B.RAMAN
There are 35 substantive paras in the Independence
Day address of our Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh, from the Red Fort on the
morning of August 15,2012.
2.Two of these paras relate to internal security,
two to the Armed and para-military forces and one to the measures for the
eradication of corruption and the improvement of governance. There is no
reference to foreign policy and our relations with our neighbours. The
remaining 30 paras are related to the state of our economy and bread and butter
issues of the common man.
3. One can understand the over-riding preoccupation
of the address with economic issues. The economy is in a bad shape. The monsoon
seems to be deserting us. All sections of our society----the rich, the middle
class and the poor---have been affected by the economic downslide, which he has
attributed to global factors without
admitting any policy deficiencies. Having been an economic expert all his
professional life with very limited exposure to issues concerning national
security and foreign policy, he feels more comfortable speaking on economic
issues rather than on national security.
4.The country has been passing through unusually
difficult times marked by growing disenchantment of different sections of the
population with the seeming drift in policy-making and implementation, with the
lack of sincerity and seriousness in dealing with corruption and with the lack
of a robust leadership in steering the ship of State.
5. The events of the last one year were crying out
for indications---however remote--- that the Prime Minister is aware of the
seriousness of the situation confronting the country, that he has noticed the
mood of desperation of the people and that he has been trying hard to find
answers to the hopes and expectations of the people. Such indicators are sadly
missing from the address. It is an “as usual” address which would totally disappoint
the people and beie their hopes and expectations.
6. It is an address full of generalities and
lacking in specifics in matters relating to national security and governance.
The three most worrying internal security issues the nation has been facing are
terrorism, insurgency and communal violence. Insurgency and communal violence
have been touched upon in a general way in the context of the recent outbreak
of violence in Assam and the continuing Naxal activities. There is also a passing reference to the
improvement in the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. In
terms of policy response, the address is silent except a reference or two to
the action taken by the Government for the economic development of the affected
areas.
7. There is no message of solidarity with the
police and para-military forces fighting valiantly against insurgencies of
various kinds. There is no reference to the actions that the Government intends taking to improve our
counter-insurgency capabilities. The address is silent on how the Government
intends moving forward in respect of the report of the special interlocutors on
J&K.
8.Surprisingly, there is no reference to terrorism
anywhere in the address as if terrorism as a threat has disappeared. There is
no homage to the memories of those----civilians and security forces---who died
at the hands of the terrorists--- and no reference to the contempt and
indifference with which Pakistan continues to ignore repeated Indian requests
for action against the Pakistan-based conspirators of the 26/11 terrorist
strikes in Mumbai.
9. Even his passing reference to the recent
explosions in Pune seem to have been carefully sanitised in order to avoid
evoking in the minds of the people images of continuing terrorism. His reference to the recent Pune incidents says: “The
incidents which occurred in Pune in the beginning of this month point to the
need for much more work to be done in the area of national security. We will
continue to do this work with sincerity in the future also.”
10. The exercise to strengthen our
counter-terrorism capabilities has come to a screeching halt due to differences
between the Centre and some States on the creation of the National
Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). One would have expected a strong message of
co-operation with the States in dealing with internal security in general and
terrorism in particular. Such a message has been missing.
11. Even his references to the Armed Forces are
lack-lustre. The usual tribute to the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces is
there. So too a reiteration of the Government’s determination to modernise the
Armed Forces and cater to their welfare. As in the case of internal security,
in the case of external security too, there are no indications of likely policy
responses. The Government knows best how to deal with national security and will
take the required measures. The people should leave it to the Government and
the Prime Minister without asking questions and without expecting details. That
seems to be his attitude.
12. Last year, the Prime Minister took an excellent
initiative in appointing a blue ribbon Special Task Force headed by Shri Naresh
Chandra, former Cabinet Secretary, former Ambassador to the US and present
Convenor of the National Security Advisory Board, to make a comprehensive
review of our national security mechanism and come up with concrete
recommendations for modernising our national security architecture.
13. Its report was submitted to the Prime Minister
on May 24 last. It is now under vetting by the Ministries and Departments
concerned before releasing to the public salient points of the report and
taking up the accepted recommendations for implementation.
14. This is an important exercise in our efforts to
modernise our national security machinery. It would have been unfair to expect
the Prime Minister to discuss the salient points of the report in his
Independence Day message, but a reference to this significant exercise and how
the Government intends carrying it forward would have reassured the people that
national security has been receiving adequate attention from the Prime
Minister. But the Prime Minister chose to keep quiet.
