible for these proposed interactions, likely format of these interactions, likely participants from the press in these interactions, the kind of questions to be allowed or not to be allowed in these interactions etc. Finally, PM met a select group comprising of five News Editors on 29th June. After the meeting, most of these editors, were feeling extremely honoured, privileged and “favoured” by the PM for choosing them for interactions with him. Some of these editors chose to return this favour to the PM by showering lavish praise on him before the TV cameras.
Does he really deserve so much of adulation on the basis of his press interaction yesterday? Let us look at current burning issues facing the govt. and his response vis-à-vis the same.
On the corruption front, Is he to be appreciated for his mere candour to admit that his govt is being perceived as the most corrupt govt. ever? Is he to be appreciated for being “surprised” on how come so many civil servants remain honest despite so much of temptations for them? By being surprised on “honesty” of such civil servants, is he trying to justify corruption of so many others as normal phenomenon and suggest that people should live with such high degree of corruption rather than be surprised and disillusioned by the same? Is he to be appreciated for his frank submission that he was “betrayed” by A Raja in 2G Scam?By shifting the blame on A Raja, is he trying to absolve himself of his guilt in 2G scam? Nobody doubts his personal integrity on corruption front; however everybody knows that he was always privy to 2G scam including the role of Raja, Kanimozhy, previous finance minister and many other industrialists in the same; however he did hardly anything to check the same? If after public revelation of the same, if any action was taken against the accused persons, credit of the same should go to supreme court and not to him. Again, even after clinching evidence against the current textiles minister and suggestive evidence against the current Home Minister(in his earlier stint as Finance Minister) in the 2G Scam, he is still waiting for the intervention of supreme court in order to take any meaningful action against them.
On Lokpal Bill, Is he to be appreciated for his inability to bring the Post of PM under the ambit of Lokpal despite his individual willingness to cover the Post of PM as well under the purview of the same. He admits that he can’t do so as his several cabinet colleagues are opposed to this popular demand.
Is he to be appreciated for merely admitting that lathi-charge on the midnight of 4th June at Ramlila Maidan was unfortunate?If that was unfortunate, did he try later in any meaningful way to fetter his ministers and General Secretary of his party to make provocative statements against Baba Ramdev and calling him names like “Thug”,”Fraud” etc and adding insult to the injury of vast masses.
On economic front also, he expressed his inability to control the price rise, as factors viz. Global Commodity Markets, events in the middle -east and crude prices were beyond his control. He only expressed the hope that global events might ultimately lead to cooling down of the inflation by March next year. Is the economist prime minister to be appreciated for attributing the Price rise to the global factors and for expressing his inability to do anything to check the same?
On other vital issues such as need of relevant land acquisition legislation in keeping with demands of the industry and genuine concerns of the farmers, reshuffling of the cabinet, he either preferred to remain silent or evaded the questions.
On only one issue, he was very open and unequivocal, and that was related to loyalty to UPA Chairperson and her son. He lavished his praise on Ma,am for her inspiring leadership being provided to Congress Party. Also, he expressed his willingness to vacate the chair of PM for Prince Rahul, whenever he was asked to do so as if India is not a democracy but a kingdom of Gandhi family and he is holding the chair until the time Prince Rahul Grows and rightfully occupies the chair.By saying so, has he not only downgraded the chair of PM, but also embarassed millions of people of the country who believe ours is a democracy and not a fiefdom of Gandhi Family.
Despite his above press-interaction, he claimed that he is not a “puppet” or “weak” prime-minister as is being made out by his detractors rather he is in “full charge” of his Position as a Prime-Minister. Whatever he may say, given his current status in the Govt.,he is only the “de-jure” PM of the country and “de-facto” PM is somebody else. And If he continues not to act the way a Prime-Minister should, People wouldn’t really care whether he interacts with Press or not and what he may say in these press interactions.
