Manmohan Needs Exit Excuse

Posted on June 26, 2011 by indra

I don’t know the right word that I should use for Manmohan Singh. I want to add the word as prefix of ‘shameless’ or ‘pitiable’. I didn’t hold a post as high as he holds. But in my professional life of almost39 years, and that too in private companies, whenever I felt that I was not effective, I didn’t cling and left the job.

How can a person of Manmohan’s background keep sticking to this high a position when he is not in effective control and when this sort of situation is harming the nation? He is neither elected nor does he control his party. How can his conscience permit him to continue, as Sonia for her own strategic reason can’t tell him to go? As one journalist summarized, “Warding off corruption scams, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seems besieged. Ministerial rivalries appear uncontainable. Congress’s electoral health in major states is critical and UPA II’s contract with the middle class is cracking.”

I was going through a news report in Hindustan Times early morning today. It made me feel miserable and I can just have pity for Manmohan. How could he keep on hearing Congress’ member after member accusing him of the mess that his government created in handling of Anna as well as Ramdev? And all that happened when Sonia, his mentor was sitting and listening and didn’t ask any of her sycophants to stop accusing the government. And finally instead of putting up his papers, Manmohan accepted his responsibility: “As the head of the government, I take full responsibility of all the decisions taken for dealing with the civil society,” Can any respectable person reacts like this and cling to his post?

Even the media is getting almost restless about Manmohan. Many of the columnists who were having so high opinion about Manmohan Singh few years ago as hero of 1991 with impeccable record of honesty and integrity, have started questioning if all that is good enough today.

Manas Chakravarty wrote an article ‘Lost but not found’ in Hindustan Times and expresses his anguish. “Who is the guy at 7 Race Course Road? Opinion is divided about him being a robot or a double.”

T N Ninan in Business Standard wrote with a caption, ‘PM-in-hiding’. His government seems to be ‘paralyzed by inaction, and tarred with the corruption brush. It is because Dr Singh has not been true to his instincts, and too timid.’ How can a country at this moment afford such a prime minister?

After many years Swaminathan Aiyar reminds Indians to give Narshimha Rao the due credit of the 1991 reform that has wrongly but totally gone to Manmohan Singh. If Manmohan could perform then, why couldn’t he do in last 7 years? Who stops him from making just one railway station of the capital of a world class standard in last 7 years? How can the people of India keep Manmohan excusing for not finding a solution from farmers’ suicides even after rich harvest because there is no one to buy it because of the government policies? How can the people allow the government to sleep while the growth rate slips away?

And the columnists have started providing the alternatives. One asks, ‘Will Pranab-da finally become PM?’ As reported in Times of India, ‘last Sunday, Digvijay Singh dropped a clear hint that the top job could now return to a Gandhi scion.’ And this Singh is supposed to be close to Rahul and Sonia, though I don’t know the reason for it. Is he the best in the Congress party? He has been given the freedom to make any statement about any person or party on behalf of Congress. Does he do all that without a silent consent from Sonia? Many a times it appears that these columns are being planted and paid to make Manmohan read and react, and oblige someone by friendly exit. Manmohan is not the best choice for Congress today to save itself.

How can a senior minister such as Chidambaram say that Manmohan would have spoken on Lokpal Bill? How can Pranab realize after going to meet Ramdev on PM’s instruction that he wouldn’t have done it?

Manmhoan must exhibit his statesmanship and get the esteem of the people back by taking an honourable exit.

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Kapil Sibal- Rhetoric, Hyperbole or Simply Bakwas

Posted on June 25, 2011 by indra

I don’t know if there is any law that can prosecute a minister that too a rising star like Kapil Sibal for spreading falsehood that he has been doing with all his vigour as the chief negotiator and the spokesman on the Lokpal Bill. If there is any why should not some activists go for a PIL? As soon as he took over the telecom ministry he came out with his ‘theory of zero loss.’ Why should he not be taken to task when so many highly placed people are in Tihar?

On Lokpal Bill Kapil came out with many arguments why can’t the office of the prime minister be put under Lokpal and finally he roared to impress the public at large-“Which PM in office anywhere has been prosecuted in the world?” Rajinder Sachar, a civil rights activist and the former Chief Justice of Delhi in today’s lead article in Hindustan times has replied to all his arguments. And that was the reason that I had been requesting the media to arrange a debate between two equals for stopping Kapil Sibal’s bakwas to misguide the common men and women of the country. Sachar writes, “Sibal (is) not being ably assisted by his public relations officer. Otherwise, he would have certainly been told about the present Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, being prosecuted before a magistrate on charges of corruption. Earlier, proceedings were started in France against the then president, Jacques Chirac, for misappropriation of public money.”

