Editorial
MPs' tirade against ministers
PM should also heed public criticism
A number of ruling party MPs grilled some ministers at a parliamentary party meeting on Thursday. They accused them of unsatisfactory performance and their 'attitude' to MPs adding that if these should continue popular expectations would remain unfulfilled. The MPs' criticism was practically reduced to complaints of behaviour rather than any objective assessment of ministerial performances.
As it is, the MPs' observations needed to be taken with a pinch of salt because they have their axes to grind. Already, they have proved meddlesome in local government affairs with a given prerogative which has seriously impaired autonomy of the local bodies.
The MPs approach ministers and their deputies mostly for favours, either personal in nature, or for their coterie of supporters. To confuse these with service to general public or mitigating grievances of the poor, vulnerable and needy would be a downright blunder. Of course, the MPs and amenable ministers or state ministers would like to claim their efforts to have been entirely driven by impersonal or public-spirited motives. In reality, it is the nurturing of constituency with favours that is where there can be a conflict of interest between an MP and a minister or state minister. To be sure, there are ministers and their deputies who value reputation, credibility and professionalism above petty-minded expediency. It is this group who enjoy public esteem across the board.
So, whose criticism the prime minister should be paying heed to -- that of self-seeking insiders or the oft-expressed critical public opinion on a whole lot of messed up affairs voiced through media or other different forums?
The price spiral in the essentials market, the growing sense of public insecurity in the face of a surge in criminality topped off by impunity and lethal abuse of power, occasional financial hiccups, excessive foreign jaunts with no commensurate dividends, poor service delivery tainted by corruption and absenteeism are the elements of ministerial performances that have drawn most public criticism. The prime minister needs to be responsive to demands for mitigation, because at the end of the day, it is her performance and credibility that will have to stand public scrutiny.
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