THE UNADDRESSED ISSUE: CONGRESS’S PLENARY MEET

The Indian National Congress Party recently organized its 83rd Plenary Meet to mark the 125th anniversary of its existence. As a responsible political party of India, it came with a lot of paraphernalia which would help it contain corruption at all levels. The well compiled 5 point agenda was a good one. It talked about probity on the part of ministers, careful exercise of discretionary powers, protection to whistle blowers, competitive system for exploiting natural resources and fast-tracking corruption cases against public servants, including politicians. The BJP was quick to bemoan the absence of JPC probe in the list but fell flat on supporting the cause of curbing discretionary power of CMs and ministers, even when the lack of same was haunting BJP’s Government in Karnataka.

Apart from this, one more issue required some attention in the agenda, and that is No Self Contradiction or having a clear policy, in other words. Jaganmohan Reddy’s Odarpu Yatra post the untimely death of his father and Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, YS Rajshekhara Reddy, to meet the family of the people who committed suicides in the wake of this unfortunate incident was seen by Congress as a threat to the stability of its Government in Andhra Pradesh. The Party took it this as his move to gain Chief Minister’s Portfolio and thus asked him to stop it and condemned it severely. Now, I am not aware about Jagan’s motives and Congress’s plan. But when Congress can create a congenial atmosphere for Rahul Gandhi’s uprise which finally culminates on his becoming the Prime Minister of India subjected to the UPA’s getting of the popular mandate in next elections, then why stop Jagan from claiming his father’s legacy.

I am nowhere saying that Jagan should be put at the helm of affairs of Andhra Pradesh but then atleast Congress doesnt has a right to oppose this because this will be in contravention of its own stance. The shrewdness involved in appointing the appropriate candidate for these constitutional post is already pestered and should not be burdened with the dynastic politics. Let us hope that this issue is also adressed somewhere down the line and the rhetorical 5 point agenda transpires into concrete action.