The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(S) wants Govt. to get down to business

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(S) wants Govt. to get down to business

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JUNE 21. There is some uneasiness in the Janata Dal (Secular) camp over the Congress-led coalition Government in not getting down to the business of governance. The former Prime Minister and the Janata Dal (S) President, H.D. Deve Gowda, has himself given vent to the opinion in party circles on some of the issues facing the Government.

Mr. Deve Gowda, who was speaking to a small group of presspersons here this morning, sent the message to the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, that he should overcome any problems within his party and come to grips with the administration.

Without mincing words about the delay in adopting a Common Minimum Programme (CMP), he wondered what was holding it up. Unlike at the Centre, it was only a two-party coalition in the State. The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, should sit together and evolve the programme from the election manifestoes of the two parties. There was no need to appoint a committee for this.

Mr. Deve Gowda said that the very Congress leader, whose name was mentioned to head the committee to formulate the CMP, was responsible for the wrong decisions taken by the previous Government in the State with regard to power sector. There was a delay in setting up the Chief Minister's Secretariat. The Government had to pick officers of integrity and ability, he added.

Mr. Deve Gowda conceded to the Chief Minister the prerogative of pulling up ministers from his party (Janata Dal-S) if they committed any irregularity. The Chief Minister, who held the Home portfolio and also intelligence, should be able to receive reports on all ministers. He said the British concept of collective responsibility of the Cabinet did not extend to questionable actions of individual ministers. The former Prime Minister wanted his party Ministers appointed as district in-charge ministers to be allowed to supervise and act as watchdogs of various programmes meant for the welfare of the people.

About the alleged rice diversion and smuggling racket, he said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could not evade its responsibility. As the then Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani of the BJP, should have been aware of how rice meant for the poor was smuggled to foreign countries through ships. He did not agree to the BJP demand in the State for a Joint Select Committee probe into the racket.

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