You Cannot Just Pick and Choose Your Swamy!
Sound public policy recommendations always come with critical riders; riders which should not be overlooked or discarded, especially if the public policy in question seeks to achieve revolutionary consequences. Only individuals with a balanced, broad, and perceptive mindset tend to appreciate the seriousness and gravity of riders. As senior BJP leader and world-renowned economist Dr. Subramanian Swamy (Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha) has pointed out on numerous occasions – when it comes to matters pertaining to macroeconomics, one must showcase a thorough understanding of its fundamental substratum that the general equilibrium system is. So the question is, does the BJP truly have the disposition to give him due consideration?
Amongst many, two of the most staggering examples in recent past where the BJP (read ‘the Finance Ministry’) accepted Dr. Swamy’s policy recommendations but overlooked his riders came during the infamous Demonetization of Nov 08, 2016.
Example one: Being the head of BJP’s Strategic Action Committee in 2013-14, it was Dr. Swamy’s team who had proposed the idea of Demonetization. But he had two important riders which the government overlooked – increase the circulation of INR 100 notes by six times and abolish individual income tax at least for a year. The government did neither.
Dr. Swamy has had to wait for years for others to acquire belated wisdom in order for them to comprehend his preaching.
Example two: When the government was under intense pressure due to poor implementation of Demonetization, Dr. Swamy had recommended allowing for a balanced yet punitive one-time compliance window – Let individuals declare and deposit 100% of their unaccounted old currency. The government must take 25% of it as a tax penalty, 50% should be locked in a 5-year bond at 2% interest rate, and the remaining 25% should be allowed to be withdrawn. Instead, the Finance Ministry chose to impose a 50% tax penalty, 25% of the amount in a 4-year lock-in period, and 25% withdrawal limit. The result? Enough has been said about the poor execution of Demonetization.
Time and again, the current government, to its own peril, have cherry-picked Dr. Swamy’s ideas instead of implementing them in totality. From his cautions to the BJP on office-bearing bureaucrats sympathetic to the Indian National Congress, to his ideas on how to boost the morale of right-wing cadre, Dr. Swamy has had to wait for years for others to acquire belated wisdom in order for them to comprehend his preaching. Dr. Swamy stood vindicated for his stance against former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan after the recent Nirav Modi led PNB Bank – Geetanjali Jewellers scandal; when late Jayalalitha was ultimately found guilty of misappropriation of assets; when the Gandhi’s were found prima facie guilty in National Herald case; when Karti Chidambaram was finally arrested for the INX Media case; and the list goes on.
You cannot pick and choose your Krishna. You must either accept him as is or not at all.
So, the question remains – does the BJP truly have the disposition to give him due consideration when he warns that re-election will become increasingly more difficult if the BJP only focuses on economic development? Given BJPs lack of intent / failures in bringing back black money, putting influential people behind bars, finding a resolution for article 370, implementing reforms in the quota system and education curricula, paying heed to the plight of Hindus in regions where they are in a minority, etc. in the last 4 years, they will only be judged by their economic performance during their term. Since their economic performance, to say the least, is debatable on both sides, one cannot be sure if this is a favorable or a detrimental situation for them to be in. Hence, it is fair to ascertain that Dr. Swamy’s unrelenting single-handed efforts will end up being a saving grace for the BJP, especially since we can expect to witness a logical end to some of his high profile court cases in 2018. Will the BJP again just pick and choose those aspects of Dr. Swamy that suit their agenda for the 2019 general election?
More than of political and electoral, Dr. Swamy’s pursuits are of moral importance. As is evident from the last 4 years, he seems to be the only leader of the BJP who has selflessly and resolutely adhered to NDA’s election manifesto. For matters related to the economy, he regularly provides inputs to the Prime Minister, despite being unfairly kept away from important positions in the government. For matters related to corruption and crime, he has high profile cases against the tallest opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor, etc. For matters related to Hindutva, he is in the forefront in the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case. For matters related to technology and innovation, he is one of the most sought-after intellectuals who frequently addresses prestigious educational institutes in the country. Only time will tell who ends up receiving the most political benefits as a result of his victories.
One of the first lessons that one draws from reading the works of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is that you cannot pick and choose your Krishna. You must either accept him as is or not at all. There is an inherent danger of falling into an abyss of delusion and blunder if you end up picking and choosing only those aspects of Krishna which serve you and make you comfortable, and discarding those which challenge you. This invaluable lesson can doubtless be applied also while electing and judging our contemporary leaders. One must either accept them in their entirety or not at all.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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Every law abiding, god fearing, righteous, sincere and honest citizen of India and NRI would support Dr Swamy. Dr Swamy you have the support of the above . Please go ahead with your fight for Dharma(Justice)
Good write-up and most of what is in my mind has been articulated well in your write-up. Seems every right thinking individuals feel the same on the treatment to Dr.Swami by this government. Probably he is following "karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana, Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani". We should all have this attitude towards development of the society.
It is really high time Mr Modi stops Speaking and starts Reading such articles and acting on them.Time is running out fast.
