Column : Shivirs of anticipation

A A

MK VENU: Jan 24 2013, 00:56 IST

How do you explain the relative ease with which the government is now taking tough economic decisions? In the recent past, it would have been unimaginable for this government to announce increases in diesel price gradually by R8 over the next 16 months. More so because India is scheduled to have general elections after 16 months. Strangely, the opposition to the diesel price hike over the next few months is also quite muted, relative to what one might have seen in the past. There have been no violent Bharat Bandhs announced so far by the BJP or other opposition parties. Suddenly UPA-II has decided to do all the right things without any regard for their “political repercussions”. So what is really going on?

This phenomenon can be looked at in different ways. One, it is possible that the opposition itself is a bit fatigued after raising its protest to peak level in 2011-12 over various economic decisions such as FDI in multi-brand retail, direct cash transfers and so on. The UPA successfully changed the political-economy discourse over the past five months by pitching controversial reforms, like direct benefit transfers, which have the potential to attack entrenched interests. This seems to be deliberate and is being done to a plan. Rahul Gandhi had hinted in his Jaipur speech that the existing system needs a serious overhaul. Besides, the Congress has decided that it must fully own up to some of the most disruptive instruments of governance it has created. The RTI legislation is one

... contd.

Ads by Google

Single Page Format

1 | 2 | 3 | Next

Sonia slams ‘shameful remarks’ on women, to work for gender justice FE Editorial : Too many messagesImpressed with Delhi helpline, Cong wants it in other states Consensus eludes Cong on Cabinet reshuffle

Previous Story Civil war ravages Syrian farm, infra sectors, says UN Next Story FE Editorial : Is global growth back?

Reader's Comments| Post a Comment

Be the first to comment.