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Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India.
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E-parliament
with the PM
A chat with Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India.
Chat conducted on Thursday, May 25, 2000,
between 1730 hours and 1830 hours IST.
Moderater:
Welcome to ITGO CHAT. Your opportunity to chat live and exclusively with
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Judging from the tremendous response
from our chat participants it will certainly be a thought provoking, enjoyable
and memorable event. Welcome to the chat Mr Prime Minister.
A
B Vajpayee:
I welcome you all to e-parliament. There are so many questions, I may
not be able to answer all of them. I hope you will not mind. Shall we
begin.
Prabhu Chawla:
Mr PM, since the Parliament session is over and there are so many vacancies
in the cabinet, do you intend to expand the cabinet and fill these vacancies
and induct new faces?
A B Vajpayee: Yes, I am thinking of reshuffling
the cabinet. Vacancies will be filled, some new faces will also be there.
This weekend is the schedule for the reshuffle. It may involve reshuffle
of existing departments. All parties may not be involved or affected.
It may involve some economic ministeries as well.
 Partheeban:
In my view the wide spread corruption is India's number one problem, which
halts development in every single area including education and population
control. What is the action plan from your side to considerably bring
it down?
A B Vajpayee: We are committed to fight corruption at all levels, whether it is political
corruption, or economic corruption. There can be no compromise with corruption.
Experience shows us that wherever there is a delay in the decision making
process or unlimited discretion in decision-making powers, there is corruption.
Therefore, we have been focussing on cutting back delays in the decision
making as well as implementing processes.
There has also been right-sizing of government, coupled with economic
reforms that minimises government interference. With these steps, we hope
to fight economic corruption effectively. We will also introduce a right
to information law that will bring greater transparency in the functioning
of government.
If you or anybody comes across any case of corruption, then please write
to the Anti-Corruption cell in the Prime Minister's Office which has been
effectively dealing with such complaints. You are also welcome to send
me direct messages through the mailbox in the official website of the
PMO: pmindia.nic.in
Santosh Bajpai:
PM Sir, How does your poet heart cope up with dirty politics?
A B Vajpayee: My poet heart gives me strength
to face political problems particularly those which are related to my
conscience. I have not written a single poem after I became Prime Minister.
I'm going to Manali next week. The heights of the Himalayas may inspire
me. One poem written in Manali is in my collection.
K
V Sridharan: When can we find a permanent
solution to the Kashimr issue and have cordial relationship with Pakistan?
A B Vajpayee:
We want peace in Pakistan. That is why I visited Lahore in 1999. We took
the initiative of starting a dialogue. Subsequently, you know what happened
in Kargil.
Peaceful relations with our western neighbours depends on Pakistan. Their
inherent hostility towards India must end. There is this feeling in the
Pakistani establishment that it will benefit from being anti-India. This
must end. The people of India want peace. So do the people of Pakistan.
But the ruling elite of Pakistan hardly wants peace. Disguising terrorism
as Jehad is unacceptable.
We
are prepared for talks. After all we restarted the talks in 1999. But
for resumption of dialogue, Pakistan must create the appropriate climate
for meaningful talks. Pakistan must put an end to cross-border terrorism,
honour bilateral agreements like the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration,
and maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control.
Raju:
Thanks to India Today for giving me an opportunity to ask Mr Prime minister
Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee a question. Sir, refer to all the crises which
we had to face in the last few years, Kargil, the AI hijack and now the
drought. In all these crisis we failed to anticipate these happenings.
Is it not right that the development of any nation, company or even a
single individual depends on how well they anticipate the future and be
prepared for the same. If yes, what are we doing for our nation in this
regard.
K V Sridharan: What are you planning
to do to improve the
a) per capita income of the individuals,
b) outstanding world class infrastructure and
c) educate people to use their judgment to elect the right people in future?
When do you think India can be one of the
top five or six economy in the world?
A B Vajpayee: The macro fundamentals of
the economy are sound. We have ended the year with nearly six percent
GDP growth coupled with modest inflation, low current account deficit,
a manufacturing sector growing at 11 percent and agriculture showing positive
signs. Our stable fundamentals augurs well for our sustained and diversified
growth as among the world's fastest growing economies.
Ramesh Babu:
What steps has the Indian government taken to unleash the promise of IT
to benefit India and the world at large?
A B Vajpayee: We expect India to be a major
IT power. We have the attitude and the skills which enable us to achieve
this. A new Telecom Act 2000 will be introduced based on the principles
of technological convergence. We will also take measures to resolve all
pending problems of basic and cellular operators. Tele-density will be
significantly improved. We will also create conditions for high band-width
connectivity for realising this objective.
Sushil Nema:
How you are going to eliminate poverty?
A B Vajpayee: To achieve a sustained high
economic growth and more than that to ensure that the fruits of development
percolate to all layers of the society, development with distributive
justice continues to be a high priority for us. We want to ensure a well
over 7 percent GDP growth to wipe out poverty, disease and illitracy.
To be eradicated in the shortest possible time. Economic reforms will
enable our latent energies to be fully realised. India would play and
occupy its rightful place in the global development process.
Jayachandran:
Mr Prime Minister, our salutations to your government for earning India
the respect she deserved amongst the international community, for the
first time since independence. Do you think that India would become a
permanent member of the UN security council in due course?
A B Vajpayee: India has a legitimate right
to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. India is gaining
support on this front.
Avinash:
Sir, why is the government not pushing ahead with the Sankhya Vahini Project?
India has a very good chance to leap frog into the future, why are you
not trying for its speedy implementation?
