MUMBAI: “My cap is firmly on my head and not in any ring,” declared former Prime Minister and Janata Dal leader, Mr.V, P. Singh and ruled himself out of the race for Prime Minister ship, Reacting to media speculation and the clamor within the party, Mr, Singh added, “I can’t physically sustain political activity and there is no part-time job at the top. I arm lame horse and I am not in the race.” However he will campaign for the party “after which I will get lost in art and poetry and leave politics along till 1999.

Mr, Singh, who was in Mumbai for a medical checkup vehemently denied that his “no” was in fact a “yes.” “I will not go back on my word, I didn’t yield for the president ship of the party and I will not yield for prime. Minister ship cither, however much pressure is put on me. I will not be trapped this time like I have been in the past.”

Speaking on the possible verdict of the 1996 polls, Mr. Singh averred that “it will be a hotchpotch.” And added with a smile “the market forces will take over thereafter.” On a more serious note he observed that “the verdict will be for a coalition government”

* But refused to be drawn into permutations or possibilities. “Coalitions,” he said “are nearer the sociopolitical reality, Politics of consensus and not confrontation is the Indian ethos.”

Refusing to be drawn into a discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of parties, Mr. Singh who initiated the opening up of the economy in 1986 did not feel that reforms would yield much to the Congress. Indeed, he was unsparing in his criticism of the reforms which he felt were lopsided. It is his view that the agricultural sector has been totally left out of the process: of reforms.

“While industry has got market economy, agriculture which is the backbone of the economy. If a farmer Wants to convert paddy to rice or cane to sugar he needs a license, They are talking about cutting subsidies but then they should also allow free movement of grains within and outside for the farmers to be able to export. Re

Forms cannot succeed without the agro sector for that is where your purchasing power is.” When asked specifically on the hawala scandal and the role of the Supreme Court, the former Prime Minister observed “the role of the Supreme Court in forcing the CBI to do its job is laudatory. However on the question of them reporting to the court, I have some reservations. This could lead to disturbing the balance between executive, judiciary and the legislature, despite the reservations I think what the Supreme Court has played a critical and praiseworthy role, they have come to the aid of the people.”  

Mr, Singh who rode to power on the ‘anticorruption plank in 1989 did not believe that the hawala issue would afford any advantage to any individual or party, “While it is a national shock, a national trauma and has brought out the issue in the open. I don’t think anyone who is part of this electoral system can afford to hold any moral high ground on this issue. Funding has been through unaccounted monies and there is an urgent need to correct the flaws in the system.”

According to him, “there is a need to lake an empirical view on the issue. State funding is one method, but not money; we could offer platforms, vehicles and publicity material. There should also be a change in the voting system. Candidates must be elected with a minimum of 50% of the vote and there must be a provision to recall MPs and for a negative vote, Not only must people have the right to elect but also the right to not elect certain type: of candidates.” Mr, Singh emphasized the need for norms on party functioning. “When trade unions are required to hold regular elections and audit accounts why should political parties be spared. Vehicles of democracy have to be first democratic themselves; The CEC must insist on party rolls and audited accounts. Marginal forces (the Dharmadhikaris, the Alphonses el al) must keep up the moral pressure on parties to adhere to these norms.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 6, 1996