Senior Janata Dal (JD) leader Biju Patnaik has described the 13 constituents of the United Front (UF) government as a constantly quarrelling cluster of lobsters in a pot.
They are behaving immaturely, he has said. Known for his frank views, the irrepressible former Orissa Chief Minister says that the only thing that is keeping the 13 lobsters together is power, and nothing else. Otherwise, the coalition comprises different, conflicting ideologies. But still, he feels power will ensure that the coalition holds firm.
One man is trying to hold the coalition in balance, and that is(HD Deve Gowda's fortune or misfortune as you call it. It is not a very nice job for him. But, it is impossible to term him as anything but a man who is holding the balance together. Even then, these lobsters in what is called the steering committee fight among themselves, fight against their policies established by themselves, and this created difficulties, Patnaik said in an interview to be telecast by a private TV channel, Home TV, tonight.
At best, he said that West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu would have made a more colourful Prime Minister, but he would not have performed better than Gowda, given the lobster situation in the UF, he felt. Patnaik wants the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to join the government since the existing arrangement, according to him, cannot perform well: On a scale of 10, he would give no more than five to the Gowda government. If the Congress and the CPI(M) joined, the government would be strengthened not only for five years, but also for the next five years, he felt.
Patnaik chided Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan for often protesting against the government's liberalisation moves, mainly pertaining to disinvestment and opening up of the insurance sector. According to him, Bardhan is only posturing and should not be taken seriously.
Now look at the (West) Bengal government. They have allowed and entertained the multinationals in the state. So what is this Bardhan talking about that this should not happen or that should not happen? It makes no sense. He is only posturing. You cannot take him seriously..., Patnaik remarked.
He regretted that the UF constituents were making their differences public and alleged that they were doing so merely to appeal to their constituency. This led to the constituents putting their party or constituency before their government, which resulted in generating considerable concern among the people.
Patnaik said that he had questioned Union home minister Indrajit Gupta on the various controversial statements and quoted Gupta as saying that he needed time to adjust to being in government. I have never been in government, Patnaik quoted Gupta as saying.
Supporting the recent statement of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Pak Occupied Kashmir, Patnaik said that he had made a similar suggestion to Jawaharlal Nehru way back in 1962. He said that he had repeated the suggestion to Gowda during the Prime Minister's visit to Orissa. But, the Prime Minister preferred not to commit himself on the issue, he added.
Naturally, he has to keep quiet. He has to go to his steering committee, his bunch of lobsters. But, he was not against it by any means. He has not said one word against what Farooq Abdullah said or I said. But, even if he accepts it, the whole bunch has to get down to it, Patnaik remarked.
