Honesty Is Overrated

Especially in our country, where it is the exception to the rule. Things have been deteriorated to such a level that merely being honest is sufficient criteria to be India’s prime minister. For the second time running. When certain civil activists raised the issue of mass scale misappropriations in the coal ministry, headed by our PM, the party and the government came out in strong defence of Dr. Singh. He is honest they said. Whatever happened to competence, integrity and all such virtues desirable of the leader of a nation, any nation? Whatever happened to his duty to uphold the law, to work within it? To not just seem to be honest, but to execute his duties, honestly.

We all knew Dr. Singh’s fondness for keeping mum; must we now start appreciating his blindness to what goes on in his government too? When are we going to have enough of him prostrating in front of his political bosses and ask him to get on with the job of governance? Why have we as a nation set such low standards for ourselves, why are we content or indifferent to such incompetence? Here is a man, devoid of any meaningful influence in the government, and yet he is allowed to fumble around the south block posing as a man in control of a nation of more than a billion!

Dr. Singh is by far the worst prime minister we have ever had. He has led a government which in its time has managed to reverse the economic growth of the country, seen unprecedented evidence of ubiquitous corruption and a total breakdown of governance. Yet, we treat him as some messiah from heaven. The one who could not be corrupted. In his time we have witnessed the worst of coalition politics, with measly ‘partners’ impeding day to day functioning of the world’s largest bureaucracy. He is a man who has little respect amongst his peers, why else would people like Mamata Banerjee Mulayam Singh Yadav and Karunanidhi be such important decision makers.

And the press is completely silent. They are more interested on when Rahul baba is going to jump in the fray rather than asking some tough questions from the current prime minister. In a shameful misplaced display of loyalty to the country Vinod Mehta is asking questions of Barak Obama. He would do better to look within and do his job properly to begin with rather than taking cheap shots something totally irrelevant to us.

The guardian recently called Dr. Singh, Sonia Gandhi’s poodle. And our press sits idly by analyzing Digvijay Singh’s verbal diarrhoea for clues on when Rahul Gandhi will honour us with his presence in the government. Instead of feeling indignant, it is time we woke up and looked within. And recognize this government for what it is. An utter failure.

Important legislation is stuck in parliament, ministers have been arrested, the economy is in shambles, military-govt relations have never been worse and essential reforms have been forgotten. The only positive aspect that this government can somewhat take credit for is the fact they are still in power. Only if they had shown the same deftness in managing national concerns as they have shown while handling Mamta, DMK, Ajit Singh, things would have been much better today. Alas, this government is of the view that staying in power is its number one priority. While some of the readers might say, why not, I would like to remind them of one simple thing – governance. And the two are not linked. If you can’t govern, you get the hell out. You don’t cling on to the gaddi for however longer you can. Imagine if average Indians started hanging on to their jobs after being told they suck at it. I mean in the non-government sectors of course. Why do we accept exceptionally low standards of our government officers when the same is not applicable to the average Indian?

Surprisingly the only opposition to his rule has come from within the Congress party. Though their motives are hard to guess, to think of that the only challenge is from a cherubic looking, untested member of parliament is reflective of the despondency of the situation.

At a time when one would think, the circumstances were congenial for the opposition to make a decisive move, the people have been let down yet again. In the face of the whole nation surrendering its right to question and protest; only one person can save us from this situation. Dr. Singh, if you have any shame or self-respect or any sense of duty, one angry columnist urges you to step down. Do what you have not in either of your terms. Show courage and take a stand. Stand Down.