Opposition raps UPA-II govt for its 'failures'

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : May 22 2013 | 6:21 PM IST
The Opposition today launched a scathing attack on the UPA-II government for its "failures", with BJP saying the ruling coalition's "split leadership" has led to lack of governance and the Left parties blaming it for major scams and clinging to power by "manufacturing majority".
The BJP targetted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the "failures" of the government in the last four years, saying the presence of two power centres and his "indecision, inability and silence" have led to an environment of "gloom and pessimism" in the country.
At a press conference, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley said there is nothing to celebrate for the government on its fourth anniversary "in an environment of gloom, pessimism and negativism. Rarely has the nation witnessed the kind of cynicism against the government as is prevalent today".
The government has failed to provide leadership, keep its coalition together, improve the economy, check corruption, or ensure national security and safety of women, they said.
Attacking Singh, the two BJP leaders said power does not vest in the Prime Minister and hence, the UPA model was "structurally defective".
"Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister, but neither a leader of the country nor the leader of his own party. Singh's colleagues sit with him in the Cabinet and look towards the UPA Chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) for directions. Such a split leadership is the biggest failure of UPA," Swaraj said.
Jaitley said, "UPA has devalued the Prime Minister's post", adding that Singh's Cabinet colleagues look at the heir apparent (Rahul Gandhi) for future leadership.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury attacked the UPA-II coalition for failing to resolve crucial problems of the people and blamed it for the "rapid succession" of scams.
"The UPA, which started four years ago, is not the UPA today. It doesn't have a majority in Parliament. It manufactures majority, and this is done with the help of the CBI. Therefore, it is a minority government which is manufacturing majority to survive," Yechury said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 22 2013 | 6:21 PM IST

Next Story