"Investors Have To Be Reassured"

What makes you confident that your 13-party Government, dependent on Congress support, will be stable?

The Congress has offered unconditional support as long as some of the reforms initiated by them in the last five years are not totally reversed. The 13 parties in the coalition have decided not to insist on the implementation of contentious policies and programmes in their manifestos so that the basic foundation is undisturbed. So we are formulating a common minimum programme and setting up a steering committee involving all coalition partners to implement the programme and ensure relationships are not strained.

Will the Congress be part of the steering committee?

The Congress will not involve itself in the day-to-day functioning of our Government. But as the leader of the United Front (UF) I have assured the Congress president that I will carry all sections of the coalition without affecting the programmes of the Congress. I don't see any confusion arising here as the object of this Government will be to consult all parties and arrive at a consensus if there are any hitches. There won't be any unilateral decisions.

Twice in the past, the Congress has pulled the rug from under minority regimes. Narasimha Rao is expected to do the same once the Congress is confident of facing the electorate.

It was different in '79 and '91. Unlike then, we didn't run to the Congress seeking support. This coalition is the result of the people's mandate for a secular Government.

Won't the Congress' role amount to wielding power sans responsibility?

The voters have not found the Congress fit to be entrusted with responsibility. Neither did we get a clear mandate. But the primary concern is not whether the Congress or the Left will join the Government and be responsible or stay out and enjoy power. The primary concern is to preserve India's secular fabric and we are doing it.

But for how long will this remain the primary concern?

We can't afford another election now. At the same time, we must also find out the reason for the increase in the numerical strength of the communal forces. The increase points to some lapses on the part of secular parties. Like the internal differences in the Congress which led to people leaving the party and the BJP benefiting in states like Madhya Pradesh. Or the differences in the Janata Dal that led to an erosion of our base. We need to overcome our differences and formulate programmes to reduce the strength of communal forces. It could take two years or three, but only after we have achieved this will the time be opportune for elections.

Your coalition has many towering personalities. Is there a risk of your being pushed around?

One doesn't need to be an MP for several terms or a chief minister to understand the problems faced by the country's citizens. And politicians with a genuine wish to seek solutions to the problems will not have any difficulty in facing people with a long stint in national politics. Whoever be the persons, any difference involving them will be sorted out through discussion and consensus. And all of us realise we need to make compromises at some point or the other.

How did you establish cordial ties with Rao?

I don't deny that I have a cordial relationship with Rao. When I became chief minister, I had said party politics would not come in the way of maintaining cordial Centre-state relations. And I was able to establish and maintain a good rapport with Rao in Karnataka's interest. It was never done with the intention of gaining his support to become Prime Minister as I never even dreamt of crossing the borders of Karnataka. And I will not allow this relationship to be strained for any reason.

Does that mean you will protect him in the alleged JMM MPs' pay-off case and the St Kitt's probe?

Rao has never even mentioned these issues in our conversations. He seems to believe that the law will be left to take its own course. And I would like to make it clear that I won't indulge in political witch-hunting or victimise political opponents. This was my political opponents. This was my stand even when I took over as chief minister of Karnataka and I have stuck to it. Whatever happens in the country during my tenure is my responsibility and I shall be answerable to the people and their representatives. But I am not interested in wasting my time over what happened in the past. All ongoing inquiries, whether they are being overseen by the courts or other agencies, are not my concern.

Your stand has been that it was not the intention behind liberalisation but the implementation that resulted in the non-realisation of expected benefits to the people.

I realise I need to invest a lot of time and energy here. We need to eliminate bottlenecks. I need to study the working methodology of the system that involves cabinet sub-committees and such other bodies that create delays. We need to reassure investors about apprehensions they seem to have developed over investing here.

While the Congress wants its economic policies to be continued, Jyoti Basu has asked you to formulate a new economic policy. How do you plan to handle this issue?

Jyotibabu has asked me to continue attracting investment but keeping in mind interests of the labour class. There won't be any major change in the Congress' economic policy.

You are expected to come under strong pressure from the US on the signing of the test ban treaty.

Whatever pressures are applied, our decision will be based on the opinion of our coalition partners. We will examine the pros and cons of signing the treaty and take a decision.

How different from the Congress foreign policy is yours?

We expect differences when divergent views of the Congress and the Left parties are expressed during decision-making. But I personally feel there are no major areas where our views are so divergent that they cannot be thrashed out. All I have to say is that we will be very cautious in foreign policy matters as it is a very sensitive area.

The recent elections in Kashmir have been portrayed by the media as forced on the people. Will you go ahead with elections to the state assembly?

I am yet to study the ground situation in Kashmir. I will be able to take a decision on conducting assembly elections only after that.

Will you follow the policy of reconciliation initiated in Kashmir during the V.P. Singh regime?

It was not just V.P. Singh who followed a reconciliatory policy. Even Rajesh Pilot made similar efforts. Our decision will depend on how fruitful these efforts proved to be.

All eyes are on you regarding the strategy you will pursue to solve the Cauvery water sharing imbroglio. As Prime Minister, will you be able to remain neutral?

The interests of farmers of both states will be protected as we plan to solve the dispute through negotiations. There can't be one-way traffic here. Both parties to the dispute will have to live with the bounties and hardships that are part of sharing Cauvery water. And considering my selection as leader of the UF to become Prime Minister was widely welcomed in Tamil Nadu, I don't anticipate any suspicion in that state over my role in handling the issue.

The UF is very vocal about federalism. Which aspects of Centre-state ties are expected to witness upheavals?

We will consider the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission with all seriousness. States will definitely be made to feel more powerful since we plan to follow the Commission's recommendations on sharing revenue and resources.

As an MP, you fought for fertiliser subsidies. Will you now work to maintain the same subsidy levels considering the resistance from the World Bank and the IMF?

This is a country of agriculturists. We won't go back on our commitment to developmental issues just because there is pressure.