Bhondsi meet may target economic policy

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI, MAY 24. The Government's economic policy is expected to be the target of attack at a day-long meeting on Sunday, May 28, at the Bhondsi Ashram residence of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Chandra Shekhar.

Over 100 ``intellectuals'' cutting across party lines have been invited to attend the meeting. Former Prime Ministers, the RSS Sarsanghchalak, senior leaders of the Left, the Congress Party and backward caste leaders like Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mr. Mulayam Singh are all expected to put their heads together and take a close look at what is happening on the economic front.

A discussion paper is expected to be circulated by Saturday among those invited. And it is understood that the idea is to come out with a common critique of some of the key elements in the Government's economic policy.

Sources close to Mr. Chandra Shekhar confirmed that the guest list included former Prime Ministers, Mr. V.P.Singh, Mr. Inder Gujral, Mr. Deve Gowda and Mr. P.V.Narasimha Rao, the RSS Sarsanghchalak, Mr K.S. Sudershan, and some leading lights of the BJP including the party general secretary, Mr. K.N. Govindacharya. From the Congress Party Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Rajesh Pilot are among those invited, and from the Left Mr. Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M) and Mr. A.B. Bardhan of the CPI.

Despite the smooth passage of the Finance Bill during the just concluded budget session of Parliament, it became clear that there was considerable political discontent among Opposition parties as also within the ranks of the ruling National Democratic Alliance partners in relation to Government handling of major economic issues.

Even within the major ruling party, the BJP, there is confusion on the issue of wholesale disinvestment, the hurtling towards globalisation without a plan in place to protect those who would be most hurt by it, and the lack of consensus even within the ruling alliance on cuts in subsidies on essential items like food for the poorest sections of people.

It seems that this initiative by Mr. Chandra Shekhar is part of the other political initiative he has taken of bringing former Prime Ministers on one platform to form a nucleus for a dream ``alternative.'' In fact, the theme of the Sunday meeting is `Vikalp hai,' an assertion that there is an alternative, a different path to economic growth.

What is significant is that Mr. K.S. Sudershan, the RSS chief, a sharp critic of Government economic policy, has been invited. But what was not immediately known is whether he would attend the Sunday meeting. However, Mr. Govindacharya, who has strong links with the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and is currently the BJP's man who attends all major RSS meetings, will be attending.

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