A weak Government at the Centre often fails on all fronts. People want a strong Government, which can deal with problems with a firm hand. Ironically though, they vote for a weak Government as was the case in 2004.

Where does the weakness lie? In a Parliament of 543 members, the Congress has 143 members, which is almost one fourth of the strength. Therefore, the alliances. In the last four years, we have seen the working of the UPA. Uncertainty, insecurity, alarmingly rising prices of essential commodities, blatant violation of constitutional spirit, Muslim appeasement, least care for external security, loss of prestige of constitutional bodies, failure on the important issues of disinvestments and the nuclear deal with the US are some of the hallmarks of this weak Government.

Most supporters of the UPA are habitual blackmailers. Does the Centre have a face to show when the like of Lalu Yadav are an integral part of the Government? The CPM did not allow even one month to pass without keeping the Damocles sword hanging on the Government for some fake ideological reasons. All ideology surreptitiously passed the exit gates. Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the present levies and surcharges were initiated by the NDA Government and the UPA hardly added any new surcharge. But, he never misses the chance to take the credit for the increasing revenue collections.

The momentum generated by NDA has been lost in the last four years. The GDP growth rate in 2004 was 8.6 per cent; it is hovering around the same figure as per statements of responsible officials and Ministers. The golden quadrilateral is moving at a snail's speed. The story of power generation and other infrastructure projects is the same. Not that Chidambaram is an incapable FM but he has been incapacitated by the CPM. Example: Disinvestments stalled.

We all know that there are no permanent enemies or friends in international relations. Every country watches its own national interests. Those who are in the know of Indo-US relations are aware of anti-India moves of the US but, they also know that Indo-US relations, of late, have brightened up. This columnist does not hold any brief for the nuclear energy deal for civil purposes. Some amendments that suit India needed to be negotiated but, the CPM vetoed it. With reference to Pakistan, we can regard the US as an unfriendly friend.

The UPA is run in the name of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But, all important decisions are taken at 10 Janpath. This tantamounts to dual infirmity. That he whose friends are Communists needs no enemies stands proven again. An alliance is known by the partners it has -- Lalu on the one hand, Ram Vilas Paswan, Shibu Soren and the comrades on the other! Speaks volumes!

The Centre has been pouncing on Mulayam Singh and Mayawati for the same crime which has been committed by its Cabinet colleague Lalu Yadav.

Obviously, a weak Government has to compromise on many points and thus the coast of weakness in enormous.

The Economist of January 29 published from London, has written on India's defence capability under the headlines "India's Army unfit for Service". Indian Army is short of 11,000 officers almost a quarter of the total muster. Military academy in Dehradun currently filled 86 officers of its 250 places. The number of armed forces has also decreased. Till four years back India had an edge over Pakistan as far as weapons was concerned. Thanks to the US, they have supplied superior weapons and other fighting armaments. The Economist concluded, "in order to match India's rise to global importance, the Army needs many things: More money, better technology, coherent foreign policy." Most of the facts mentioned in The Economist are well known in the Army and among defence experts and these are for external security.

The POTA was designed to deal with the terrorists. It was effective. But it was ceremoniously done away. What signal its repeal gave to the terrorists.

Probably, that we as a nation are more concerned with the civil liberties of terrorists than basic rights of the citizens. That too was the result of vote-bank politics of a weak Government.

What is the remedy? Remedy lies with the citizens, those who vote. If they don't give majority or near majority or at least manageable majority as NDA had, how can a Government be strong, and firm to deal with the problems.

In the past four years, India has gone wrong on defence, internal security, law and order, rising prices and other important areas.

People have to be told that in a Lok Sabha poll, they can't follow narrow loyalties and then expect to get a good Government. The Centre can manage instability in States. But if there is an unstable Centre, who will manage the country and its complex affairs?

Courtesy: www.dailypioneer.com, February 24, 2008