15. His casual reference to public concerns over
corruption and what the Government intends doing about it shows an unfortunate absence
of a sense of gravity over the feelings of desperation and anger of the common
man on this issue. One cannot imagine a more indifferent and insensitive
approach. All that the Prime Minister said was: “The Lok Sabha has cleared the
Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill. We hope that all political parties will help us in
passing this Bill in the Rajya Sabha. A number of other Bills have also been
presented before the Parliament. The Cabinet has cleared a Public Procurement
Bill. We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and
accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption. But we
will also take care that these measures do not result in a situation in which
the morale of public functionaries taking decisions in public interest gets
affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary litigation.”
16. I had stated this often in the past. I repeat
it again on the basis of my limited experience in public service. It is important
for a public servant from the Prime Minister downwards to maintain continuous
communication with the people through various conventional and modern means of
communication available. The Prime Minister has to jump out of the well in
which like a frog he has got stuck and interact vigorously with the media and the people through the
various means available. The media and the people have a right to ask him tough
questions and expect honest answers. By continuing to take shelter behind the
Great Wall of his well, he cannot win the confidence of the people and remove
the prevailing mood of desperation and anger.
17.In response to my past articles on the Prime Minister’s
style of leadership ---or the lack of it--- I was in receipt of innumerable
comments from my loyal readers saying: “ You are wasting your time and energy
in your old age and in your state of poor health raising such issues with the
Prime Minister. Nothing is going to have an impact on him.”
18. What they say may be true, but I refuse to give
up. I am writing one more time hoping that least this time I can make the frog jump
out of the well and show some vigour and activity.
19. Annexed are the relevant paras from his address
which have been discussed above. ( 15-8-12)
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd),
Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute
For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate, Chennai Centre For China Studies.
E-Mail: seventyone2@gmail.com . Twitter: @SORBONNE75 )
ANNEXURE
EXTRACTS FROM THE PM’S INDEPENDENCE DAY ADDRESS
“The incidents of violence which occurred in Assam
recently are very unfortunate. I know that these incidents have resulted in the
disruption of the lives of a large number of people. We fully sympathize with
those families which have been affected by the violence. We are doing
everything possible to provide relief to them. I also promise to you that our
Government will make every effort to understand the reasons behind the violence
and work hard with the State Governments to ensure that such incidents are not
repeated in any part of the country.
“We have achieved success in many areas of internal
security. In Jammu and Kashmir, people participated in large numbers in the
Panchayat elections. There has been a reduction in violence in the North
Eastern States and we are engaged in dialogue with many groups there so that
they can join the mainstream of development. We have initiated new schemes of
development in areas affected by naxal violence to ensure that the grievances
of the people residing there, especially our brothers and sisters belonging to
Scheduled Tribes, can be removed and their lot can be improved. However, we
need to be constantly vigilant as far as internal security is concerned.
“Communal harmony has to be maintained at all
costs. Naxalism is still a serious problem. The incidents which occurred in
Pune in the beginning of this month point to the need for much more work to be
done in the area of national security. We will continue to do this work with
sincerity in the future also.
“We have seen a lot of discussion in the recent
months about the role of our armed forces and their preparedness. I would like
to emphasise here that our armed forces and paramilitary forces have defended
the security of our country both during war and peace with valour and honour.
Our soldiers have made the biggest of sacrifices, whenever needed. Today I
would like to reassure our countrymen that our armed forces and paramilitary
forces are prepared to face any challenge. The Government will continue to work
for modernizing these forces and providing them with the necessary technology
and equipment. Today, I would like to thank our security forces, who are
guarding our frontiers bravely, from the bottom of my heart. We will continue
to make efforts for their welfare.
“Our Government has set up a committee to examine
issues relating to pay and pension of armed forces personnel. This committee
will also look into matters concerning pension of retired men and officers and
family pension being paid to their families. We will take prompt action on the
recommendations of the committee, once they are received.
“Our commitment to make the work of the Government
and administration transparent and accountable stands. On the last Independence
Day, I promised you that we would take many steps for this purpose. I am happy
to state that during the last 1 year we have achieved good progress in this
area. The Lok Sabha has cleared the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill. We hope that all
political parties will help us in passing this Bill in the Rajya Sabha. A number
of other Bills have also been presented before the Parliament. The Cabinet has
cleared a Public Procurement Bill. We will continue our efforts to bring more
transparency and accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce
corruption. But we will also take care that these measures do not result in a
situation in which the morale of public functionaries taking decisions in
public interest gets affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary
litigation.”
