The reaction was
predictable. The indomitable chief minister of West Bengal served a 72-hours’
notice on the prime minister for a role back. She also demanded scraping of
FDIs in the retail sector though the option of inviting FDI’s rested with the
state administration and Mamata Banerji reserved the right to shut the door to
foreign investors. Akhilesh Yadav of UP immediately endorsed the views of the
WB chief minister, his new found ally. For a change, Mayawati aligned herself
with Akhilesh, her bête noir.
BJP, the only other
major national party in the country, saw an opportunity to oppose, as it is
their sacred duty and immediately called for a bandh. It is a misfortune really
that the political parties in the country prefer to hit the streets instead of
debating the issue on the floors of the parliament. The parliament was of
course not in session at the time of announcement but they could have demanded
a special session. There will be a total chaos in the country in the
coming weeks and public life will be totally paralysed. But, who cares? The
political leaders do not.
A section of the media
has welcomed the proposed reforms. So did many of the leading economists. The
country cannot survive for ever on subsidies. A gradual withdrawal of the
subsidies has always been in the cards though the timing has been the bone of
contention. As for the FDI, the economic growth, after an unprecedented
upsurge, had slowed down significantly; hence a boost was badly needed. Unless,
drastic steps are taken the growth might trickle down to less than five percent
a nightmarish scenario for the prime minister.
The public has reason to
be angry. Though the need for reforms is appreciated by a good section of the
public, particularly the educated elite, there is a strong resentment due to a
frustrating phenomenon, the government seems unable to control. Over the last
few years, stories of one scam after another have been hitting the media, the
enormity of which has stunned the nation to utter numbness. The size of
the wealth syphoned off by a few greedy elected representatives has been so
massive that an ordinary person like me cannot even comprehend the damage it
has inflicted. Additionally, there have been reports of unaccounted money from
powerful Indian nationals stacked in Swiss banks.
People’s logic is very
simple. Instead of removing subsidies and risking the survival of small
traders, why can’t the government recover the wealth from the Swiss banks and
individuals that have been looting the country?
Reforms will not work
unless backed by honesty, integrity and transparency.
16 September 2012 
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