Every regime in post-Independence India wears a distinct character, more so in the post-1990 era of coalitions. The Narasimha Rao government, a contextual majority kept alive by seasonal support, delivered economic freedom. The Gowda-Gujral regime of United Front, mostly remembered for chaos, also ushered in a lower tax era. The 23-party NDA led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee focused on connectivity, on linking Bharat with India. How will chroniclers define UPA I and UPA II? It could have been the Indian Decade. Instead it has been a decade of wasted opportunity, the decade where hope drifted into despair and decay. It is hard to find parallels from history, of such drift and decay in governance and of such political indolence in the face of failure. The competing crises confronting India are mostly from a future foretold, the alarming prophecies that were not acted on. Life and livelihood both face increased risks. In 2006, Maoism was described as “the single biggest internal security threat” by the Prime Minister but no blueprint to end red terror is ready even in 2013. Depending on the electoral cycle, Maoists are terrorists or misguided youth. Bringing back the aggrieved into mainstream demands evangelical empowerment and legislation. But critical legislation is trapped in Parliament and empowerment in administrative sloth. Meanwhile, between 2006 and 2013, red terror has claimed two lives every day in over 12,000 incidents. newindianexpress/magazine/A-decade-of-drift-deficit-and-despair/2013/08/11/article1724912.ece
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 20:03:09 +0000
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