Post DeMo Narrative -4

The article titled "Who will pay for the sops" by Prof Arun Kumar of Institute of Social Sciences Delhi, (IE, 13th Feb 2019) shines light on the state of economy that helps connect many dots on the events of last few years. 

Almost nil data on the Unorganised Sectors of our economy explains the current buoyant-economy narrative of NaMo lead GoI. 

Prof computes from many private surveys that this part of the economy possible grew at 1%. There was no alarm as most of taxes are paid by organised sector. 

The NaMo game plan in DeMo adventure was then intuitively sensed; it is now clarified. He played the Janta by posing as Corruption Fighter, creating the spin of a very decisive and strong leader. 

Stuffing Banks with Cash for onward lending to Organised Sector and hoping that its growth (duly measurable) will raise his/BJP's electoral fortunes. And on top of that it immobilized the Opposition parties just before the crucial UP and Punjab Assembly Elections. 

The minor blip in growth figures was a small price to pay. Hats -Off to NaMo, again. 

But the severity of political backlash from down under was not computed. NaMo got scared /greedy and started playing with GoI institutions to massage the data. 

We are in for some interesting times 

(Please see my blog postings of Nov-Dec 2016)   

Humility & Our PM

We accept the People’s verdict with humility – PM Narendra Modi

Hindi heartland has unexpectedly (happily) delivered a message that “Hindu Muslim” game, is not the main game. 

NaMo struck a chord in 2014: we all loved him. Such a practical man! He will do well by us. And he did measure up in many ways. The side show of “Hindu Muslim” game though enjoyed by many was mistaken by BJP as the real game (it is not in the BJP manifesto 2014)

How should the “humility’ that he is professing now, in accepting the verdict of the electorate, find expression in reality? 

          He surely knows how, as he bowed at the steps of Parliament and called it the “Temple” and the Constitution as his “Holy Book”. 

Unfortunately, his conduct has not been in consonance with these expressed sentiments.                

How should he prepare for 2019?

Respect the Parliament by being present for at least half the days it is in session. Patiently listen to criticisms and respond in an even tone and manner, to create space for reasoned discussion.

Winter session and Budget session are the opportunities. NaMo can then be back in 2019.    

But will he? 

New Year –New Beginning

Fun and Puns 

Rahul’s coming of age augurs well for the Indian Public Life. Humour, in its many forms and avatars, seems to be inching towards center stage. His tweet including the videos : 

Office of RG

@OfficeOfRG

Dear Mr Jaitlie - thank you for reminding India that our PM never means what he says or says what he means. #BJPLies

Click on the link below and see the videos >>

Mr Jaitlie

Delicious !!

DeMo - NaMo is Arjun

DeMo  - NaMo is Arjun   

I apologize. I thought NaMo was an Abhimanyu whose economic adventurism will take him into a Chakravyuh.  It turns out that NaMo is Arjun in the art and science of Politics. He could only see the "fish eye" of upcoming election to 5 state assemblies. And did he pierce the fish eye !

The promised data on the quantum of SBNs- the old notes, returned to Reserve Bank of India, well, is still reserved. The data denied is data made irrelevant. The data must be damaging to the Political Program and public persona of NaMo. It is very likely that even the fake notes got converted into crisp new currency.

But DeMo was excellent politics: Any one questioning the economic logic was branded a "Desh drohi" "kaale dhan wala" etc. And trolls -the attack dogs- were let loose on them.

The thumb-sucks of NaMo brand of "patriotism" and "nationalism" were doled out on hourly basis and  lapped up by the adoring common man, aam aadmi, mango man. A few lives lost, many lives destroyed economically are not even a blip on the rising graph of Indian population or middle class. 

 

And NaMo won handsomely, in UP and Delhi, and thru back door in Goa and Manipur, setting new water marks of ruthlessness in Indian Politics and Public life. (Substitute Indira with Modi and 'Madam' with Modiji)  

I was wrong. The Abhimanyu - NaMo- was entering a Chakravyuh, so I thought, while his eyes were steadfast on the "fish eye" of UP, ably supported by Amit Shah.   

 Hats -off  Modi Ji.

Abhimanyu & Demonetisation

Everybody loves the story of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharata. This son of Arjuna and Subhadra was a young lad who knew how to enter a battle formation called Chakravyuha but did not know how to get out. 

The world is full of seductive Charavyuhas that enchant and entrap, young and ambitious but ill-prepared and valorous and impressionable Abhimanyus, who believe they can solve any problem in the world. 

The Abhimanyus find themselves choked because they bit off more than they could chew, unable to cry out for help.

Is Demonetisation the Chakravayuh into which Modi ji has lead his Government and India? His ministers are now spending hours going over strategies, editing them endlessly, preparing charts after charts, trying hard to mask their confusion and clueless. (Drawing courtesy Devdutt Pattanaik) 

Demonetization - Connecting the dots - Raghu Ram Rajan' Exit

There was pressure on R3 to reduce interest rate, to boost Growth, subtext being UP elections. It was widely commented then.

Similarly demonetization was discussed with him, in March 2016, as stated by the big-guns of Modi Government.

 But R3 was negative on both counts : "My name is Raghuram Rajan, and I do what I do"

Such independence of thought and action did not go well with the powers that be.  

PM' attack dogs were sent out - with absurd allegations - too absurd to deserve a response.

But R3 was hounded out : the attack dogs were rewarded.

Demonetization, 10 months in the works is and announced on 8th Nov 16, is turning out to be unmitigated disaster for mango men, while the ostensible targets are fine.

But Amit Shah will go into UP and Punjab elections with some advantage. 

Modi ji was doing many good things for the economy. Personally appreciated the Manager in him. 

He has blundered now, and we are in danger of losing him.