Coalitions necessary for Indian democracy : Gujral
SANDESH PRABHUDESAI, PANAJI | 24 February 1998 17:36 ISTWhy the era of coalitions necessary for the Indian democracy today ? It’s because the country has no leaders like Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru who can keep the nation together.
The opinion is expressed by Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, after the fall of whose United Front government in 18 months, the country is once again going for general polls, putting an additional burden of Rs 1500 crore on the public exchequer. While addressing a rally in support of union law minister Ramakant Khalap here today evening, the PM also claimed that only the UF can provide stable, clean and sincere government, unlike the BJP or the Congress. "The UF government did not fall because of infighting as was predicted by many while forming it. On the contrary, the experiment has proved that India can be strengthened and developed on the basis of the common minimum programme", he asserted. While the Congress withdrew its support to the UF government for their self-interest, Gujral said he did not drop the DMK ministers in the national interest. As the investigations have proved that no DMK person is involved in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, he demanded public explanation from the Congress why they withdrew support to his government. He also asserted that only a coalition government can provide a stable government to the country, due to which all the major political parties are aligning with the regional parties. Even the Congress and the BJP have now aligned with a small or a big group of parties, he pointed out. However, he lamented stability plank of the Congress, asking whether it provided a stable government of scandals, corruption and communal riots, for which the party is now apologising. "After apologising for all its misdeeds, tomorrow they will also apologise for being corrupt", he commented.
Gujral also cautioned the gathering to realise the RSS colour behind the BJP’s coalition politics, who are still firm on their stand on communal issues like Kashi and Mathura. "Do not elect the people who do not care for the sentiments of the people", he appealed.
