The Hindu Business Line : Who should bell the cat?

The editorial “Who is to push reforms?’ (Business Line, November 11) brings out the Prime Minister’s dilemma over the implementation of reforms. While Dr Manmohan Singh talks of the reforms, it is possible that his Cabinet colleagues and partners in the ruling alliance may prefer not to endorse his views too emphatically, given the various political compulsions.

Issues such as divestment, reforms in the insurance and banking sectors and the quantum of FDI participation face stiff resistance from various quarters within and outside Parliament.

The State governments are run by various political systems and at least a few of them oppose reforms as such. Even the Governments under the UPA banner cannot think of full reforms due to opposition within the State.

The regulatory and other law implementing bodies require the full support of the State governments, and this is difficult at this juncture.

Even the Acts passed in Parliament are kept pending by the States because of differences of opinion and the Prime Minister cannot synchronise action points convincingly. More important, there is absence of accountability at any point.

There is no shortage of ideologies or ideologues in the country, but there is a total absence of commitment in converting the decisions into actions.

The Prime Minister should take immediate measures to bring the bureaucracy in line with government ideologies (not political ones) for early implementation of reforms. Mere lamentation in other forums, with no action at the government level, will only delay the reforms.

C. P. Velayudhan Nair Kochi