M A I N   N E W S

Foreign press hails Manmohan, democracy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
Newspapers in the USA, the UK and Pakistan have showered accolades on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the vibrant democracy in India.

In their news reports and editorial comments a day after the announcement of Dr Manmohan Singh becoming the Prime Minister of India, the Anglo-American press talked of his economic acumen and also commented about the possible impact of his appointment on Indo-Pak relations, while the Pakistani media used the opportunity to take a dig at the state of democracy in Pakistan.

The Los Angeles Times noted that Dr Manmohan Singh as well as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf were Partition refugees (while Dr Manmohan Singh came to India from Pakistan, Gen Musharraf went to Pakistan from India) and commented that their similar backgrounds could improve the atmosphere between the two countries.

“The two South Asian leaders will face difficult compromises during landmark peace talks set to begin in the coming days. Their similar backgrounds may improve the atmosphere,” the newspaper said.

The New York Times described Dr Manmohan Singh as “the gentlemanly Oxford-educated economist who saved India from economic collapse in 1991 and began the liberalisation of its economy.”

It said: “In many ways, Mr (Manmohan) Singh, the architect of the restructuring of Indian economy after four decades of quasi-socialism, is an apt choice to lead now, when it is fast rising as a global economic power.... A Sikh who has made a powder-blue turban his trademark, Mr (Manmohan) Singh will be India’s first non-Hindu Prime Minister. In a turn of events seemingly tailor-made to demonstrate India’s diversity and capacity for coexistence, Ms Sonia Gandhi, raised a Roman Catholic, is making way for a Sikh Prime Minister who will be sworn in by a Muslim President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.”

Then in a tongue-in-cheek manner, while describing Dr Manmohan Singh as “honest, intelligent and thoughtful”, the newspaper said: “Perhaps the only bad word anyone has to say about him is that he is not a better politician.”

The Guardian highlighted that Dr Manmohan Singh was India’s first Sikh PM. “A practising Sikh, Mr (Manmohan) Singh will become India’s most scholarly leader, with a Doctorate in Economics from Oxford and a glittering academic career.”

The Telegraph, London, said Dr Manmohan Singh’s appointment as PM, “India’s first Sikh and first non-Hindu Prime Minister”, ended a week of political turmoil. “Mr (Manmohan) Singh, a scholarly figure who studied at both Oxford and Cambridge, has a reputation as a brilliant technocrat. He will now have to prove that he has the necessary political skills to forge an effective coalition.”

The News, Pakistan’s English daily, said: “Mr Manmohan Singh ... is not seen as a shrewd political manager who can look after the economy and run the government at the same time. The Congress has a long history of in-house politics that will need the presence of Ms Gandhi to act as a guardian angel to prevent the new Prime Minister from being grounded. But the real test will come when he will have to jettison some of the Congress’ cherished socialist policies to prepare the country for the coming of the WTO.”

The Pakistani daily praised Ms Sonia Gandhi’s decision saying: “Ms Gandhi’s decision will remain unprecedented in political history for a long time. It demonstrated a high level of statesmanship and set impossible political traditions for South Asia.”

Another Pakistani daily, The Dawn, said Ms Sonia Gandhi’s decision to decline prime-ministership had “added to the stature she had already acquired by virtue of her deft stewardship of her party.”

CMP to be released on May 27
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of United Progressive Alliance will be released on May 27.

This was decided at a meeting of the Congress and its coalition partners at the residence of Ms Sonia Gandhi here tonight.

Emerging from the 75-minute meeting, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said allies would again be meeting on May 25 to give a final shape to the CMP which will be released on May 27.

CPM spokesperson Sitaram Yechury said on May 26 allies would meet to finalise the coordination committee which would be responsible for ensuring implementation of the CMP.

Indications are that there are some dissenting views being expressed by the Left regarding disinvestment and liberalisation as stated in the draft CMP.

