WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior The Master Established 1965 Why India needs a stable Govt M.J. Akbar Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Col J P Singh, Retd statement. He himself has been part of hopes are high that a stable govt and hushwant Singh was never a journal- ist's journalist; he was an author's jour- UPAI & II. He has been through the con- strong leadership will pull the nation out nalist. He brought the narrative sweep s the polling nears, spectre of tradictions in coalition and consequent of economic sloth and tackle corruption, K hung Parliament appears. If we of an artistic temperament to periodical writ- CAPD a culprit or a victim effects on governance. He has also seen insecurity, inflation and joblessness look back at the last election, the ing. He was already a phenomenon as a novel- A the world and sleepy China galloping effectively. Hence it is a paramount obli- fear of hotch-potch Govt at the centre in ist with Train to Pakistan when he was invited onsumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) towards growth at an unprecedented gation of BJP to come out of communal 2009 actually worked in favour of UPA. to become editor of the Illustrated Weekly of Department has again failed to provide normal pace. Though difficult to dissect his mindset and adopt a realistic economic The fear of a patch up coalition that India, a flagship publication of the Times of quota of ration to the people in both APL and genius mind, yet my understanding con- agenda to attract voters for giving it a C could not have given a good Govt India group. But the ship had stalled on con- BPL categories. In justification of sudden acute short- pushed the fence sitter to vote for Con- siders it Indian predominant role, if we stable govt. India's electoral landscape ventional design, born of a mindset that was age of supply of essential commodities, rice, atta and gress giving it 206 seats and legitimacy want, in the 21st Century which the from North to South and East and West still marooned in the British Raj. sugar for public consumption to the depot holders both to head a coalition. Such apprehensions economists have granted to Asia. It is with nationalist spread, which Congress One wonders if those who made him editor were fully aware of the conse- abound this time too but it favouring time that India becomes a useful partner enjoys, is fading. The vacuum can be quences. Khushwant, week after illustrative week, became a shredding machine in urban and rural areas, the plea advanced is non- in this phenomenon of Asian develop- filled by the BJP should it get a chance. release of funds by the Finance Department. Ordinary descending Congress is unthinkable. of convention. There must have been a few men at the top of the Times who Congress led UPA II is marred with ment. Economists assigned 19th Centu- Veteran journalist Vinod Mehta of were bewildered by his radicalism. But Khushwant never took seriously anyone people are the sufferers. March is almost gone and yet plethora of wrong doings. It got stric- ry to Europe, 20th to West and 21st to Outlook, an extremely vocal Modi who took himself too seriously. He was a sworn enemy of pomp, and defined the supply situation has not improved across the State. tures from judiciary and constitutional Asia. For Asia to grow economically, detractor says that writing on the wall is his own circumstance. No other editor would dare to enter office wearing a tow- We are not giving the statistics about what are the bodies all the way during its rule. Pub- strong and stable govts in Asian democ- clear, in capital letters, "Modi will lead el-cloth T-shirt. It was a cultural shock. He carried off his insouciance with requirements and what is the supply position in each lic resentment against the govt grew racies are essential. China is leading in an NDA govt on May 16. Only divine aplomb. Any and all opposition was silenced by the most powerful weapon in district of Jammu region and also in Kashmir region. high when Anna Hazare fasted and led growth and governance. We have no intervention can stop him". NDTV sur- an editor's armoury, the reader. The circulation rose with the majesty of a phoenix. choice but to be on its heels to play a vey conducted through Hansa Research These figures are disclosed by the department con- an anti corruption agitation in the capi- If fiction is about contemporary life then journalism is about temporary real- tal. Congress looked to be losing will to constructive role in the Asian phenom- Group places NDA at 281. Another not- ities. Khushwant Singh traversed the distance without a hiccup because he cerned. The point is that the Minister for CAPD admits govern after covering half the way. enon. That is probably what President ed journalist, author and former Con- laughed at the thought of being trapped in any ivory tower. He much preferred, that this is not the first occasion when owing to non Coming under attacks, it became defen- meant by signalling stable Govt. Should gress MP M J Akbar says 'Modi's lead- as the iconic illustration above his column confirmed, life in a light bulb. Mario, availability of funds the department could not lift food sive and ineffective. The net result was we have one more ineffective coalition ership is essential for the country'. Com- that inspired artist and cartoonist, drew that brilliant image, with its friendly- grains from the stores of FCI and hence this has result- dithering leadership, deserting partners, like UPA II, Asian phenomenon will be ing from renowned journalists and mischievous grin, which defined Khushwant Singh to millions. ed in a mess. rising inflation, corruption and skewed in China leaving us where we are today. reputed national channel confirms A bulb is a familiar symbol of an idea. Khushwant preferred ideas to any ide- Late release of funds is the patent pretext to legit- development. Hence it becomes clear to me that if we Modi's acceptance. ology. He was, in a sense, profoundly non-ideological. He thought the Left, which have to become an Asian power, we have imise delay, in efficiency and non-seriousness of the Having gone through similar situa- With entry of 'Chai Pe Charcha', was the intellectual fashion of the age, was inherently antagonistic to individual tions in the past, public lost faith in the to have a strong and stable Govt at the Modi is the topic of discussion every- liberty, which he prized above all else, because of its doctrinaire traps. He saw department concerned in providing food grains to peo- weak kneed Govt. Hence strong leader- centre. When I look around, I find that where. NDTV anchor Barkha Dutt' s doctrine as a casket, fit for a graveyard. And the right was too strident for his ple without interruption. The department says that ship and stable govt became the politi- it is BJP alone today which can provide 'tea talk' is being replicated in the road tastes. He wandered around the productive middle, taking positions on merit. delays have always been happening during March and cal buzz word. Today strong Govt is a stable Govt with strong leadership. I side tea stalls. Disagree if you may, but This did not make him non-partisan, as anyone who knows anything about April each year. If it is so, why did not the department considered as one of the pre-conditions am sure the economists will interpret it in every social, informal, religious and the man who dragged Indian journalism into the 20th century will confirm. His take adequate steps to remove the lacuna? Why should for all round development. A weak and more lucidly than me. To apply it to Indi- obituary functions, politics is discussed most famous display of bias was towards Mrs Indira Gandhi. In 1971, when Mrs meek coalition or a front can stymie pol- the consumers suffer year after year and face the trau- an reality, they must educate public. where Modi invariably takes the centre Gandhi was the nation's heroine, this was unexceptionable. In fact, he was just icy decisions and impair institutions of Given anti UPA mood and anger stage. Even where there is no BJP, there one of a crowd when Mrs Gandhi first liberated Congress from a morbid old ma of non availability of food grains? We remember governance. If a strong leader does not against the Congress, a coalition led by is extreme thirst for good governance. guard, and then helped liberate Bangladesh from Pakistan with a marvellous dis- that during the pre-independence period, Food Supplies head a stable Govt at Delhi after this Congress is unthinkable. CPM's initia- This is what unites voters and cuts play of tough, bold leadership. But to do so in 1975, when she imposed an Emer- Department was considered among the most efficient election, we will hear the same story of tives on the formation of Third Front, across traditional divide such as party, gency, imprisoned opposition leaders and ordered censorship of the press, required and honest departments of the civil administration in the corruption and indecisiveness again and Mamta's initiative of Federal Front and loyalty beyond belief. The shock was that a libertarian like Khushwant Singh veteran anti corruption crusader Anna caste, religion or region. Only voters State. It has lost its thrust, efficiency and vision. There Kejriwals's anti Congress and anti BJP should become an advocate of dictatorship.