Sachar further exposes Kapil Sibal: “The near contempt of the people protesting against corruption was shown by Sibal when he compared Hazare “to the Pied Piper of Hamelin (see images)”. Interestingly, Sibal did not continue the metaphor as those in the story who followed the Pied Piper were rats and children who were led to drown in the sea. So much for the aam admi being the repository of the nation’s hopes.”

I wish every person interested in the issue of Lokpal Bill read Sachar’s article. And a person Kapil Sibal doesn’t deserve to be a senior minister. It is unfortunate that the government of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi are encouraging persons like Kapil Sibal and Digvijay Singh for a wrong cause. As many say, Kapil represents Manmohan and Digvijay Sonia.

And now Law minister Veerappa Moily has come out with another confusing statement: The government draft on the Lokpal Bill had been “evolved” after the nine meetings of the joint drafting committee and would be one considered for further consultations. The Team Anna draft was “at best a dissent note”

One can just pity with the strategy of this government and the leading political party whose general secretary openly threatens Hazare to face the same what Ramdev experienced.

As Anna group approached Advani to explain their stand in the process of involving all the political parties, unscrupulously, the Congress party is branding Anna as backed by RSS and BJP.

The country men must ask Congress a simple question- how does it matter who backs Anna or Ramdev? The people will back those who can find the right treatment of the cancerous corruption and eliminate the black money from the economy that is causing immense misery for the aam adami. If RSS and BJP are antinational that Congress keeps on projecting, why doesn’t it ban them?

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Is India Rich or Poor?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by indra

India is strange in many ways. Perhaps the question of it being rich or poor may not be right one. But as a person like me goes through various views about India as economic power or about its GDP and its growth, he gets more and more confused. According to an economic map of India, roughly shows Maharashtra GDPs to be comparable to Latin American nations but, per capita, closer to those of African states. What will be status of a state like Bihar and its people?

However, as reported, according to a World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management (MLGWM) and Capgemini, it is the second straight year in which India’s HNI population growth has been among the top 12, and more surprisingly, “India’s HNI population grew at 20.8 per cent to 153,000 compared with 126,700 in 2009.” The growth rate is the highest, higher than even China.

The country has appointed the Centre for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) in the University of Pennsylvania to count the Dalits who have a business of Rs 1 crore or more. Perhaps the reason for using an outside agency is to eliminate any bias of the domestic agency. So far, 500 or so have been profiled in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, the National Capital Region of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The number may look good but please remember there are 166 million Dalits in the country. But will it present a right picture? Will the agency also conduct a survey of Brahmins? In India, traditionally, a few castes were rich and engaged in business.

Indian government allows huge amount of grains to rot in open or in the Government’s shoddy warehouses (images). Neither the planning commission nor NAC that has fathered the Food Security Bill could neither find an amicable solution so that the grains instead of rotting reach the kitchens of several hundred millions of poor Indians nor decide a policy of right inventory management in last 50 years. Why should 65 million tonnes of wheat and rice at last count, be kept a buffer stock to meet eventuality adding to the fiscal burden through high carrying costs, apart from pilferage and quality deterioration? Why can’t there be a continuous process of export and import work and make good business out of the produce? With 65 million tonnes, are we not rich but hungry? With each passing month, every tonne of grain stored with the government would cost Rs 200 a tonne more. As reported, a part of the current wheat stocks is about three years old and on which the carrying cost is as high as Rs 7,200 per tonne.

How can a country be poor when an old-time auto manufacturer that currently makes only commercial vehicles launches a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in 2012 that will be positioned above the Toyota Innova and spends Rs 1000 crore for product development?

How can a country still remain poor when just one airline firms up its order for 72 planes making India the single largest buyer of the aircraft?

Why should not India take advantages of its strong areas in agriculture as clear from recent decision to export? As reported, the white sugar contract for August delivery at London fell from Wednesday’s closing price of $ 739.90 a tonne, following the news of India’s permitting an additional five lakh tonnes of exports – over and above a similar quantity for which the formal approval notification was issued on April 19.

Can India be a poor country when the empire built by late Sathya Sai Baba worth $8 billion besides the crores in cash and few more crores worth of gold and silver in his personal room? And how can we forget another billionaire in Ramdev, who may even be in the list of government’s BPL list?

