People's Democracy

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

Adhere to CMP Framework

THE President’s address to the first session of Parliament after the 14th Lok Sabha elections is a policy statement made by the new United Progressive Alliance government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh. As such, the address has attracted keen attention from all sections who wish to know the direction the new government will take.

The policy measures spelt out in the address are in broad conformity with the Common Minimum Programme adopted by the UPA which has been supported by the Left parties too. The CMP had set out the priorities and scope of policy measures the new government intends to take up. The President’s address spells out the broad directives set out in the CMP – protecting and promoting secular values by firmly dealing with obscurantist and fundamentalist elements; ensuring an economic growth rate of at least 7-8 per cent per year in a manner that generates employment; focus on improving the income and livelihood of farm labour and workers; empowering women and providing equality of opportunities for people belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, OBCs and religious minorities.

To accomplish this, the government has promised to step up public investment in agriculture and ensure significant increase in the flow of agricultural credit. In the WTO negotiations, the stand will be to protect the interests and livelihood of the farmers. In terms of employment generation, there is a bold commitment to legislate a National Employment Guarantee Act which will provide 100 days of work to one able bodied person in each rural household.

Measures to combat communalism, bring about a model bill to deal with communal violence and the commitment to implement the Protection of Worship Act express the resolve to defend secular values.

There is the commitment to strengthen the panchayati raj system and legislation for one-third reservation for women in legislatures and the Parliament. There is the important step to increase the public spending on education to eventually reach 6 per cent of the GDP and a cess of central taxes to finance the commitment to universalise elementary school education.

For the landless families, there is the commitment to provide land by implementation of land ceiling legislation and to stop reversal of ceiling laws. There is also commitment to stop the eviction of tribal communities from forest areas. The commitment made in the CMP for the repeal of POTA is reiterated. On foreign policy, the address reiterates the CMP commitment to foster multi-polarity in the world political and economic system.

While the policy direction in the President’s address broadly adheres to the CMP, there are some glaring departures which should be noted. This has occurred mainly in the sphere of foreign policy. The President’s address has, in a facile fashion, supported the so-called transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people which the Americans are promising by June 30. There is also satisfaction expressed with the UN involvement in this process. This does not reflect the reality of what is happening in Iraq. Under the illegal and brutal American occupation, the people of Iraq are suffering. The resistance to the occupation has taken on the proportions of a popular uprising. The torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners has exposed the hypocrisy and racism of the occupiers. A hand-picked interim government is being put in place to show that sovereignty is being handed back. Everyone knows that the prime minister is a man with close CIA links. To dignify this as a transfer of sovereignty is farcical and is totally uncalled for. The Manmohan Singh government must realise that it cannot be guided by some pro-US bureaucrats and advisors who are determined to carry on the Vajpayee government’s "strategic relationship" with the USA.

Equally objectionable is the way the relations with Israel have been introduced and described as "mutually beneficial cooperation" which are "important". After stating this as the main feature, there is a ham-handed attempt to state that these relations will in no way dilute our principled support to the Palestinian people. The Indian people have expressed their outrage at the way the criminal Sharon regime is perpetuating a colonial oppression of the Palestinian people. Hundreds of Palestinians are being killed in the continuing military operations in the West Bank and the Gaza. Palestinian leaders are being assassinated through a programme of State terrorism. It is highly regrettable that the President’s address seeks to carry on with the same India-US-Israel axis flaunted by the Vajpayee regime.

The pressures of the United States and the lobbies working for it on the new government are evident in the manner in which strategic ties with the US has found a place in the address when it was not so defined in the CMP. The CMP has provided the framework for an independent foreign policy which promotes multi polarity and opposes all forms of unilateralism. The CPI(M) which has supported the CMP expects the Manmohan Singh government not to depart from these basic postulates.

The CMP is obviously a document which has incorporated some of the essential concerns of all parties who have played a role in the defeat of the BJP alliance. Some of the concerns of the Left which found reflection in the CMP are missing in the address. It would be better if the UPA government take these issues seriously for implementation. They include the promise of a comprehensive protective legislation for agricultural workers; the commitment to lower interest rates of loans to the states; an increase in the share of the states in the divisible pool of taxes; and to consult with the states before providing funds directly from the centre through the panchayati raj bodies.

It is well known that the CPI(M) and the Left have basic differences with the Congress party on the question of privatisation. The President’s address has upset the balance provided in the CMP on this matter by not incorporating the general commitment not to privatise profitable public sector units and by touting public-private partnership in the infrastructural areas like ports, airports, railways, water supply and sanitation. If this is to be seen as a signal to privatise electricity, water supply and other basic services, the CPI(M) and the Left will firmly oppose such moves.

The President’s address, despite these departures and shortcomings, provides a policy framework for the government which will help to protect the secular fabric, provide relief to the working people and correct some of the harmful policies of the previous government. The Manmohan Singh government will do well if, alongwith the direction set in the address, the departures are corrected and ongoing steps taken for a comprehensive implementation of the CMP.