Well...that is my take on this..

I read somewhere that some economist of Indian origin employed by some European establishment has come down heavily on Dr. Singh’s government’s performance. I was a little surprised that this piece of article has come now. Where were these economists all these years? Anyway, I am a little happy that it is being noticed now. Dr. Singh would be, I have no doubt, a gentleman, an economist and academician par excellence and may be a good human being also. However, he seems to be a little more than this – either an astute politician with a very narrow mindset, who has preferred to compromise national interest for personal ones, tangible or intangible or he is an utter fool incapable of realizing that he has been used all the while as the public face of a puppet govt., whose ministers seems to have higher commitments towards their madam than the mask. Willy-nilly he compromised on the basic expectations from its roles and responsibilities entrusted to him as a constitutional authority.
In the process, he also seems to have forgotten his strongest, supposedly, personnel attribute, i.e. the economics. Nobody expected India to fare so poorly in the wake of the global recession and none ever dreamt that Indian response would be so reactive and abrupt. Talks of fiscal discipline, economic reforms, governance responsibilities etc seem to be forbidden in the corridors of present power house.
Foreign policy has been non-existent. Others like Taliban, US, Iran, even Iraq decide our policy. No surprise that India is again a hyphenated nation, with Pakistan. This perhaps is the most significant achievement of this cabinet.
Export of India's most effective bond – the IPL – by confidently accepting inability to provide security to players and spectators during the election time is the latest achievement of the internal security ministry. By the way, this ministry has already achieved something which none of the earlier govt. could achieve in the history of independent India, creation of a state within state of India. Today nobody dares to traverse the Indian heartlands without fear. Naxalism has spread to numerous states, while the team in Dr. Singh’s leadership was busy in finding how various steps taken by respective state govt.’s were at fault. This is perhaps the biggest achievement of this team.
Let’s talk infrastructure development. There is a dedicated minister for ports – he worked overtime to get this sea route opened with the acknowledged support of 20%-30% of population. As a result, the project has progressed within the conceptualization phase. It was a tragedy that he could not do any other work.
And, no body bothered to remind the rail ministry that they were not financial restructuring ministry. And, the minister was a little too busy travelling places to show his intellect.
The elections are going on and this person, with all respects wherever due, does not deserve to win. His team members deserve even less. We do not know whether Indian electorate would be able to understand that and show his proper place. He chooses not to discuss his performance in the last five years. He chooses to respond political challenges with personal accusations. However, one thing would happen for sure. His name would be mentioned in the history of Indian democracy as the one who led India to the past, as the ironical one who succeeded a visionary like ABV, who would be remembered for launching highways’ project, with vision to link rivers across the country and having the fearlessness of going nuclear against most of the globe. This PM would be the topics of various debates - his political intellect vis-à-vis his political honesty, a case study on how such a great academician could be so subservient to people with accidental political lineage but without an iota of intellect.

Turncoats

It's months since I have written anything on this blog. But this is something I could not resist writing on.

I remember the slogan of one of the teams in IT-BHU – Try beating us? Better join us. And, Indian politics is the best perpetrator of this slogan. It is often told - Politics throws up strange bed-fellows. Again, nothing exemplifies it better than politics in India and Indian parliamentary elections. What led to my realizing this now? Well…let me explain.
What is Shekhar Suman’s claim to fame? Political satire shows on various channels, especially copy cat act of Lallu. Right? What is he doing now? Contesting elections from Patna and that too on Congress ticket, i.e. from UPA, where Lallu is an integral part. So Shekharji is on the same side as Lallu is. However, he is not alone. In fact there is a more interesting example.
So, what is the claim to fame of Mr. Prakash Jha? Films Mrityudand and Gangajal right? And, was that about? Women empowerment in Bihar and somebody called Sadhu Yadav in Mrityudand, right. And, I hope no explanation would be required to understand to whom that Sadhu Yadav refers to. Anyway, this time Mr. Jha too is trying his luck in the elections and again from Bihar on LJP ticket, close partner of Mr. Lallu. So, here is another political convert. I wonder what could be so charming about Lallu that people turn head over heals. And, people like Mr. Jha turn from foe to friend. Or, there is more to this?
Shekhar Suman and Prakash Jha are perfect examples of what they say in hindi “thali ka baingan” (Brinjal in a plate) ya “bina pendi ka lota” (baseless tumblers). And, the irony is there would a few thousand electorate who would vote for them, either in their name or in their caste’s name and ensure that this breed of people/continue to grow.