Modi's agenda: Why Prez Pranab's joint address in LS is important

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indians to think big with a renewed focus on “skills, scale and speed”, it is expected that when President Pranab Mukherjee addresses a joint sitting of Parliament today, he will focus on the new government’s vision to put India back on the road to becoming an economic superpower. Much of the speech could signal a clean break from the past, a jettisoning of indecision and policy and governance paralysis with a new focus on getting results.

Mukherjee will adress both Houses of Parliament at 11 am in the Central Hall of Parliament. Reports said the President will list the priorities of the NDA government, mainly ushering the economy on the path of fast and all-round growth, tackling price rise and inflation. The joint address of the President traditionally sets the tone for the government’s main agenda. A report in The Times of India calls it a “parliamentary device governments have used to articulate their assessment of the state of national affairs, as well as a statement of their intent”.

The Union Cabinet has already ratified the 35-page speech to be delivered by Mukherjee.

According to a report in The Economic Times , the president’s address will detail a roadmap to tackle the slowing of the economy, boost heavy investment in infrastructure and governance reforms.

Tying in with what Modi said in Delhi yesterday on the need for speedy decision-making, there will also be mention of zero tolerance towards corruption. The address will stress on “…streamlining government processes, especially in infrastructure projects, a prime reason seen as reason for slowdown of the economy,” the report said.

Modi has, over the past couple of days, detailed his own vision too, first with a 10-point list of policy priorities and then with a directive for all ministries to draw up their own priorities and discuss these with him. On Sunday, speaking at a book launch function organised by the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, he said he foresees a “tricolour revolution” for the country – a second green revolution, a white revolution for care of cattle and livestock amd a saffron revolution focused on solar energy.

During his speech, he also reportedly took a jibe at the slow pace of bureaucratic processes. A report in The Hindu said he wondered what fuel causes files to move so slowly, sometimes “in reverse gear” too.

Amid the renewed focus on results delivery and good, effective governance, the new government has already scrapped the Groups of Ministers and the Empowered Groups of Ministers, with Modi asking departments to take their own decisions on pending matters. A press statement issued by the PMO said this was a move to empower ministries and departments.

Issues pending before these EGoMs will now be processed by ministers and their teams, to expedite the process of decision-making and usher in greater accountability in the system, according to the PMO statement.

Measures to address other issues like putting the core sectors on the fast growth path and ushering in industrial development in the country, besides attracting foreign investment are also likely to figure in the President’s address.

Another aspect of the government’s priority agenda that will find mention in the address is the Ganga clean-up plan, a major thrust of Modi’s election campaign in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency.

The sudden spike in voter turnouts across the country could also find a mention in Mukherjee’s address, with a likely note on Indians continuing to celebrate democracy.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will have separate sittings 30 minutes after the conclusion of the address. The Secretaries General of both Houses will table a copy of the speech.

With inputs from PTI