The BJP filled posts with BJP people, he (Arjun Singh) threw them out and put his people who may be better or worse. Usually they would be better because the BJP doesn't have many intellectuals with them. But that doesn't negate the fact that the independence of these bodies and institutions has not been expanded, whether it's AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) or universities.
There has been no effort made to make our major institutions independent bodies outside the control of the State, that our text books are not prescribed by a politically motivated regime.
A mature society knows what to put and what not to put into politics.
The absence of politics is not a good thing but the omnipresence of politics is dangerous. It is very difficult for any regime to take a second term now unless it comes into a new reincarnation to ask for a second term.
I am afraid there is a good chance that the UPA regime will fare badly. Then, it will be even more difficult to get more autonomy and freedom. I also, think that the UPA government has performed very badly on the issue of police reforms, investigation into army excesses and intellectual freedom.
Look at the case of Taslima Nasreen, Dr Binayak Sen and M F Husain. These are shameful acts to condone for any regime.
The UPA has faltered on issues we didn't expect them to falter on.
How did you see Sonia Gandhi's performance?
It is difficult to say because there is a split of institutional leadership from party leadership, formal from informal. In India today, most parties are led by families. Mrs Indira Gandhi introduced this family rule. She anticipated this, perhaps. She was a shrewd politician.
Sonia Gandhi became party president ten years back and in six years time her party came into power. Her foreign origin issue saw Sharad Pawar leaving her party. Have four years in power rooted her fully within the system?
The foreign origin issue related to Sonia Gandhi is solved. It is no longer an issue. The Opposition will be foolish if they raise this issue in the next election. I don't think it will cut any ice. Every party has this kind of structure and do not forget that the Congress has a sizable section which has a vested interest in the family because it hopes that it will bring in some additional votes.
The Congress doesn't have pan-Indian leaders. Those who could have challenged the family are already outside the Congress. Sharad Pawar had to leave the Congress because he had genuine grassroots support. He could have posed a problem to the family.
In the dynastic party, the ouster of Pawar was supported by a sizable section of the party. Look at the parties of Mulayam, Lalu -- even Pawar's party is dynastic, now. Somehow this style has come to click with the Indian political culture. This is a phase we cannot ignore.
Image: Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh, right. Photograph: Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: The UPA: A critic's view
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