07-04-2008, 06:02 AM
Are the supporters of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh justified in claiming that he will lose face if the deal is dumped?
This is a ludicrous argument. Who is the prime minister in comparison with the nation? In a democracy, no political personality is indispensable. Second, an elected prime minister must be first and foremost answerable to the people. Third, I also think that if our prime minister's political credibility is indeed in some jeopardy today, that is more on account of the government's pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies. Our prime minister has a reputation as an economist. That reputation is in jeopardy today. His political legacy lies in leading the coalition government for the full term and, more important, in utilising the remaining period in office to do something to reorient the economic policies in directions that meet the interests of the common people, so that his party and its allies can hope to get a renewed mandate to govern the country.
This is a ludicrous argument. Who is the prime minister in comparison with the nation? In a democracy, no political personality is indispensable. Second, an elected prime minister must be first and foremost answerable to the people. Third, I also think that if our prime minister's political credibility is indeed in some jeopardy today, that is more on account of the government's pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies. Our prime minister has a reputation as an economist. That reputation is in jeopardy today. His political legacy lies in leading the coalition government for the full term and, more important, in utilising the remaining period in office to do something to reorient the economic policies in directions that meet the interests of the common people, so that his party and its allies can hope to get a renewed mandate to govern the country.