EDITORIAL

Get Down To Governance

Finally, as we go to press, the alternative secular government that most Indians looked forward to during and after the general elections has assumed office. The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of this United Progressive Alliance government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh and supported by the Left from the outside, has been released to the nation.   Barring a few areas of difference (spelt out in the Left parties statement, printed elsewhere in this issue), the Left parties have endorsed this CMP.  

The task at hand is for the government to get down to its job in right earnest.  The strengthening of India's secular democratic foundations must be urgently addressed through a de-toxification of the body politic. The people are eagerly awaiting long denied relief and improvement in their livelihood.  Country is raring to advance and its energies must be channelled in proper positive directions. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill for this government led by Dr Manmohan Singh to discharge these responsibilities. 

There are, however, some vulnerable spots that cannot be allowed to puncture this groundswell of goodwill that this government enjoys.  Though the law of the land prescribes that everyone is innocent unless proven guilty, ministers with charges and cases need not have been inducted.  The BJP, still dazed at the drubbing it received from the people, is threatening, feebly of course, to make this into a big issue on the floor of the House.  That this will carry neither credibility nor conviction is obvious given the BJP-led NDA government's own track record. However, one wrong cannot be justified by another. Similarly, the secular credentials of this government should not be allowed to come under a question mark given the presence of a minister from the Muslim League. In fact, the secular credentials of this government would have been strengthened, had this been avoided. 

In any case, the role of the CPI(M) and the Left vis-à-vis this government is clearly defined.  While fully committed to support this government and to thwart all efforts by the communal forces to stage come back; while endorsing the CMP, the CPI(M) and the Left will function as a watch-dog of the government and not as its lap-dog.

We wish this government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh all success for ensuring stability while meeting the needs of the country and the aspirations of the people by implementing the Common Minimum Programme.