The CPM politburo will meet in Kolkata on May 25 to discuss the CMP and come out with its own suggestions.

The nature of CPM's "association with government" would depend on the extent to which their suggestions are incorporated in the CMP.

The meeting convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence was being attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Arjun Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Ahmed Patel and Ambika Soni (all Congress), Harkishan Singh Surjeet (CPM), A. B. Bardhan (CPI), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Laloo Prasad Yadav (RJD), D Biswas (FB), Abani Roy (RSP), Vaiko (MDMK), E Ahmed (IUML), Sibu Soren (JMM), Dayanidhi Maran (DMK), Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), A Narendra (TRS) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP).

Just before the meeting, the Congress circulated a revised draft of the Common Minimum Programme to its allies and supporting parties.

Some changes have been made by the Congress based on suggestions and feedback it has so far received on the draft circulated to the allies and supporting parties on Friday.

Left parties had discussed the draft CMP earlier during the day and later CPM spokesperson Sitaram Yechury called on Gandhi.

LS convened on June 2
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
The first session of the freshly constituted 14th Lok Sabha will have a short nine-day sitting from June 2. The Rajya Sabha has been convened to meet for a week from June 4.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will address the joint sitting of Parliament on June 7, an official spokesperson told mediapersons after the first Cabinet meeting of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the chair, was held. The Cabinet has forwarded its recommendations for convening Parliament to the President for approval.

According to the schedule drawn up by the Cabinet, even as the portfolios of its members were yet to be decided and formally announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan, the new MPs will be administered oath on June 2 and 3 and the election of the Speaker will be held on June 4.

Soon after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan said the President would address a joint sitting of Parliament on June 7.

Subsequently, on June 8, 9 and 10 the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will debate the motion of thanks to the President’s address before adopting it.

Left to decide Speaker issue on May 26
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
The Left Parties deferred till Wednesday their decision on the Congress offer to veteran CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee to take up the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker even as the government announced that the first session of the 14th Lok Sabha would be convened on June 2.

Some CPM politburo members, who met to discuss the issue today, were divided on accepting the offer. Members of the four Left parties also discussed the issue but failed to arrive at any decision.

A section of the CPM leadership opposed the party taking up the Speaker’s position, saying it would amount to the same as joining the government.

However, those in favour are understood to have said that since the party was already in the legislature, accepting the post would not mean anything else, as the Speaker was the leader of the legislature alone.

CPM leaders said the party’s politburo would meet on May 25 in Kolkata to decide on the Speaker’s issue and on the next day, all Left Parties would meet in the Capital to take a final decision.

Soon after the Congress made the offer to Mr Somnath Chatterjee, he expressed his happiness at the offer and showed inclination to take up the offer. However, he said the party had to decide on the issue before he could take any step.

After the meeting of the Left parties, including CPI, All-India Forward Bloc and RSP, CPM General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet told reporters that the meeting discussed all aspects of the Speaker issue. “There is a need for more discussion. The entire Left is united on the issue”.

CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan said all the parties would meet again on May 26 to take a decision in this regard.

Among those who attended the meeting were Sitaram Yechury, Prakash Karat (both CPM), D.Raja (CPI), Abani Roy (RSP), Debabrata Biswas and G. Devarajan (Forward Bloc).

Nair to be Principal Secretary to PM
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
The Congress-led coalition government today appointed Mr T K A Nair as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, sources said here tonight. The Punjab cadre 1957 batch IAS officer is at present Chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board. He had been the Chief Secretary of Punjab and had held other important assignments during his career.

Mr Nair earlier served as the Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office when Mr I K Gujral was the Prime Minister during 1997-98.

Mr Nair has been the PSEB Chairman since July 1999. He retired from the Indian Administrative Service in 1997.

Prior to that, he was Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, in 1996-97 and Special Secretary, Planning Commission, in 1995.

Mr Nair also served as the Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government in 1995-96.