Fractured mandates make it difficult for govts: PM

NEW DELHI: Facing problems over implementing the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that competitive politics and fractured mandates make it difficult for governments to do what is 'manifestly obvious.'
    
"I must admit that given the nature of competitive politics and the very fractured mandates given to governments, it has become difficult sometimes for us to do what is manifestly obvious," he said addressing a meeting of McKinsey Board in India.
    
Though the Prime Minister did not refer to the nuclear deal, his comments assume significance in the context of strong opposition from the Left parties to the Indo-US Nuclear Deal which has virtually been put on hold.
    
It also comes in the context of Prime Minister reportedly telling leaders of his party and allies that he felt let down over lack of support to the deal from partners after the Cabinet had approved the agreement.
    
Expressing concern over wide inter-regional economic differences, the Prime Minister said GDP growth varied from three per cent to 10 per cent in states, although Indian economy was expanding by nine per cent over the years.
    
"We cannot afford to see this gap between our developed and backward regions to persist. And we are not yet seeing the catching up effect as should be the case," he said.
    
He said the capacity of state governments in a federal country to effectively plan and implement these programmes varied from state to state.
    
He stressed that the states know what needs to be done to sustain and further accelerate growth.
    
"While there is still an unfinished agenda of economic reforms awaiting our attention at the Centre, the real action will have to be at the level of states," he said.
    
Commenting on the public-private partnership (PPP),he stressed the need to use this model for successful implementation of social and human development initiatives.
    
A synergy between public support and private initiative can help multiply the productivity of resource utilisation.
    
Admitting that PPP model was still being tested in India, he said, "we have bravely, yet cautiously, sailed forth into unchartered waters... We may make mistakes. But we should learn from them."
    
Appreciating the role of McKinsey in setting up business school in Hyderabad and Public Health Foundation of India through PPP, the Prime Minister said organisations like McKinsey could help foster a culture of strategic and long-term thinking.
    
"You can help mould the thinking of our political class and opinion-making sections on these lines," he told the top McKinsey brass which had assembled for a Board meeting.