NEW DELHI: The Congress (I) launched a blistering attack on the government for its failure to indicate its policy framework in the presidential address while the CPIM and BJP, the ruling party’s allies, cautioned that the stability of the government would depend on its performance.

In a simultaneous discussion on the motion of thanks to the president for his address to the joint session, Congress (I) members challenged the Govt claim that the coffers had been left empty by the Previous Govt and quoted statistics to reinforce its claim that the economy was buoyant.

The motion was moved in by Janata Dal member Satya Pal Malik, while the Rajya Sabha discussed it inconclusively for the second day,

Moving the motion, Malik made an impassioned appeal to the opposition not to politicize the Punjab problem and instead lend a hand in solving the difficult issue. The member came down heavily on the Congress (I) policies and its inept handling of major challenges facing the nation.

PV Narasimha Rao, who was fielded as the Congress I’s main speaker, reiterated his party’s constructive support to the government but made it clear this did not mean blindly accepting whatever the Govt said in the name of consensus.

Rao said that while trying to look different from Rajiv Gandhi, the new Govt should not try to destroy earlier achievements.

He said the president’s address was full of platitudes and gave no indication of any policies on several important issues.

BJP leader Jaswant Singh said the cooperation extended by his Party was not based on any condition, however, he said as partners, “We would call the accounts book every now and then and scrutinize”.

Senior CPI-M member Samar Mukherjee cautioned the government that its stability would depend on performance and not on assurances. He said though his party did not agree with all the policies, they thought that a non-Congress (I) government was a “necessity” for the country.

SB Chavan questioned the claims of the government that the economy was in a shambles, asserting that when the Congress (I) government had stepped down every sphere of economy was on an upward trend.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 5, 1990