And all this makes me believe the peptalk in the rounds of morning walk. “Mr. Sharma, can you guess how many employees in Noida authority are crorepati?” “Any IAS worth less than Rs 100 crore is considered a fool these days.” “The queen’s daily collection of booty from all over the state is Rs 700 crore.” “Amar Singh ran away with Rs 40,000 crore of Mulayam Singh.” Even today’s Hindustan, Patna carries a news of confiscation of Rs 48 lakh worth of properties of a clerk on its front page.

Can India be still called poor?

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Has Opposition been sidelined by Congress?

Posted on June 22, 2011 by indra

The whole country was discussing Lokpal, corruption and black money in last few months. But politically it appeared it as a summit of five ministers and five members of civil society belonging to Anna Hazare. Let me confess I did not know much about most of the members of Anna Hazare team, even Anna Hazare before his fast. There will be many like me. But over these months, the five have become nation’s icons.

Congress carefully and unscrupulously sidelined the opposition particularly BJP and leftists in this game on subjects of national importance. And there was hardly any hue and cry from them. They would have certainly demanded their inclusions. It was their democratic right.

The leftists were and are still demoralized with unprecedented loss in the recent assembly election, particularly in West Bengal. And since the disappearance of Atal from the active politics, BJP is confused without a clear head. Imposition of RSS nominated president has further damaged its creditability. It’s fighting its own internal war of Munde and Gadkari and issuing some totally nonsensical views such as one on the ailing Pakistani doctor.

Justice Markandeya Katju of the Supreme Court had requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release the Pakistani prisoner on “humanitarian grounds” under Article 72. Why should BJP oppose it? Why can’ it keep quiet?

BJP rather NDA under Atal had already done some work on Lokpal. It could have asserted its position publicly on the line coming from civil society at opportunate time. It would have deputed its best spokesman to counter Kapil Sibal’s endeavours to steal the show as sole hero fighting against corruption.

I don’t know how BJP will participate in all party meeting on Lokpal Bill that UPA is going to call. UPA will try to thrust its version, but will be more than ready to incorporate some suggestions from the opposition parties to make it look a strong Lokpal Bill and take it to the people as one of its trump card for cashing in on their votes.(Here are the links for both versions-Read: Team Anna’s draft of Lokpal Bill) | Read: Government’s version of Lokpal Bill)

BJP, the party wishing and waiting to win the next general election, must set its house right and deal with this bill in a manner that can make it more acceptable to the civil society and the mid dle class who wish it more than anyone else.BJP must take its position on Lokpal Bill seriously. Its position may make a big impact. Why can’t they make its stand on the issues that have created breakup of the talk between government and civil society?

I can say BJP has much better spokespersons on TV these days, unlike repulsive ones from Congress. BJP must make its presence felt on national issues but must not get allured to give its views on every petty issue. It is better to talk less even as politician.

Why can’t BJP decide about the person who will lead the nation in next general election or go for a small shadow

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News Channels Encourage Political Campaigning

Posted on June 20, 2011 by indra

Sundays are really bad for me. Most entertainment channels show crazy films or repeat of meaningless serials. However, I like two programmes on Hindi as well as English channels of NDTV- ‘Humlog’ and ‘We the People’.

But this Sunday I found Barkha Dutt’s replaying of ‘The Buck stops here’- an interview with Kapil Sibal who has singlehandedly taken the mission of projecting the members of Anna Hazare for the drafting of Lokpal bill as irrational and immature bunch of persons who hardly represent the civil society that they claim. Kapil Sibal had all the right answers for Barkha’s questions. On CNN-IBN with Karan Thapar, Kapil Sibal did the campaigning of the righteousness of the government’s proposal on Lokpal with the same aggression and enthusiasm.

I only question the anchors about the rationality of such a programme when the other side is not there to put up their views. For example, Kapil Sibal gave the rationale of not including PM and the high judiciary in Lokpal Bill narrating situations that can create problem for the country. For a lay man like me Kapil Sibal may be right. But then when I read the views of Santosh Hegde himself a judge, I appreciate the views of Anna group better. I am sure persons such as NR Narayan Murthy and many other have better understanding and they also vouch for the views of Anna team.

Why do the channel and the anchor invite a brilliant advocate such as Kapil Sibal to unilaterally campaign the government views at this juncture when the final meeting was coming today? Instead the channel could have asked Anna to send his representative to counter Kapil Sibal’s views. Alternatively, it would have invited some independent advocates such Ram Jethmalani or Harish Dave or someone else, if not Arun Jaitley on the programme, who could have questioned Kapil Sibal.