A B Vajpayee: A lot has ben written about
the Sankhya Vahini project. We took this decision after a great deal of
deliberation and with the approval of the cabinet. Some misgivings were
expressed. The communications minister fully explained the position of
government to both houses of parliament. If any fresh points are raised
we will consider them and act in the best interests of the country.
Noel Rodrigues:
Sir, what is your opinion about certain leaders from Tamil Nadu, who are
also members of the NDA, openly saying that they would like to see the
formation of Eelam?
A B Vajpayee: There are people who will
welcome the formation of Eelam through peaceful means and negotiations.
As far as the NDA is concerned, our stand is clear. We wish to see a political
settlement of the ethnic problem within the framework of the unity and
territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, which will also address the legitimate
aspirations of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka.
Sothi
Panjalingam: Dear Prime Minister, How
can India mediate between the Sri Lanka government and the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) while India is extending a ban on the LTTE?
A B Vajpayee:
As I have already mentioned, we favour an early settlement of the ethnic
problem in Sri Lanka. We would like to see a solution which will preserve
the soverignity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka while addressing
the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. We would like to
see an early end to the fighting and the resumption of dialogue between
the parties concerned. We are in touch with the government in Sri Lanka
and hope that they will move forward on a political package despite the
current fighting. There can be no military solution to this problem.
Prabhu Chawla:
Are you now ready to sign the CTBT and live in peace forever?
A B Vajpayee: As I have stated before, we
need to evolve a national consensus on the question of our adherence or
otherwise to CTBT. We have been consulting the political parties and we
will continue this process. The rejection of CTBT by the US Senate is
a complicating factor. Having conducted the nuclear tests in May 1998,
we declared a moratorium on further testing. We will continue to observe
this moratorium, because we are assured by our scientists that we do not
need any more tests in order to build a credible deterrent. In essence,
therefore we are already observing the main feature of CTBT.
Kiranmayi:
Does handing over the dreaded terrorists in Kandahar episode not give
the militants an impression of lenient India?
A B Vajpayee: I don't think so.
Prav:
What is the deadline in your terms for the promises you made during the
election? One such commitment was availability of drinking water for all
the citizens.
A B Vajpayee: This committment will be kept
in five years.
Seth Muthaian:
Hi! Who do you think is good enough in your party to lead the nation after
you?
A B Vajpayee: Whoever the party chooses.
Yeshwant:
What steps is your government taking to make itself more accessible and
transparent to the common man? Are you thinking in terms of passing a
Right To Information Bill, so that the common man remains informed of
all the government actions?
A B Vajpayee: The Right to Information Bill is ready and it will be introduced in
Parliament during the coming monsoon session.
Ayub Khan:
Dear Vajpayee Ji, I hope you are doing well now after the recent bout
of illness. Now for the question: What is your current stand on the Babri
Masjid issue. Are you going to allow VHP, Bajrang Dal and other associates
to go ahead with the temple construction?
A B Vajpayee: The case is in the courts.
The law will decide the issue.
Hritik Goel:
If you were the President of USA and Mr Bill Clinton would be the Prime
Minister of India and suppose Pakistan would attack India, would you too
help him how he helped you ? Irequest you to give reasons so that I, a
student of class-VI can understand.
A B Vajpayee: Yes, certainly I would help him.
Dinesh Kumar:
Is health so low a priority that India does not deserve a cabinet rank
Health & Family Welfare Minister?
A B Vajpayee: A ministry does not suffer
because of the rank of its minister. In any case, as far as the Minstry
of Health and Family Welfare is concerned, I am thinking of upgrading
this ministry.
Puli J Reddy:
Why do not you include compulsury military training of 1 year as a basic
qualification for all the employed? This will induce discipline in the
students and provide them necessary skills to face real life.
A B Vajpayee: It is a good idea. However I do not think that it should be compulsory.
Also, there is no need to make it military training, we can expand the
NCC for this purpose.
Mr Ejilan Ratna:
Mr Prime Minister when will you bring about the common civil code?
A B Vajpayee: The directive principles of the Constitution of India desires a common
civil code. However, this can be achieved only when there is agreement
across communities.
Hari Rao:
Why have the Lok Ayukta and Women's Bill still not been introduced?
A B Vajpayee: The Lok Pal Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill have already been
introduced in Parliament. Hopefully, both of them will be passed soon.
Vinod Sinha:
Sir, with the present growth in population of India, it is almost impossible
to solve the basic problems like unemployment, pollution etc. We have
very limited land, almost one third of China. With such limited resources,
we can never improve the condition of our nation no matter how efficient
our economic policies are. Why don't you take a strong step like China
took to control the population?
A B Vajpayee:
We are concerned about the runaway population growth of India. Population
needs to be stabilised for sustainable development. Bearing this in mind,
we have adopted a national population policy and recently set up a national
population commission. We hope to see results in the first decade of the
new century.
Amrita Budhwar:
Asiaweek magazine has recently named you as the ideal person to lead Asia.
What would be your dream Cabinet as the Prime Minister of Asia?
A B Vajpayee: While
I thank Asiaweek, I think what is more important than a dream cabinet,
is a cabinet that works. I would rather head a cabinet that works and
delivers on its promises.
A B Vajpayee:
Friends, thank you very much for joining me for this evening's online
chat. I am overwhelmed by the large number of questions. I hope we can
meet again over the net.
Moderater:
Thank you all for your response to this chat. It has been most interesting
to have the Prime Minister interacting with us all. Do join us again for
ITGO CHAT.
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