Modi govt. has its tasks cut out with the current shape of the economy
Hon.Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched the Saubhagya scheme in which every Indian household will be electrified by December 2018. At the launch of the scheme; the PM said, “In the working of the Government, all you can see is Garib Kalyan.” This statement can well be attributed to a left-leaning socialist leader.
However, only a few days back the Japanese PM visited India for the annual Indo-Japanese summit where several key agreements were signed. The most notable of all jointly developing the Bullet train project – The Shinkansen – between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The opposition raised much brouhaha on the Bullet train project which it projected like a white elephant only catering to the privileged. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had famously claimed a couple of years ago that a one-way ticket would cost Rs.75000/-on the bullet train but was deafeningly silent during the recent launch of the project indicating the public mood was completely in favour of Mr.Modi. Moreover, Modi government exhibited sound negotiation skills where-in the Japanese agreed to fund 81% of the total budgeted project cost of Rs. 1 lakh crore at an annual interest rate of 0.1%. Japan also provided a moratorium of 15 years which meant India doesn’t have to pay back the debt for fifteen years from the time the loan money is disbursed. Japan made an offer which India just couldn’t refuse and Modi grabbed it with both hands making it a historic deal and a win-win for both the nations.
Modi has once again successfully deflected the criticism on the adverse impact of demonetization and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) checkmating his opponents in this political game of Chess.
In yet another recent news, The new railway minister Piyush Goyal has indicated opening railway lines to private players which can very well turn out to be another landmark move by this central government. These instances clearly reflect Modi’s image as the development-oriented capitalist.
The Saubhagya scheme has once again caught the hapless opposition parties on the wrong foot and they have been left wondering whether to blame Modi for the sorry state of the economy impacted by the demonetization and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) or praise him for this pro-poor scheme “Saubhagya” where every household is promised free electricity connection. The timely launch of this scheme has punctured a big hole in the principal opposition; The congress’s claim of Modi running a “suit-boot ki sarkar” (government only for the privileged) now falls flat with very few takers.
Modi has once again successfully deflected the criticism on the adverse impact of demonetization and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) checkmating his opponents in this political game of Chess.
Elevating Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman as the first full-time women Defence minister have left the hapless opposition gaping for breath.
Decisions like nominating Mr.Ramnath Kovind for the President, Ms.Smriti Irani as the I&B minister who is not a favourite among the Lutyens media, elevating Ms Nirmala Sitharaman as the first full-time women Defence minister have left the hapless opposition gasping for breath.
The fact of the matter is Modi has usurped the Right, Left and Centre space of the political spectrum and pushed the tertiary opposition parties either far right e.g., Shiv Sena or far left viz., the Congress, TMC, AAP etc. The ineffectiveness of the opposition parties to challenge Modi govt. on facts paints a very sorry picture and underlines their fast-shrinking political space and relevance.
It would not be far-fetched to say that today the Opposition parties never lose an opportunity to lose an opportunity.
However, Modi govt. has its tasks cut out with the current shape of the economy. In a recent interview senior BJP leader and renowned economist Dr. Subramanian Swamy candidly warned how the economy was in a tailspin and would lead into a severe economic depression if corrective actions are not taken immediately. One hopes mandarins at the North block take this sagely advice professionally and undertake appropriate measures to get the economy’s pitch, yaw and roll – back in steady & control.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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