Not a day passes when the most worthless Minister in the Central Government does not come out with statements designed to help profiteers while in the same breath asserting that he is not responsible for the inflation. This is, perhaps, the first time that the country is facing an unusual situation where apart from the failure of policy and programs of the Agriculture Ministry, utterly irresponsible and alarmist statements by its Agriculture Minister are equally resulting in feeding the fire of inflation as everyone from the aam admi to the Prime Minister, who also claims to be an aam admi, is watching helplessly.
India-awake which has already been following his dismal track record ever since he was appointed as Agriculture Minister, has been highlighting the same since May 2008. (see this article and the links there)
Brazenness, Bluff and Bluster
His oft repeated hackneyed and bogus excuses are no longer fooling anyone except, perhaps, some of his party members. He can hide neither under the drought, nor heavy rains nor floods because regardless of these natural factors which happen every so often, people are beginning to realize that the country has entered a cycle of scarcity which may continue even in normal periods. This is happening because of the havoc being wrecked by this one man.
On 22.1.2010, he made an assertion that in his 40-50 years of political life, for the first time he was seeing price rise being linked to Agriculture Ministry. He may be right, but he (more than his Ministry) is being blamed because he may well be the first Agriculture Minister responsible to a large extent for the state of affairs and the drought and heavy rains have come in handy only to be used as shields. He also said that the Agriculture Ministry was performing its functions (of collecting statistics?).
Incidentally, even if there is drought, there is no famine. It is worthwhile to refer to the following observation in a UNDP publication on drought and famine:
“..droughts are therefore a normal feature of climate and weather systems in all countries, including those generally regarded as being “wet” and “cold” as well as those areas usually associated with the term “drought” – the semiarid areas of the tropics. While droughts may be regarded as unusual in that they do not occur all the time, or in some areas for most of the time, droughts should not be regarded as being “abnormal” and, in fact, should be planned for in all countries.”
( see this publication)
The people have been fooled enough by talks of drought and if the country can become so helpless all due to a drought, it is indeed scary to imagine the situation in case of a real famine, especially with the present Government and ministers like Pawar being in charge.
In the last week, he made a statement pointing to an impending increase in the price of milk which understandably drew protests from various States. It also inflamed the volatile Mayawati who promptly and rightly insisted that Sharad Pawar be removed. Mayawati used the term “irresponsible” for his statement. She should have instead used a stronger term.
Cabinet responsibility? – Yes, for not removing him
He has been cunningly trying to shirk the responsibility for the rise in food prices. In the last week, he cleverly persuaded the Cabinet for the Prime Minister to call a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the States to discuss the issue thus pitting one against the other. The underlying idea was to kill two birds with one stone. Such a meeting would imply that both the Prime Minister and the State Governments were the real parties responsible and not him. It would also leave the Prime Minister, rather than him, to face embarrassing protests of the Chief Ministers which were bound to surface. It appears that the Chief Ministers as well as possibly the Prime Minister saw through his game and the meeting has been deferred.
To buttress his position, he also had his sidekicks say that if anything was going wrong, the entire Cabinet was responsible not him, as the Cabinet had the collective responsibility. Sure, his supporters are right. The Cabinet as such cannot escape responsibility. But that responsibility lies on the Cabinet and particularly the Prime Minister for tolerating and continuing an incompetent Minister in a crucial Ministry who only compounds rather than solves the problems. Of course, the overall economic policies also have an influence. For example, he has been implying that the poor are eating more because of the UPA programs for the poor. If that be so, on the basis of collective responsibility, he is also responsible for any failures of the Government related to its economic policies.
Sackfuls of Sugar and Rotten Wheat and other Rotten Stuff
Sharad Pawar has been in positions of power for long enough. Even if the general perception about his having done too well for himself and being the wealthiest politician in the country is discounted, he deserves to get the sack with sackfuls of imported sugar and rotten wheat as bonus, purely on the basis of his performance as Agriculture Minister.
