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This is an archive article published on June 26, 2012
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Opinion Rising from ashes?

UPA 2 has a difficult task ahead if it wants to rise from the ashes and become UPA 3 in 2014.

The Indian Express

June 26, 2012 03:22 AM IST First published on: Jun 26, 2012 at 03:22 AM IST

Rising from ashes?

Apropos ‘UPA 3,the chance’ (IE,June 23),Shekhar Gupta observes that the three enigmatic and mercurial Ms of our politics — Mamata,Modi and Mulayam — have provided Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi with a chance for a comeback just when everyone was expecting UPA 2 to sink. It is now up to the PM and the Congress party chief to grab this opportunity and rejuvenate and reinvent government by revamping the cabinet. UPA 2 has a difficult task ahead if it wants to rise from the ashes and become UPA 3 in 2014.

— Shahabuddin Nadeem

Bangalore

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‘UPA 3,the chance’ does not address the complete collapse of governance and accountability,hastened by massive corruption. This calls for wide-ranging administrative reform and strong executive action. Mere symbolism will no longer do. The current phase is not just a bad patch in economic growth,but the symptom of a deeper social and moral malaise. This stems from deep-rooted flaws in our political and bureaucratic systems.

— Arun Bhatnagar

New Delhi

The doctor is out

THIS refers to Anoop Misra’s article ‘Hasty prescription,Aamir’ (IE,June 23) on generic medicines,and Ravinder Kaur’s endorsement of Satyamev Jayate (‘Good at heart’,IE,June 23). It is easy to make broad generalisations in the air-conditioned comfort of TV studios. Policy changes are fraught with their own set of complications. Actor Aamir Khan has no expertise on the issues he grapples with on his show. We,as a nation,are bereft of ideas,and sport a lackadaisical attitude towards serious problems. No wonder such shows find so much success here. But it is high time we called their bluff.

— Abhishek Puri

Chandigarh

Centre cannot hold

APROPOS the editorial ‘Modi Vs Nitish’ (IE,June 25),the inherent weakness of the national parties is highlighted by the growing strength of regional leaders. The Congress depends on a family for leadership and the BJP depends on an organisation based on outdated ideas. Leaders within the fragmented opposition party cross swords with one another over any decision. Meanwhile,the Trinamool Congress’s Mamata Banerjee has become a symbol of protest. In Gujarat,Narendra Modi has been successful in projecting himself as a leader who can bring about development,even though the taint of Godhra has not washed away. His authoritarian attitude has made him enemies in his own party. In Bihar,the JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar has managed to establish the rule of law,spread literacy and accelerate the growth rate. These powerful regional leaders will no doubt have a large say in the formation of the next Central government.

— M.K. Mahapatra

Pune