President speaks in consensus accent

“Parliamentary arithmetic alone cannot provide the key to good governance,” Narayanan told the newly elected MPs gathered in the Central Hall of Parliament for the ceremonial occasion. “That key lies in the willingness of all to rise above notions of Parliamentary majority and minority and work in a spirit of cooperation, conciliation and consensus.”

His Government will chart “a new course in governance that seeks to unify and not divide,” he said. “Dialogue, debate and discussion will replace the narrow antagonismsof the past.”

A national consensus, he said, was “urgently” required on issues like electoral reforms, Central-State relations, population policy, reservation for women, inter-State water disputes, environmental protection and institutional guarantees for the welfare of weaker sections while pursuing economic reforms.

The 25-minute speech reiterated many points made in the National Agenda drafted by the BJP and its allies after the election results came in — including enactment of the Lok Pal Bill to combat corruption and a Commission to review the Constitution.

As in the National Agenda, issues like Ayodhya, Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code were not mentioned. Interestingly, these themes were also missing from the May 1996 Presidential Address – delivered when another Vajpayee Government assumed power just for a fortnight. Narayanan’s address omits reference to the BJP’s commitment to review the country’s nuclear policy, which figures both in the recently announced National Agenda as well as the1996 Presidential Address.

The 1996 Address was more upbeat on the economic reforms, saying that they had achieved "some measure of success." The short-lived BJP Government then promised to control inflation by "accelerating" the reforms.

This time, the BJP-led government has avoided mentioning the pace of the reforms but has talked about "institutional guarantees" to protect the weaker sections.

"The Government believes that India can — and shall — be built by Indians," Narayanan said. "No country that is largely or entirely depended on resources from abroad can truly prosper."

Small enterprise will be encouraged — a dedicated Development Bank for the sector is being considered. The Government will also halt the decline in investment in Agriculture by earmarking up to 60 per cent of Plan funds for this sector.

Subsidies will continue but they will be better targeted. Efforts will be made for "rapid rural industrialisation," with an emphasis on agro-based industries. Farmers have been promisedcrop insurance against natural calamities.

A Committee will be set up to study the feasibility of treating all 18 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as official languages — a point also made in the National Agenda apparently in deference to alliance partner J. Jayalalitha’s wishes. Also promised is a National Water Policy to deal with river water disputes.

Naryananan also reiterated the BJP commitment — made in 1996 as well — on carving out Uttaranchal in Uttar Pradesh, Vananchal in Bihar and Chhatisgarh in Madhya Pradesh. The President faced interruptions at this point with some MPs protesting that the demand for a separate state of Vidharbha had been ignored.

Highlights of President’s address

* Immediate implementation of the Sarkaria Commission Report.

* Framing of a national media policy.

* Framing of a national water policy for effective and prompt settlement of disputes.

* Creation of the new States of Uttaranchal, Vananchal and Chhatisgarh and full statehood toDelhi.

* Appointment of a commission to review the Constitution.

* Formulating a three-fold strategy to ensure food security to every household.

* Ensuring women’s empowerment through 33 percent reservation in elected bodies and a development bank for women entrepreneurs.

* Encouragement of foreign direct investment in core sectors.

* Introduction of a comprehensive electoral reforms bill.

* Earmarking of upto 60 percent of Plan funds for agriculture.

* Setting up a committee to study feasibility of treating all 18 languages in the 8th Schedule as official languages.