A vulture lying in wait for a famine
If the Prime Minister cannot get rid of this man even now, it can only mean that he personally along with the entire Government is truly responsible for this state of affairs.
It can be termed as a misfortune of the people to have such a Government running and ruining the show.
24.1.2010
Even as the ink is turning dry....
Even as the ink of this article is turning dry, the multi-faced Pawar, who has been himself giving excuses for the price rise while claiming to be not conerned with it, seems to have finally realized that nemesis may catch up with him. As reported by a TV channel, he made a statement somewhere to the effect that the because of the inflation, the farmers were getting higher prices! He is further reported to have said to the effect that he would not mind sacrificing his chair in trying to get a fair deal for the farmers. A mercenary trying to pose as a true martyr, no less!
How can any sensible Head of Government take such nonsense? If he can, it only means that he still has confidence in Pawar and shares his views.
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19 comments:
the most corrupt person who could ever held the post
The present state of affairs on high prices of every essential commodity only shows the failures of present government policies led by Dr Manmohan Singh.
His lack of vision, wrong policies, their collective politics of covering each other to stay in power as coalition partners, his government's corrupt practices, insensitive and shameless attitudes have resulted in a poor state of affairs.
Today's press statement by Sharad Pawar is an insult to injury and an insult of our intelligence. He is asking with an arrogance, what price rise has got to do with my ministry ?? Tomorrow, if it doesn't rain, you will hold me responsible?? How arrogant a minister can be?
Pawarsaheb, if that is the case, then why are you constantly on defense and giving new reasons to people?? You don't need to.
Let us talk of your ministerial responsibility on Agriculture. What have you achieved?
Our Farmers who belong to the lower strata are still living in miserable state and committing suicides. We are talking about our poor farmers. Why is this poor farmer in such a bad state after 60 years of Congress rule.
No financial help has reached this poor farmer. Your wrong policies or no policies and mainly politics of personal gains has resulted in ruining our farming potential. Our Farmers livelihood is ruined. It became a strangulation for poor farmer whose life depended on farming.
This has been done systematically over a period of time so that farmers lands can be grabbed, sold to land mafias, to few corrupt business houses and the politicians can share the booty for favoring these business houses.
Pawarsheb... we know the name of the game now. We know how sugar prices, oil prices, grain prices, vegetable prices, land prices go up. Congress has ruled this country for maximum no of years and therefore, Congress is answerable and responsible.
After 55 years of rule, we have water shortage, power shortage, poor education and health facilities. Still no health and schooling facilities in the rural areas. What have we achieved?
Take an example of Japan and Germany, the countries which got completely destroyed when we got our independence around same time, however have emerged today after 50 years as super powers?
WHY? How?? (don't say our population.)
China is way ahead of India in its industrial development and forging ahead to take over worlds biggest industrial nations. (In spite of higher population than India)
Why China is way ahead of us?? Because China shrewdly and very smartly built their own industries and got major leading brands from world over for making their products in China. China completely focused on developing their own industrial base, and they did it successfully in every category of product.
We could not see our future 50 years ahead. We did not build our own industries but destroyed our small scale industries by allowing imported screw driver technology from the leading international brands.
This was just not lack of vision but, our selfish political class for their own financial gains, lust for power, played a big game with the people of this nation. The import licenses were given left and right to few and politicians made money together with businessmen.
Today, the PM, Dr Manmohan Singh is leading the same corrupt team under Congress banner.
What should we hope to gain from this corrupt team? And its leader??
There is much more to this man than what you have published. Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar and R R Patil also could be having skeletons in their cupboard.
reference varon's comments, well what you are saying is an understatement.
this man is the most corrupt politician ever, not only in india but anywhere else. for every action he takes you can be sure that somehow he is going to make money.
when Cricket will make losses people may find time to work for agriculture.
