Rahul Gandhi has expressed his (?) views on Indian economy and Modi in a brief article titled "Modi's reforms have robbed India of its economic prowess" in the Financial Times.
He rightly concludes that fear might have brought Modi to power but it will never create jobs and make our country fit for the 21st century or fix India's institutions. He has quoted CMIE's finding that 1.5 million Indians have lost their jobs in the first four months of 2017. The cause for India's present economic malaise, according to Gandhi, is the double whammy of Demonetisation and GST. He has also said that China creates 50,000 jobs every day whereas India creates only 500.
Figures do not lie. Gandhi has done well in referring to these numbers. However, he gets hoist with his own petard when he complains about emergence of "Licence Raj" because GST Act gives unlimited powers to officials. Has he forgotten, or is he aware, that it was his great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru who created Licence Raj in India. Rajaji departed from the Congress complaining that Nehru was creating "Licence-Permit Raj" and emasculating the economy. Socialism and bureaucratic prowess are not Modi's creation.
Gandhi also contends that disenfranchised workers voted for Brexit, Trump and Modi. He blames China's dominance in manufacturing for the plight of workers in other countries. Gandhi implies, but does not admit, that UPA under Manmohan Singh could not protect Indian workers from the China effect. But narrating this as the reason for Modi's electoral victory in 2014 is only a partial story. UPA voted itself out by its culture of corruption which Modi brilliantly exposed in a manner that the electorate would swallow hook, line and sinker.
Gandhi faults increase in connectivity for the rise of Modi who is characterised as a democratically elected autocrat. Reason for Modi's success is identified correctly but it is strange to complain against connectivity. Rajiv Gandhi who played a major part in IT revolution in India would be appalled by Rahul Gandhi's complaint.
There is also the customary Congress conclusion that Modi has damaged India by converting anger created by joblessness and lack of economic opportunities into communal hatred. Whoever wrote the article could have done better.
He rightly concludes that fear might have brought Modi to power but it will never create jobs and make our country fit for the 21st century or fix India's institutions. He has quoted CMIE's finding that 1.5 million Indians have lost their jobs in the first four months of 2017. The cause for India's present economic malaise, according to Gandhi, is the double whammy of Demonetisation and GST. He has also said that China creates 50,000 jobs every day whereas India creates only 500.
Figures do not lie. Gandhi has done well in referring to these numbers. However, he gets hoist with his own petard when he complains about emergence of "Licence Raj" because GST Act gives unlimited powers to officials. Has he forgotten, or is he aware, that it was his great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru who created Licence Raj in India. Rajaji departed from the Congress complaining that Nehru was creating "Licence-Permit Raj" and emasculating the economy. Socialism and bureaucratic prowess are not Modi's creation.
Gandhi also contends that disenfranchised workers voted for Brexit, Trump and Modi. He blames China's dominance in manufacturing for the plight of workers in other countries. Gandhi implies, but does not admit, that UPA under Manmohan Singh could not protect Indian workers from the China effect. But narrating this as the reason for Modi's electoral victory in 2014 is only a partial story. UPA voted itself out by its culture of corruption which Modi brilliantly exposed in a manner that the electorate would swallow hook, line and sinker.
Gandhi faults increase in connectivity for the rise of Modi who is characterised as a democratically elected autocrat. Reason for Modi's success is identified correctly but it is strange to complain against connectivity. Rajiv Gandhi who played a major part in IT revolution in India would be appalled by Rahul Gandhi's complaint.
There is also the customary Congress conclusion that Modi has damaged India by converting anger created by joblessness and lack of economic opportunities into communal hatred. Whoever wrote the article could have done better.
1 comment:
Your concluding remark is the height of sarcasm
Post a Comment