Opinion UPA report card

The latest issues of the RSS mouthpiece in English,Organiser,and RSS organ in Hindi,Panchajanya,carry editorials on the UPA government completing one year in office. Titled “The PM meets the press,after a six-year gap” the Organiser says that UPA-I’s two major achievements,by general consensus,are,one,that “UPA-I completed its first full term,and the Congress managed to win more seats in the last elections,thus enhancing the leverage of the ruling party with its allies”; two,“the decimation of the Left clout in national politics was a major strategic ploy of the Manmohan Singh government”. The editorial adds that “in the second term,the government’s focus has been high-sounding legislation exercises,like Women’s Reservation Bill,Food Security Bill,and Right to Education Bill.” It says that “these are easier on the paper than on the ground”. The editorial also adds that “UPA-II,particularly its main constituent Congress,is a divided house” and that “not a day passes without reports of one or the other of its ministers sparring at another or a party functionary”.

RSS organ in Hindi,Panchajanya,in its editorial titled “Failures of UPA Govt”,writes that (while) PM Manmohan Singh is to present a “report card” on the completion of one year in office,the problem for him,however,is to enumerate the achievements,as he’s been a “majboor pradhan mantri”. The editorial also talks about some of the recent controversies to have hit the government — including discordant voices in the party over its anti-Naxal policy; IPL controversy; and 2G spectrum”. In a full-page write-up in Organiser,columnist Naresh Minocha writes that “the UPA-II has little to show as it celebrates its first anniversary”,and that “it is time to write an independent report card for the Congress-led UPA version-II”.

Soren-speak

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RSS’s M.G. Vaidya has written a full-page article on the controversy surrounding Opposition-sponsored cut motions in the Lok Sabha,in the latest issue of Panchajanya. While he talks about various personalities involved in the controversy on the cut motions,he has a few observations on JMM’s Shibu Soren as well. “(Former PM) P.V. Narasimha Rao’s government had bought JMM MPs,including Shibu Soren,to win a trust vote. Soren,however,deposited the money in his own account,and landed in trouble… On April 27,2010,Soren voted in favour of the (UPA) government… Shibu has said that he voted for them by mistake. It’s difficult to find out whether it’s true,or he’s trying to be clever. It’s difficult to trust him”.

Acharya Mahapragya

Both Panchajanya and Organiser carry obituaries on Acharya Mahapragya who passed away recently. “The passing away of revered Acharya Mahapragya is an unbearable loss to mankind. Welfare of mankind was his central philosophy; he was a guiding light for all of us,” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says in his condolence message,as carried by Panchajanya. The feature also carries tributes from former RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan,VHP’s Ashok Singhal,besides a write-up by Lalit Garg.

Honouring M.M. Joshi

The latest issue of Organiser carries a new item on Dr M.M. Joshi,on being selected for the Best Parliamentarian Award,2009. The news item lists Joshi’s achievements through his parliamentary career — he was first elected to the 6th Lok Sabha (in 1977); he represents Varanasi in the present Lok Sabha. The item also talks about the books authored by the BJP leader,and other honours bestowed upon him,through his career.

Compiled by Manoj C.G.