I wish the media design their programme to present views that help the people making their mind without any bias,

To me the prigramme looked like the long ad of Mayawati government that is being aired these says. Mayawati would have paid huge amount for the ad. Interestingly, Kapil Sibal and his party are getting it free courtesy channel ownerships for some unknown benefits.

However, I don’t think the government is going to agree to the views of Anna and his team, and will allow it to get the credit for coming out with an effective bill. All the ministers in drafting committee consider themselves supermen and have hardly any respect for the members of Anna team. Sonia’s curt reply to Anna’s letter replyimg shows her respect for any person who is on the other side.

I wish the people of India and aam aadami understand the conspiracy clearly.

PS: NDTV catches hold of Anna Team

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Manmohan vs. Sonia and Civil Society

Posted on June 18, 2011 by indra

All the maneuvers of congress leaders in last few days have come only for grabbing the credit of instituting anti-corruption bill called Local Bill that the country as whole saw going to the credit of Anna Hazare.

Even if Congress and Sonia don’t like Anna and Ramdev to get the credit of bringing the national issue of corruption and black money stashed by unscrupulous Indians in foreign banks, the countrymen are not fool to give the Congress the credit.

Looking back it appears that series of scams first demoralized the UPA 2 and then put the government on the defensive. PM appealed to Anna and then yielded to his demand to include members of civil society in drafting committee and that also through a notification. He could have requested Anna only for the matter of inclusions in act that they wanted. In case of Ramdev PM again took a childlike approach by sending four of his ministers.

As it is clear Somia and Manmohan have different views on many issues these days. After the airport flop attempt by Manmohan’s team, Sonia brought in party and Digvijay to take the initiative in her own hand. It was Sonia that made the Delhu police to go for midnight police operation against Ramdev that the whole country watched. Ramdev was crushed. All investigating agencies have gone after Ramdev. Digvijay Singh has suddenly become the most visible face of Congress. It was he who accompanied Sibal to Manmohan’s residence before the press conference of ministers in drafting committee after the meeting with the members of the civil society on June 16.

Congress first excluded the opposition, be it BJP or BSP, to avoid any credit going to them and invited social for the drafting committee to give an impression of accommodating the will of people. And now with many accusations against the members of civil society Congress wants to grab the credit to its own fold.

Congress must understand that civil society contributed significantly in the making of the Indian constitution. It’s necessary for any good government to take civil society on its side to get the menace of corruption and black money killed. Let the Congress not make it a game to build its own image just to win the next election. It’s not only its allies such as Mamata and Omar Abadullah but even the opposition must make to participate, contribute and share the credit to make the image of country regarding corruption respectable among global community.

Congress is keen to strip the duo-Anna’s team members and Ramdev of the tag of “civil society representatives”. It’s shortsightedness.

It’s unfortunate that the nation has not got the views of the trio- Sonia, Manmohan and Rahul, that is effectively ruling the country today through any address to the nation or televised press conference. Do they think themselves too big or are they afraid? Why should not the nation hear them in a debate on the issue of corruption and black money that is of critical national importance?
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Information: ‘Over the Years’ is my photo autobiography. You can click and access, and perhaps assess.

PS: As Shekhar Gupta of Express writes, “This has been a remarkably unique period in our political history, where three seniormost leaders of the establishment have not been speaking to us, the people, as a matter of policy and strategy. It is not working.”

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In China Beyond Litti-Chokha

Posted on June 16, 2011 by indra

It is nice that Nitish is visiting China. I have read few reports on his China visit in Telegraph. Calcutta. He had promoted Bihar’s Litti-Choka for long enough. It’s getting boring now. Every state has some cuisine like that. That’s the uniqueness of India. It may satisfy his ego and some sycophants may be keeping him elated. It’s not going to fetch much.

Let him have a feel of the rural China as Bihar lives in villages.

If China had done something unique to improve the quality of life of its rural population, Bihar or other states in India must emulate.

What are the rural industries that have grown in China to improve the local employment? NREGA rather MGNREGA can’t be an effective solution. Rural population must get useful employment through creation of jobs in villages. Some business models where some organized business enterprises outsource the work that can be efficiently and profitably done in villages must get evolved.

