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The Somnath Chatterjee Chat

cs: Although there are certain provisions in the budget about which we have some reservations, yet it is essential for the country that the Budget and the Finance Bill should be passed in the House. Otherwise, there will be serious uncertainties affecting the country's development and future and will halt various schemes of rural development and poverty allevation. That is why we say that the Congress has acted in a most irresponsible manner. If the Budget is not passed, I am afraid there is no option but to go for a mid term poll. As it will mean expenditure to the extent of Rs 500 crores which we can hardly afford.

Nandini well its a matter of opnion personally I wish there was some other way to govern India

Mr. Chatterjee, About the corruption of the Rao government, again for the non politican's percepstive, I see that the government no doubt corrupt but did contribute significantly to the country unlike the great family regine which we the people had been subjected to. I do see that India has traversed a longer path in the previos 6 years or so that it did in the decaded of the Nehru family rule.

Do you believe the Congress would not withdrawn support had the UF gone along with its plan to make Mayawati CM? What difference would it have made had the UF gone along with the BSP-Cong alliance? It would have prevented the BJP from coming to power in Lucknow.

namskar somnathji!! what's the future of the present govt? What's your speculation? Please reply :))))

EVERYONE: THE THIRD LINE OF THE ANSWER SHOULD SAY 'THE BILL SHOULD BE PASSED' and THE LAST SENTENCE SHOULD BEGIN 'AND IT WILL MEAN'

Mr. Somnath: I am ashamed to be an Indian citizen. I am embarassed to show my passport while I am travelling. I wonder if u can convince me in three lines otherwise!!

But we had ... till Kesri decided that the rug would look better under his feet than Deve Gowda's... didn't we?

Mr Chatterjee, you are so meticulous. What is the problem in replacing Mr Deve Gowda by another leader for the sake of safeguarding secularism?

Thank you for the answer on the budget....how about my question on Sonia -ji?

Mr. Somnath: Honestly, would u have ever given a second thought to issues such as budget approval and expense of a mid-term poll, if for some reasons (read political survival/compulsion) ur party was forced to withdraw support.

Madhu: The position is that the people of this country have consciously voted against the Congress in the last election. The congress party itself accepted that position and announced that they will not make any effort to form a government but will accept the popular verdict. There has been no change in the situation for them to take a completely inconsistent stand now. There is no announcement of any change in their policies and programmes. It is now very clear that Mr Kesri has only one point programme that --- he wants to become the PM without having a majority support in the House. Neither the Left parties nor other parties in the UF have any obligation to make him the PM who will follow the policies rejected by the people. The country cannot be run to cater to the whims of one power hungry politician.

Dear Mr. Chatterjee, Would you please let us know what steps the Governments (state/Centre) are taking to save Calcutta port. Specially in the light of Mr. Amol Sarkar's report on the worst effects of Ganges water sharing pact with Bangladesh. Would you please elaborate on this. Many thanks for your time.

Somnathji: What are your comments about the repeatative failures of the collation governments in India? Do you think India can never have a stable government in future looking into the present situation?

If the opinion of the people were so important Mr. Chatterji ,the people of the country voted more for the BJP than any other party and it should have been the duty of yr party and others to uphold the mandate and support the BJP

AKD: I am very happy that the importance of maintaining the secular character of our country is emphasised in the question. This is precisely we are stressing on. At the moment nothing has been shown against the continuation of Mr Deve Gowda as PM. No other candidate is also being suggested by any party. The PM cannot be changed only to suit the undisclosed reasons of the leader of one political party only.

AShis: The BJP has not got the majority votes in the country in the last election. They may be the largest single party in Parliament but not on the basis of a popular vote. Further, our Constitution provides for a secular government and a secular country. And it is the duty of all right thinking Indians to provide the same. Mere numerical majority comparatively does not mean that the country has accepted the policies and programmes of the BJP. Therefore, it is our duty to try to prevent the BJP from coming to power.

Everyone in UF is saying that we are not power hungary. We came together in order to save the country from (so called) communal forces. The second line of argument is that congress should not form the Govt. because it does not have the mandate to govern. However the Janata Dal with 45 MPs has the madate to Govern. If their only goal is to keep communal forces out of power then why are they so much against Congress lead coalition. O.K. they had some problem with N. Rao . But now he is not the party chief. Moreover, except the left parties, almost everyone in UF is ex member of the congress. They also have a common cause-To Keep BJP out of power. I do not understand what is the problem in forming a Congress lead coalition Govt. I understand their are three ideological different parties in India: Congress( including Janata Dal, SJP, TD,TMC etc.), Left parties and BJP.

Sir, Your views on my question before .. Post -election alliances should not be recongnised This is a violation of the peoples mandate and encourages power brokering, your comments

This word "secular' seems to be used only for effect....what's left of the secular India we fought for? The further we seem to be going from the Independence days, the more bigotted and caste ridden our leaders have become. The opposition is a cess-pool of of such types... but lets face it ... the UF also has its share of them

Indian: In a country like ours where no political party has strong presence in every state and where regional parties are preferred by the people it seems that in future there will be more likely coalition governments than not. A coalition government does not necessarily mean no government or bad government. Many countries in the world have coalition governments which are stable. It seems whether we like it or not we shall be having more coalition governments in the future which may be better than one party governments following anti- people policies.

