Manmohan Offers Constructive Support To Govt

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh yesterday offered constructive cooperation to the BJP-led government but wondered if its national agenda depicted a genuine change of heart or was only a tactical retreat.

If the BJP had made a tactical retreat waiting to get a majority of its own, then the country could be heading for trouble, Singh said while participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address.

While there seems to be a near unanimity over issues like Article 370, common civil code and Ayodhya being pushed to the backburner, BJP leaders have been quoted as saying that these issues remain on the partys agenda, he said. Similarly, the swadeshi concept in the agenda was also raising doubts about economic reforms among foreign investors, he said, adding that issues like economic slowdown, poor exports and the east Asian crisis did not find mention in the Presidents address.

 

Now that the coalition has won the vote of confidence, the BJP and its allies will have to enlighten the nation on how it plans to tackle the burning issues, the former finance minister said.

Emphasising on the need for credible strategies for tackling various problems, he said any slackness could send wrong signals to the world about Indias growth. Questioning the swadeshi concept, the former finance minister said arguments like computer chips yes, potato chips no did not portray a nationalistic flavour. but only confused everybody.

If the chips argument is pointed at dissuading foreign investment in food processing industry, then I would like to remind the BJP that this is a highly technology-intensive sector that can give very high returns to farmers, he said. If swadeshi means giving a human face to reforms, we all welcome it. We welcome 100 per cent literacy and low rates of infant mortality. But, if this means high import duties and strict controls, you will only succeed in putting the clock back, he said.

Merely paying lip-service to self-reliance is neither here nor there, he said and sought to know how the government planned to bring investments in power sector without reforming the state electricity boards.

Credible fiscal reforms are a must for achieving a seven to eight per cent economic growth, Singh said and wondered how the government could achieve a 30 per cent (of GDP) savings rate when public sector saving was virtually nil.