Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
HVK Archives: Hurricane in UP - part 2 of 3

Hurricane in UP - part 2 of 3 - The Economic Times

Nikhil Chakravartty ()
13 March 1997

Title : Hurricane in UP - part 2 of 3
Author : Nikhil Chakravartty
Publication : The Economic Times
Date : March 13, 1997

(Amidst acrimony and patch up efforts, the unprecedented impasse in
Uttar Pradesh continues. Should Governor Romesh Bhandari step down
or be dismissed or retained? Three experts discuss)

The Manner in which Romesh Bhandari has functioned as governor of
Uttar Pradesh entitles him to be dismissed forthwith from the post.
The growing anarchy in the state is a symbol of the governor's
failure as the head of the state.

On top of that, the reckless manner in which Bhandari has wasted
government funds to renovate the Raj Bhawan, which includes the
building of a helipad in its compound, has no parallel in the case
of any governor in any state of the Indian Union in the last 50
years.

Moreover, Bhandari's style of functioning offends the standing and
discipline of any incumbent of a responsible office.

Bhandari's style of functioning is the symbol of utter degeneracy
in a democratic system.

Particularly, offensive also has been his deliberate affront to
home minister Indrajit Gupta, mischievously creating an impression
in the public of a rift in the government at the Centre.

This has been brought out in the Speaker's ruling in the Lok Sabha
while admitting the motion on the existing situation in the state
of Uttar Pradesh.

As an immediate measure, the dismissal of Romesh Bhandari as the
governor of Uttar Pradesh is called for. To retain him as governor
with the authority to run the administration is an affront to the
sensibilities of the people of UP.

In his place there has to be a person commanding respect for his
integrity and objectivity, an individual who attends to the task of
providing a clear administration ensuring the enforcement of law
and order and development activity.

At the same time, Parliament must set up committee composed of all
major parties for overseeing the administration in UP. Finally,
there has to be preparations for the eventuality of a midterm
election.

Is an electorate which does not give a clear majority to one
political party condemned to have a non-representative government?
This is a question which is certainly of concern for our
democracy.

Particularly now, when there are several incidents of elections
both at the state level and at the Centre are not leading to any
one party getting a majority.

The matter itself is worth looking into by our political parties
and others concerned with the democratic functioning of the
Constitution.

As an experiment, it may be suggested that an all-party coalition
may be formed with a common minimum programme which can take over
the reins of government.

Specifically, in the case of UP, this question may be considered.
There is also an imperative need of dividing up the present state
of unwieldy size into more viable units. Smaller states are easy to
manage. They also respond to the democratic needs of the people
more effectively.

Already there is a strong demand for the state of Uttrakhand, which
led to a movement which Mulayam Singh Yadav tried to suppress.

Similarly, other areas of UP can also be demarcated on the basis of
not only their historical, but also economic and ethnic
characteristics.

Nikhil Chakravartty
Columnist



Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements