New Delhi: Against the backdrop of opposition
by allies to various policy decisions, Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee on Tuesday conceded that the government had "limited"
mandate and would require consensus on major decisions
howsoever "strenuous and time consuming" it may be.
He said the government cannot ignore the views of others
and would have to carry everyone along on major decisions so
as to have lasting impact.
"I do appreciate your anxiety. Sometimes I wonder,
perhaps, in thought that this old man has a magic lamp or
magic wand and he can address all the contradictory situations
and bring out something which is acceptable to all of us. I
feel flattered," Mukherjee said in Lok Sabha while replying to
debate on General Budget.
"I feel proud when I see that this type of confidence is
there in me. But, at the same time, I shall have to keep in
mind the ground reality. The ground reality is that we do not
have the clear absolute mandate. Yes, we have a mandate but
that mandate is limited, which carries others with you," the
senior Congress leader added.
Mukherjee, considered the government`s trouble-shooter,
underlined, "we shall have to carry others with us. Others may
not share many of the decisions, which we consider necessary.
But simply I cannot brush aside their perception. However,
strenuous and time consuming it may be, I shall have to carry
others with us."
His statement assumes significance as some UPA
constituents like the Trinamool Congress has forced the
government to put on hold a number of decisions, including FDI
in multi brand retail and roll back hike in rail fares.
"It is because my ultimate objective is not to win a
school debate but to get things done through consensus, which
will have more lasting impact and exactly .. I am trying to do
this," Mukherjee said.
PTI