China has also achieved a great success in power generation through biomass. Can Bihar emulate some? Or for that matter, can Gyanesh Pandey open a branch in China? With Bihar becoming a major consumer, can Bihar be an attractive place for manufacturing of those consumable items or the machinery used in setting up those factories? Many years ago, some entrepreneurs from Bihar set up manufacturing plants for the equipment and machinery used in farming. Why can’t Bihar be a manufacturing state of the unique agricultural equipment and accessories?

Bihar’s farmers still lag behind in yield per unit of land. China has achieved much higher agriculture productivity. Nitish team must look into possibilities of collaborating with Chinese for improving the yield. As reported, ‘the yield of most crops in India is 20-40 per cent of the world’s best levels.India can increase wheat production by 30 million tonnes or around 40 per cent and double paddy production at the current levels of technology.’

There are many other areas that may help increasing the GDP of the state and provide employment to its people. One such thing may be to have a huge skill training centre for manufacturing techniques with help of the Chinese. The Chinese have mastered and improved some technologies. The leather sector may be another attraction for Bihar.

Mature Nitish and his team mustn’t get mesmerized by Chinese achievements and focus on the Chinese achievements that help the state become developed in real sense beyond spreading the attraction of litti-chokha.

I wish some reputed journalists from the state would have accompanied Nitish team to cover its visit in details on day to day basis. However, Nitish team must on return present a detail report of his China visit and the lessons from the visit for the benefits of the state. That’s the way it happens in corporate with good work culture.

PS: Nitish visits Chinese village
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Information: ‘Over the Years’ is my photo autobiography. You can click and access, and perhaps assess.
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Nation’s Holy Grail of Hopes

Posted on June 13, 2011 by indra

The circuses going on small screen and print media for quite some time now would have certainly damaged the image of the nation around the developed world. Most of the days, it had been disgusting to watch or go through it. However, there were some holy grails of hope for me. I shall like to share with the elite and young group of my readers.

‘Business Today’ has recently reprinted an article, ‘Innovation’s Holy Grail’ from Harvard Business Review that was written by C.K. Prahalad and R.A. Mashelkar and published in its July-August 2010 issue. It deals with a number of Gandhian innovations from India- disruptive business models of TCS, Infosys and Wipro that made India an IT power to reckon with; Asia’s fastest supercomputer in 2007 by Tata’s Computational Research Laboratories (CRL); Tata Motors’ Nano; Lupin’s drug development process; and EMRI’s world’s largest emergency management entity that handles 60,000 to 80, 000 calls a day and uses 2,600 ambulances to attend to 7,000 emergencies a day, saving 110 lives a day with help of 11, 00 employees.

New York Times published on June 2, a news report, ‘Organic Farming Finds a Growing Fan Base in India’ by AMY YEE. The article would have certainly raised the hopes of many of a good future for this business of farming. It’s really heartening that in a country like India and its most backward state, Bihar. I hear of organic farming even in remote villages.

India Knowledge@Wharton June 3, 2011 has a report on “2011 Innovation Tournament: Finding ‘A Novel Match Between a Solution and a Need’

The tournament judged three Indian entries as winner:

Best new customer-centric innovation: L3, for a new video encryption technology. Anil Gupte has patented the process and plans to market it through his company, K.E.E.N.

Best implemented sustainability innovation: Revolo, from KPIT Cummins, for a process that converts old automobiles into hybrids.

The “Hair Twister” team from India proposed a mat filled with human hair to clean up oil spills.

Many individuals and young entrepreneurs are helping to innovate the products that will be attractive worldwide particularly in Africa and Latin America because of its affordability. An old employee of Godrej developed ChhotuKool, a battery-operated refrigerator that can cool to about 20degrees below outside temperature priced at RS 3,200.

IIMs, IITs and many engineering institutes are incubating new innovative products that one day will change the quality of living for the common people at the bottom of the pyramid in rural and urban India. Anil Gupta of IIM, Ahmedabad has made a big difference with push for grassroots innovations covering every corner of India.

And how exciting it is to know the arrival of Rs 2200 laptop that will be given to the students of IIT, Rajsthan by June?

I also read about an engineering marvel in making that will be a pride of the nation: “When completed in 2016, the 1.3-km railway bridge over the Chenab will soar 359 meters above the river bed, 19 meters higher than France’s Tarn River bridge.”

All these news provide hope. I am sure the number of such innovations will increase exponentially in days to come. And India in real sense becomes product innovator. It will move to take over the leadership of hardware rather than limiting itself to software only.

I wish the scientists and technocrats work for innovating all the household appliances, be it an air conditioner or cooker or washing machine that runs on solar power.