Dr. Subramanian Swamy is a hero
स्वामी भारतीय राजनीति के चाणक्य है. उनसे अधिक साहसी, प्रतिभाशाली, गतिशील और आधुनिक नेता इस समय भारत में कोई नहीं है. वे अतीत, वर्तमान और भविष्य के बीच का सबसे मजबूत सेतु है. वे परंपराओं का आदर करते है, नए ज्ञान विज्ञान का स्वागत करते है, और सरल से सरल शब्दों में आम जन तक सत्य की आवाज को पहुँचाने का माद्दा रखते है. देश के सर्वोच्च पद पर उनका नहीं होना, उनसे ज्यादा इस देश पर अन्याय है.
I have omitted to mention one vital point about Dr S Swamy in my previous two comments. That is, there are people who get distinction by virtue of the position they occupy. Whereas there are certain people, who bring honour to the post they occupy. With Dr Subramanian Swamy becoming Prime Minister of India, in very near future, the respect and prestige of the PM's position will stand enhanced significantly. I hope the author of the Article and editor of Pgurus Shri Sree Iyer would agree with my point of view.
Yes, I agree with Mr.Jayashankar, It is indeed the blessings of Periyava Dr Swamy could file cases against the mightiest. There is a saying in Tamil, ‘ Guru parka Modi punniyam’. Periyava advised him to have relations with Israel and the U.S. I also pray to Mahaperiyava that he becomes the Prime Minister of India very soon. It is the blessings of Periyava PVN could become the PM until his tenure even thought congress was in power BC and MC could not do anything. One day long back Dr Swamy told that I will send MC to jail, it has happened they r in bail.
So did Chandrashekhar have his blessings from Periyava to become PM. Only to betray his trust by declaring election against his command, and consequently faded away and died miserably afterwards.
Namaste Shri Ganapathi-ji,
Absolutely! Dr. Swamy's fearlessness is extraordinary! As an individual, no matter how insignificant, I am doing all that I can to enable him, because he totally deserves all our love and affection.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Warm Regards!
It is Dr Swamy's nature to give good counsel to anyone who seeks his advise without fear or favour or affection or illwill. Dr Swamy is the recipient of BENIGN BLESSINGS OF 68th SHANKARACHARYAA OF KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETAM Poojya Sri CHANDRASEKARENDRA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL - also popularly known as KANCHI MAHASWAMIGAL / MAHA PERIYAVAA in full. Kanchi Maha Periyava once told him that revolunationary changes in the Indian Society had been brought out by INDIVIDUALS like Adi Shankara, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, they all endeared the full trust, good will and affection of the people owing to their yeoman selfless service to our Nation, without any expectation of reward / recognition. The Kanchi seer had also advised Dr Swamy NOT to go after power and postion, instead power and position will come in search of Dr Swamy at his door step. That is the reason why Dr Swamy's face is NOT showing any sign of disappointment / disillusionment. He never goes after any one power and position for himself. His approach to Life is very simple MEN MAY COME, MEN MAY GO AND I WILL GO ON FOR EVER IN SERVICE OF OUR MOTHER LAND.
I wish and sincerely desire that BJP / RSS should Project Dr SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY as the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019. It is my earnest desire that I want Dr Subramanian Swamy to become Prime Minister of our great Country BHARAT VARSHA and I am sure this will happen soon. Dr Swamy possess the requisite qualification, experience and aptitude and he is a man of manifest competence and unimpeachable integrity. Nobody expected that Shri P V Narasimha Rao, who had taken Political retirement and was on the way to settle down in his hometown Hyderabad, would become Prime Minister of India, in the year May 1991. It happened. So, there is a special place reserved for Dr Swamy, in the annals of Indian history, for his immense service to our great Nation.
Namaste Shri Jayasankar,
Thank you very much for your comments! I agree, not many know that Dr. Swamy is so profoundly religious and how so many dharma-gurus have blessed him. He is a true Karma-Yogi with no attachments or fear. Also, it is my hope to see him as a PM as well. The man is too tall a person to even hold the finance ministry
Thank you again for your wonderful comments!
Mr. P. CHIDAMBARAM, Former Finance Minister used to quote verse from Tirukkural written by Saint Poet Tiruvalluvar in Tamizh. The BJP & especially Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi should be eternally grateful to Dr Subramanian Swamy for his sage counsel in running the affairs of our Country. Dr Swamy has given his sage counsel to the PM without any expectation. For Dr Swamy's benevolent attitude and sagacity, I can quote the following verse from Tirukkural, which applies to him eminently.
FOR NOTHING HAD, ASSISTANCE GIVEN, IN WORTH
SURPASSES EARTH AND HEAVEN .... TIRUKKURAL ENGLISH VERSION
SEIYAAMAL SEITHA UDHAVIKKU VAIYAGAMUM
VAANULAGAMUM AATRAL ARIDHU .... TIRUKKURAL IN TAMIL TRANSLITERATION
Namaste Shri Jayasankar,
Thank you again! It is unfortunate to see that the BJP has been mistreating the great man for such a long time. I cannot even begin to imagine how much Dr. Swamy can accomplish is he becomes the PM.
Warm Regards!
Dr Swamy is the one who stand by his word. He never takes double standard, that is why people don’t like him. He gives practical and pragmatic solution. He is a karma yogi
Namaste Shri Ganapathi,
Thank you for your comment!
In my personal view, there have been three great karma yogis in our itihasa: Lord Krishna, Chanakya / Kautilya / Vishnuguptaaya, and Dr. Swamy
Warm Regards!
Once when Dr Swamy was asked "who is your idol" .... he said ... Shri Krishna.