Fallacies of Congress arguments in Bihar

The Congress may have given it on a platter to Nitish Kumar in Bihar. For some time now, I have curiously noted the continued barbs by top Congress leaders over what they say continued central assistance to Bihar. “We have given so much money” has been the common refrain leaving one wondering if we must tell them the basics of the federal polity. Rather than making any impact with the electorates, this is only making the case of incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stronger.

Here is a gist of what I consider the Congress has been trying to argue – and since this is coming in an election time, it also becomes the key focus of their campaign: UPA Government led by the Congress has been giving away large sums of money to Bihar government and the latter has not been using it judiciously. The utilization of money, especially under UPA’s flagship programmes such as NREGA and NRHM, has been abysmally low. What is implied is that had Bihar CM Nitish Kumar taken care to spend the money the Centre has been “generously” sending past few years, Bihar would have turned into a paradise. Or is it so?

There are many apparent and hidden fallacies in the arguments and their implications being put forth and it may partly reflect Congress’s lack of touch with the compelling realities on the ground.

The most glaring fallacy is one of “giving” money. In a federal system, this is how development is supposed to be driven and the funds that are disbursed is not under the proprietorship of the party in centre.

Schemes like NREGA and NRHM are surely some of the finest development initiatives and will go a long way in addressing poverty and health concerns of large parts of rural India. Effective implementation of these schemes requires a robust institutional mechanism – bureaucracy has to be vigilant, people have to be aware, and legislature has to effectively monitor. The success of these programmes also depends on a compliant mindset.

It is no secret that large part of administrative systems in Bihar is in a wretched shape – lower level bureaucracy is loath to working, always sniffing for petty bribes and has inherited a legacy of indolence and indifference. Corruption has seeped in into the systems and nothing moves without passing a buck or two beneath the tables.  

Tardy implementation – I have referred to a Planning Commission 2009 note and the progress is not as poor as Congress would want us to believe – is a manifestation of much of these maladies that unfortunately have been ingrained into the DNA of Bihar. In much of the making of this DNA, Congress had played a critical role and today the party is either deliberately skirting over it or has turned hugely myopic.

For much of the formative years of Bihar – 44 years to be precise – Bihar was ruled by the Congress party and these years it gave Bihar 18 Chief Ministers while 2-3 non-Congress Chief Ministers were cronies of the party. This was till 1990 till RJD came into power and Congress’s honeymoon with power continued in Bihar. Many of Congress’s leaders including present Bihar Congress chief Mehboob Ali Kaiser were ministers in RJD government, which lasted good 15 years.

Since 1947 to 2005, for 58 years, Congress party had a direct / indirect role in governance in Bihar. They were also running a Bihar which was undivided – before Jharkhand came into being – and which had huge mineral resources which if exploited judiciously would have turned the face and shape of Bihar’s economy.

Out of blue, if Congress today pretends to be the savior of Bihar by generously granting Central Funds, nothing could be more fallacious and disgraceful than this. Sadly for Congress party, these arguments have failed to cut any ice with people in the streets and on fields barring perhaps some armchair journalists who are in the habit of gloating over figures, however divorced they may be from realities of the day.

I have lot of personal respect for Rahul Gandhi and his style of politics which has a tinge of honesty and freshness about it. But I get disappointed when his advisors prompt him into weaving such fallacious arguments into his election speeches. As a promising leader of the future he should have the wisdom to look at things into totality.

Rahul Gandhi should also know rhetoric don’t win elections – he should take a leaf out of BJP’s India Shining campaign and how the hollow barbs fell flat and caused the party embarrassing defeats.

Rahul Gandhi should address more compelling issues facing aam Biharis. He should be generous enough to claim irrespective of the party which comes to power, Congress would make concerted efforts to work towards development in Bihar. He should stand up and say his job does not end with sending Central Funds – Gandhi should help us make a blueprint for action. He should plan an elaborate skill upgradation plan for Bihari youth, should organize career camps, institute scholarships etc.

Congress comeback to Bihar is a Herculean task and Rahul Gandhi should know he has miles to go. Politics of rhetoric will not work, at least for now.