Coalitions a result of weak leadership, says Gujral
Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji
India has entered an era of coalitions because it has no leaders like Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru who can keep the nation together, according to Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.
While addressing a rally in support of Union Law Minister Ramakant Khalap on Tuesday evening, the prime minister claimed that only the United Front could provide a stable, clean and sincere government, not the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress.
"The UF government did not fall because of infighting as was predicted by many when it was formed. On the contrary, the experiment has proved that India can be strengthened and developed on the basis of the common minimum programme," he asserted.
While the Congress withdrew its support to the UF government due to self-interest, Gujral said, he did not drop ministers of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as demanded by the Congress. Gujral said investigations have proved that no DMK person was involved in the killing and sought a public explanation from the Congress on why it withdrew support to his government.
He said the Congress could only provide a stable government of scandals, corruption and communal riots, for which the party is now apologising. "After apologising for all its misdeeds, tomorrow they will also apologise for being corrupt," he commented.
Gujral also cautioned the gathering to realise the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's might behind the coalition politics of the BJP, which is still firm on its stand on communal issues like Kashi and Mathura. "Don't elect people who do not care for the sentiments of the people," he said.
He asserted that only a coalition government could provide a stable government to the country, claiming this was why all major political parties were aligning with regional parties.
Elections '98
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