by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Prez anguished over Modi govt's response
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Nov 3 :
President Pranab Mukherjee is reported to be deeply anguished over the
inadequate response of the government to restrain voices who are
vitiating communal harmony and an intolerant environment.
Highly placed sources in the Rashtrapati Bhavan admit that it is unusual for the President to speak against the growing culture of intolerance in the country not once, twice but three times within a span of one month. The President is aware that all eyes are set on Bihar assembly polls for the past more than two months and this has led to vitiating the social fabric of the country.
Still, the President expected that the government will take appropriate steps after he spoke for the first time on the issue in the first week of October. But nothing visible was seen on the ground. Rather, the government did very little except for the PM mentioning it in his public meetings in Bihar. When the President spoke for the third time, the Modi government deployed Union finance minister Arun Jaitley to assuage the "hurt feelings" and called on him. Jaitley has extremely cordial and personal relations with Pranab Mukherjee. It was only after this meeting with Pranab Mukherjee that Jaitley put out his blog on the Facebook strongly criticising well-wishers of his party and government and asked them not to make irresponsible statements.
But the President seems far from satisfied and expressed his views candidly because he is the protector of the Constitution of India and duty bound to articulate the view if someone attacks its basic fabric.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the President was particularly upset with some of the ministers of the government making irresponsible statements capable of fanning communal passion in the country. Though no names were mentioned but tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma has been under the glare and lately keeping silent.
The President himself being a very active politician, commands tremendous respect due to his stature and statesmanship, and has a perfect rapport with the Prime Minister who often drives to Rashtrapati Bhavan for advice. These meetings are kept secret and not even a Press release is issued about such meetings. The Prime Minister, it may be mentioned, met the President thrice during October and held discussions on a large number of subjects on one occasion.
Yet, the President was compelled to caution the country and the government against the growing intolerance and need for restraint. The President is peeved that the Modi government, in its zeal, did not listen to his advice on the Land Bill. The President has also not cleared the Gujarat anti-terror law so far. l The President is aware that all eyes are set on Bihar assembly polls for the past more than two months and this has led to vitiating the social fabric of the country.