Pawar is the most greedy of our ministers-that is why he is now talking of hike in milk prices.His greed is limitless but this is driving all of us especially the poorest of the poor crazy.
If Pawar is tackled ,the red revolution will go away but does the Congress have political will to do that ?Now Pawar is promoting his daughter & trying his best to foist it on us.But can we all really survive this onslaught ? Prafull Patel is no better -he is seen more on page 3 & less in his office.The official air carrier is in doldrums.But who cares ? As long as our ministers get to travel free ,all is well.
SONIA is already having a complex cuz pawar has more in the kitty than her.
briliant presentation!
There are good ministers and bad ministers and Sharad Pawar has never been a good minster whether he was CM, Defence Minister or now Agriculture Minister. Can't expect any better than this from him.
I am pained to note that almost a near 100% of the highly educated people in our country do not look at the root cause of all these and every other problem in our country. .. that of a mockery of the idea of democracy. How could One MP represent over 20 lakh people? Is it democracy? THINK! if not for this cacophony, the 900 million people now living (which is 75% of our population) in our 635, 000 dilapidated villages would not have been kept in such filthy conditions! What to talk of Pawar, Sonia or all others ... each one enjoying the benefits of the Cacophony of this so-called democracy... and the small (about 20%) of the educated community taking least interest in destroying this pathetic condition
pvhramani
you may be right but in these comments it is more appropriate to discuss the subject of the article itself.
even if one MP like Pawar is removed from authority, it will make a difference.
I too agree with you
vasu said...
Pawar is the most greedy of our ministers-that is why he is now talking of hike in milk prices.His greed is limitless but this is driving all of us especially the poorest of the poor crazy.
Pawar has made all the money he can make.Remember he is the chief archtect of Enron failure. He now feels confident that he will be in power till his death so he can afford to make any statement. He is very much interested in raising the prices of all commodities the latest being Milk. The congress is at his mercy hence it cannot directly object to any of his statements. He also knows that the next elaction will be in 2014 so there is plenty of time to back tract every thing before next election.All i can say is "Vote for congress and take your punishment"
venkat
the least we can do sitting before our pc is to throw a tomato at him
http://connect.in.com/sharad-pawar/throw-a-tomato-315.html#celeb
There is MILIBHAGAT of indian political Leaders & all other corrupted people in system.
Political leaders not having any pleasure with what the common man suffering.They r just increase their bank Balance.
There is need of Second GREEN REVOLUTION.
Mr Pawar not having that caliber to handle this kind of situation
My suggestion to Mr Pawar is to IMPORT another Dr. Norman E. Borlaug
Pawar knows well this is his last opportunity to make good for himself and his family. He also has to push his daughter to take the reins from him so that the dynasty survives and bank accounts can again start refilling for the next 25 generations.
We must understand that, Pawar is a old congressman But, as the coalition partner today, he is still in a position to milk the cow. And with him, all of the old Congressi con men are engaged in doing the same. Making fast buck.
They are all like scavengers there for their pound of flesh.
So can anyone including Dr Manmohan singh, raise his voice against his own con men?
His Prime Ministership and remaining in power depends on Sharad Pawar's support. And Sharad Pawar, knowing this well,knows how to wield power for himself.
If we have handed over our country to insincere, dishonest and disloyal people, who can only think like a cunning Fox for the next meal for self, it is the biggest blunder committed by people at large.
We are already paying, and going to pay further, heavy price for this blunder, collectively.
the article is an admirable combination of creativity and incisive writing.
good insight.
prediction about salt seems to be proving right as there is shortage of salt in europe due to heavy snow when they normally use salt on the roads.
U r darn rite in ur analysis; n its high time to understand tht if ppl hv elected him y r v on mercy og PM (agn elected by us only) to throw him out. SHuld the public have tht much of power or judiciary give sm legal power to mk a minister accountable how can he run scot free n make fool of ppl who elected him
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