Modi needs a Vajpayee.

Modi needs a Vajpayee.

Commentators, including Ashutosh Varshney (IE.25/12), have missed the significance of Modi's win in Gujarat. Growth of Indian economy and the expansion of the middle class that happened after the liberalisation has whetted the appetite for more opportunities in the country. There is an escalation of aspiration especially among the young. They do not want freebees; they want opportunities to reach their aspiration. That is what Modi has provided in Gujarat. He invited industries. He provided power, industrial peace, road infrastructure, law and order, a non-rent seeking bureaucracy and the political class. This is what Shekhar Gupta says (IE,18/12). Modi  has changed the discourse of politics from identity politics ( both religious and regional) and freebees to development politics. Good governance in Gujarat has covered Muslims as well. It is reported that almost 25 percent of Muslims have voted for Modi which is as much as for Nitish Kumar. However, surprisingly, rather not so surprisingly, the commentators have still not changed the discourse. No doubt, his candidature for the top post in Delhi is likely to galvanise Indian politics. It is the commentators who need Vajpayee's wisdom which was expressed by him in a few words, 'country is more important than ideology'.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/modi-needs-a-vajpayee/1049766/

December 26,2012

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The insensitive state.

Insensitive state.

The brutal lathi charge, tear gas and water cannons used against the peaceful demonstration by students and youth of Delhi ( Injustice League at Raisina Hill, DNA,23/12), who were demanding better security for women, by police makes one wonder whether we are a democratic state or a police state. It was a spontaneous demonstration in response to the heinous rape in a bus, by the young who are afraid of their own safety. It was not organized by any party or any student union. Surprisingly, rather not surprisingly, no minister, not even a police officer met them to hear what they have to say. And we call ourselves a democratic republic. This is not the first time that the police and the elected 'rulers' behaved this way. Once they are elected, politicians behave like old rajas or sultans. The police at the instance of ministers put many hurdles when Anna Hazare organised meeting to mobilize people against corruption. Worse thing happened when Swami Ramdev spoke against black money kept in foreign banks. He and his followers were lathi charged at midnight when they were sleeping.

The insensitive nature of the state is also revealed by the report, " When VIPs around, 5578 cops protect 1.3 cr citizens" (DNA,21/12). Mumbai has a police force of 33,998 while the sanctioned force is 41,401. If the elected politicians are really representatives of the people, why do they need so much security ? No wonder rapes and murder are increasing but the detection and conviction rate are falling. There is an urgent need to sensitize the politicians and the police about the safety and security of the citizens. Media, citizens, NGOs and the corporates have to take up this issue at every level.

December 23, 2012.

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Politics without principles.

Politics without principles.

Kudos to Munjul ( Daily News and Analysis, December 8) for the
excellent cartoon on FDI in retail. UPA did not show the same
commitment for anti-corruption bill. Such a bill
would have thrown many politicians in jail. The move seems to be more
political than economic just as in the case of Indo-US nuclear deal.
Just like the nuclear deal, FDI may not fulfill the hopes raised by
the frantic effort to pass the FDI in retail. PM just want to get
approval from the New York Times, the Economist and the Time magazine
who derided him as 'under-achiever'.

It is not just SP, BSP and DMK but Congress in Kerala and NCP in
Maharashtra have reservations about the move. That UPA tried these two
moves by manipulating the majority makes one feel doubts about the
commitment of the Congress for the democratic norms.

Mahatma Gandhi had mentioned 'Politics without principles' as one of
the seven social sins. This is the best, rather the worst example, of
sociaI sin that Gandhiji referred to. I wonder how SP, BSP and DMK can
justify abstaining or voting for FDI in retail to the people and their
own followers after denouncing in same in their speeches in parliament
and demonstrating against it.

Multi-brand retailers such as Wall-Mart are famous, rather notorious,
for 'squeezing' the farmers as well as small enterprises and
'predatory' pricing for the consumers. A recent example was the fire
in a garment factory in Bangladesh where these brands access their
products with a very thin margin for the manufacturers who could not
afford proper facilities to their workers.

India has a very good example of milk co-operatives like Amul ( The
Gujarat Co-op.Milk Federation) which ensures fair return to the
farmers and fair price for the consumer. Similar effort by vegetable
and fruit farmers would have made India a pioneer in this field. Even
a co-operative by small traders could have been encouraged so that
nobody would be displaced. But this requires a visionary like Mahatma
Gandhi. It is easy to follow the beaten track set by the West which
many there decry for their greed and unfair employment practices.

December 8, 2012.

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