Reforms, not just heads, must roll

If the resignations of home minister Shivraj Patil and National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, delivered in quick succession on Sunday, serve any purpose, it is to show that our rulers are not entirely devoid of commonsense. They have read the public mood correctly. In the wake of the disastrous Mumbai terror attacks, almost everybody in the establishment failed in his duty - barring the men in uniform. The prime minister should not only accept the NSA’s resignation, but should be looking for more, especially in his party in Maharashtra. The chief minister and deputy chief minister have not exactly covered themselves with glory by making insensitive statements during the crisis.

But we need not fool ourselves that changing faces at the top will make any difference to governance at the centre or states. India’s misfortune is that it has consistently had governments that abdicate their responsibilities once the period of crisis is over. After Kargil, the government set up a committee to review the lapses and suggested remedies.
Little has been done. After every major terror blast, we have seen expert after expert talk about intelligence failure, and how we need to remedy that. But we have seen no follow-up action. We keep talking about police reform, but our politicians don’t want to let go of control over their police forces. The net result is an effete and pliable force that doesn’t know its job.

Manmohan Singh has made the right beginning by seeking accountability in his ministers and bureaucrats, but the public will not be fooled this time. A few heads rolling here and there makes no difference if the real issues of public accountability and governance are not addressed. Time to get a move on.