At least 12 ministers of India, including health, education and labour, resigned on Wednesday afternoon just before a mega cabinet reshuffle. All of them had to submit resignation letters specifically for their failures. Especially, the quick resignation of both health ministers (senior and junior) was the outcome of criticism over handling second Covid pandemic wave that killed thousands of people between April and May.
Besides, India’s labour minister paid for his poor handling of migrants and jobs crisis at home and abroad while education minister has shown the door for his bad performance to fix a guideline for students. Undoubtedly, it’s a big change in Modi’s cabinet after he sworn in power for second consecutive term in May 2019.
We’re not surprised seeing the mega change or revamp in Indian cabinet, as cabinet reshuffle is a routine work and it depends on desire of the Premier. There may be political or personal reasons for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mr Modi himself behind the changes.
Though Mr. Modi cannot deny his own responsibility about his failed leadership, what’s very significant is that the ministers who could not ensure pro-people services in need have paid ultimately. It’s called accountability. It is very much needed to take legal and other departmental actions against them, if any negligence is found on their side.
We cannot even think of such a step by the ministers in our country. Despite widespread criticism about poor handing of their respective ministries, no visible step was taken by the government high-ups to gear up the activities of some ministries including health, education, commerce and overseas employment.
The lawmakers of ruling and opposition parties recently have also expressed their annoyance in the parliament over failure of some ministers in tackling pandemic. But all these have failed to bring any positive change.
In Bangladesh, the Covid vaccination efforts have been hit hard after India halted Oxford Astrazeneca’s vaccine shipments from Serum Institute following a surge in new infections and a rising death toll in its own land. Our government was so short-sighted that it did not even think of any second option to manage vaccines before the Indians said no. At the eleventh hour, the health ministry took some initiatives but there is still a huge uncertainty over collection of vaccine.
The Finance Minister in his budget speech mentioned a road map that includes vaccination of country’s 80% people with inoculating 2.5 million each month. Our present population is approximately 18 crore. So its 80% means 14.4 crore people. If everything is okay, it will take around five (4.8) years to finish the vaccination programme. If vaccines are available for children in the meantime, then it will need a few more years for inoculating 100% people.
Anyone can understand how ridiculous and impractical plan of our government is. Our government is sending hundreds of kilograms of ripe and sweet mangoes to Delhi and other provincial capitals only to appease them despite halting of vaccine shipment.
It’s funny that government is depending on its ‘mango diplomacy’ hoping that vaccines would come from India in a short period. But we are damn sure of that – India will not export a single dose of vaccine before its need is fulfilled. Earlier, we saw how Hilsa diplomacy miserably failed to get Teesta water. Rather, they stopped sending onion next day after getting Hilsa.
For the failure of our government we even cannot say who is to be blamed for punishment. That is the mystery of our government. The government has no public accountability.