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From Alto to Mini-Xylo: My Next Vehicle in Wishlist

Posted on June 10, 2011 by indra

I bought my Alto in 2000. It is wonderfully serving us. We are just two and senior citizens in all sense of the term. In Noida, it is difficult to live without a car. I don’t need a bigger or newer car. But the way Noida neighbourhood adds new models; one can’t but develop an inferiority complex. I feel like changing my car. But then what will be that car that I must go for as my next vehicle. I came across a news report that has allured me and I am eagerly awaiting some more information.

Images of Mini-Xylo

M&M is all set to launch a mini version of its popular car, Xylo. The trial production for the car has already begun in all likelihood at Chakan. I don’t want to buy if it be something like Wagon R.

I want the present Xylo cut from middle to shorten it. It must look strong and be powerful, preferably keeping the same 2.50 litre diesel engine with same tires. I wish it to be priced around Rs 5 lakh.

As I looked into Google I found a huge number of entries on mini- Xylo and also images.

In 1990s, I worked with Mitsubishi for Hindustan Motors for bringing Minica in India. Mitsubishi had a wonderful product in Mini-Pajero. As it seems it still survives. I had longed that Mini-Pajero (images) got manufactured in India. It was not a viable proposition. India didn’t have a market for that. Hindustan Motors had come with Lancer, but had dropped small car Minica. Later on Hindudtan Motors did also produce Pajero. But that was a high-end vehicle.

Will Mini- Xylo be of the quality that Mini-Pajero was or will it be better? A recent write up in Financial Express, Pawan Goel, President of auto division of M&M revealed that Goel had an internship in Hindustan Motors in 1972. Goel would have certainly come to me. Will he listen to my request to get my dream mini Xylo as I want it?

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Manmohan, Anna and Ramdev-My Views

Posted on June 8, 2011 by indra

Interestingly, Manmohan government is excessively proactive for avoiding any breakdown of law and order situation at Rajghat where Anna is holding a one day fast today against the midnight police excesses during the eviction of Ramdev rally of Ramlila ground on June 4. It has deputed more than thousand security men around the site of the fasting place near Rajghat. Why is it necessary? Unfortunately, the same government keeps on dragging its feet from taking proactive fast actions against very critical national issues, be it against the black money stashed in foreign banks or against rampant corruption or land acquisition issues.

Anna went for fast for the Lokpal Bill at Jantar Mantar. The bill is with government for many years. First the government hesitated. The movement gathered momentum and spread nationwide. Manmohan yielded to everything that Anaa demanded such as including the five members nominated from civil society by Anna in drafting committee. The government handed over the notification on the joint drafting committee before he gave up the fast.

Why couldn’t Manmohan show the same urgency for Lokpal bill that as he showed for nuclear power bill? I personally feel Anna’s group would have asked for the final draft from the government and got all its own points to make it effective and robust, integrated in it rather than joining the task of drafting it. Can Anna or the civil society do the same for all the bills of national importance such as land acquisition bill that is holding up the industrial development? Let the legislators do their jobs that they are paid for.

Having lost its stand in case of Anna, when Ramdev went for his protest rally at Ramlila maidan, Manmohan got nervous. He went out of the way and sent four of his ministers including Pranab Nukherji and Kapil Sibal to interact with Ramdev at airport itself. How did Pranab Mukherji agree for the same? The four Ms continued the negotiation and almost agreed for the demands of Ramdev. The most important of the demands were the declaration of all the black money in foreign banks stashed by unscrupulous people of India as national assets that must be returned to the national exchequer of India. None in India can disagree for that. Even the main opposition party went to the president demanding that. Why couldn’t Manmohan agree for that and take a proactive action by announcing an ordinance on it? It is unfortunate that Ramdev didn’t use the service of some of his knowledgeable disciples as advisors. He would have focused just on one issue of declaring the black money in foreign banks as national assets. But one can’t expect much from such persons.

Surprisingly, Manmohan’s government takes actions in such a manner that the unscrupulous Indians take proactive action and make the government actions ineffective. Let me mention the black money in Swiss Banks stashed by Hasan Ali that was estimated as $40 billion. After few days, the finance ministry reported it missing or reduced to just $1 billion. Once these unscrupulous persons come to know of the seriousness of the government, they take proactive actions. Many opine that the recent boom in real estate is due to the black money gushing in from the foreign sources that is really the money of Indians stashed there.

Let the government be proactive on national issues.

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