I cannot imagine a Congress leader making such a miscalculation. I am sure Kesri has a gameplan that you are unaware of. Maybe the TMC and co will join hands with the Cong once the DG govt falls.

I guess platitudes and bromides are what the Indian politicians are used to answering. Reaffirms my faith in Indian politics of mutual convenience!! (sarcasm!!)

Mr. Chatterjee, I do agree the entire political system cannot be made to agree with one person's whims and fancy . I also agree that the Congress has been on shifting sands and have no real right to represent the people as a single government. BUT : what if there is a stronger coalition that can bring in idealogies together that can save the country the 500cr you mentioned and most importantly concentrate on moving the country ahead. What I cannot understand is that have the present politicians in the country become mesmerised with politics that the actual intention of it is all lost. What happens to the country and the people they represent.. do we just keep watching the silly child play unfold every 6 years or so. This is not a charge against any perticular party but I am assuming as a senior athe last of the honourable memebers of the house ytour persecptive would clear things up for the people

Should India go in for proportional representation in Parliament rather than a first past the post system?

I am sure the BJP is rejoicing at this war between the centrist-secular forces. For one, this decimates their biggest rival, the Congress. Two, this enhances the credibility among the masses who are now fed up of this instability and want a strong governmentwhich only the BJP appears likely to give in the current political circumstances. Don't you think these events will help the BJp at the next election?

Dr Asim Dutta Roy: There is no reason to think that the new treaty with Bangladesh will create any problem for Calcutta port. Many reputed engineers and experts have given their views. The present plight of Calcutta port is because of a lack of modernisation and adequate investment of the port by previous central governments. We expect a new and better relationship with Bangladesh which will benefit both countries without affecting any way the future of Calcutta port. The Government of India under Mr Deve Gowda has assured and taken up programmes for substantial fresh investments for the improvement of Calcutta port and for effective dredging.

Sir, But my question was about repeatative failures of the coalition governments in past years. What reason do you think was responsible for these failures?

Somnathbabu - Any Comments on Operation Sunshine? After all it was your party that chummed up with the hawkers for decades - legalising them and generally making life difficult for the taxpayers and now all of a sudden they're gone!

Somanathji when UF Govt was formed the congress said that they supporting unconditionally. How could they come back on their words and withdraw support now?

EVERYONE: It has been a great pleasure and opportunity for me to answer so many of the very interesting and if I may say so to so many relevant and topical questions. I have tried to answer them as briefly as possible, consistent with my understanding of the situation. I am very happy that such interest is taken in what is happening in India. This shows that there is a strong public opinion which is attuned to solving India's problems. I convey my greetings and very best wishes to every one. AS it is Past nine pm. I wish everybody a very good night. Thank you, once again.

Somanathji says that people have rejected the congress and its policies in the last election. Will you tell me something about the policies of congress goverment and how the UF policies are different from Congress. I do not see any difference in the economic policies of Congress and Uf govt. Even if the people rejected the Congress in the general elections, they have not given mandate to Janata Dal (45 Mps) that in my opinion is not more than a regional party. Majority of its seats are from Bihar and Karanataka. At least congress has some presence in every state of India. Yes people have rejected N. Rao in the elections. However according to newspaper reports, Deve Gowda is closer to Rao than to anyone else in the congress.

Rediff guys: Without casting any aspersions on ur honored guest, this whole chat seems like pre-programed with answers being read from the party manifesto. I will suggest that it might have been better to upload a soft copy of the latest press release from Mr. Somnath's party. Would have saved time for all including Mr. Somnath.

sanjeev, please do note that it is not the janata dal that is ruling india, with 170-odd MPs. A Janata Dal PM does not make it a Janata Dal govt.

CHEERS REDIFF, FOR A GREAT CHAT. Unfortunately due to some prior engagements, i was able to chat only intermittantly. KEEP UP THE SHOW!!

EVERYONE: It has been a great pleasure and opportunity for me to answer so many of the very interesting and if I may say so to so many relevant and topical questions. I have tried to answer them as briefly as possible, consistent with my understanding of the situation. I am very happy that such interest is taken in what is happening in India. This shows that there is a strong public opinion which is attuned to solving India's problems. I convey my greetings and very best wishes to every one. AS it is Past nine pm. I wish everybody a very good night. Thank you, once again.

good job! Rediff. (I dont mean it - I am just trying to be Politically Correct)

cheers, good night to you. and u really don't have to be politically correct in a chatroom.

Well! Mr. Somnath was. Why not me as well.

HELLO, HAS EVERYONE GONE?

somnathji,I would like to know about your reaction to the withdrawl of support by congress at this crucial juncture

CPI(M)-er paiye deowa rajniti nipat jak!