The political scenario in India is unbearingly depressing. Corruption, crime, greed, money laundering,blatant oppression of the poor, misutilisation of law and order. suppression of citizens' rights etc all point to a system of governance spiralling out of control. The saddest truth is that the media, in general, which has the power to expose such nation breaking acts and their authors finds reporting on inane and superfluous stories more rewarding! Sex surveys, alternative lifestyles, glamorous stories of the rich and famous;Bollywood gossips etc etc.take precedence over the real issues tearing the country apart!Even if an investigative story is taken on, there is no continued pressure on the offender/offenders. We have the HMV type investigating authorities who only listen to their master's voice and attack only those who their master despises.
We have a Agriculture Minister who is bent on global sporting recognition rather than solving mounting food problem. We have a pro active Home Minister whose hands are firmly tied behind his back by bumbling politicians , seeking vote banks rather than arrest growing Maoist threats. We have politicians of all parties resisting return of billions of ill gotten dollars from overseas havens because all of them have dipped their paws in the loot.Whatever progress India has made has been despite these politicians and largely due individual genius and nationalistic pride.Power corrupts and in India political power corrupts absolutely! Who will save India from the grubby hands of politicians and their faithful minions?

When Reliance went out of business of Petrol retail, they declared that they would work to kill the Petrol pricing before coming back in to business. They have succeeded in that and supine UPA govt agreed to its proposal. The idiot public was happy Oh we would remove subsidies and provide a level playing field. Now, when the result came out with increasing price they are crying. other option BJP is even 100 times worse it had the gall to privatize/ sell a river to a business!!!!

I am standing by my previous two threads that India’s worst enemies are own earthlings and they in turn will stop her from reaching her full potential. Indian earthlings should have gone back to the leaves of history books and learn how Japanese people have lifted their country from smithereens to prosperity after the Second World War. Then again it will be onerous tasks with Indians are divided on caste, creed, languages and cultural diversities. Okay, bring Mother India down and live poorly ever after.

This will be my last post for the time being because I will be away from my home base.

Where does 3% of Indian GDP go to?

ANS : WOMANS DEVELOPMENT!

What about education? It receives a pathetic less than that!

It SHOWS the PRIORITIES of Manmohanomics

1. From where will the government pay for all subsidies and populist policies? 2. Agriculture is becoming non-viable due to increasing labour costs so there will be increase in agriculture produce till it becomes viable again. 3. good that fuel prices are increased so that people use more of mass transit. less pollution less congestion and less accidents.

Couldn't agree more DC, NEW YORK

India is going in for a BILLION DOLLAR fighter plane procurement when more than 40 CRORE INDIANS are facing 'inflated food prices". Excessive TAX is being collected on PETROLEUM products to fund "such stupid expenditure". The procurement is all the most foolish considering the fact that all the fighter planes purchased after 1971 is being "DUMPED" with out having been ever used in a CONFLICT. More importantly, the world will not allow NUCLEAR ADVERSARIES to fight each other. But the nation does not have funds to provide soldiers/ police men fighting terrorist with proper BULLET PROOFS. That is present INDIAN GOVT for you.

If arming with sophisticated weapons could ensure the integrity of a nation, USSR would have never broken up. Happy citizens are the corner stone of healthy nationalism.

It is pretty easy to raise our voice with all the free market ideologues defending petro price hikes, as long as we individually do not face the trying situation of fellow Indians. Some of us living outside India can really lecture on the benefits of market based petro pricing regime because we will not suffer like India's ordinary citizens.
For some strange reasons, Indian governments ( both NDA and BJP) shifted their focus from basic livelihood issues while shifting focus to building an international profile. It may please us NRIs seeing our country being given more respect in the international arena. But isn't that a sham?
When a fast growing nation is collecting more in tax revenues, can it not spend more on ensuring basic food items at affordable prices? Or is it more important to spend a billion dollars in building infrastructure for Afghanistan for strategic reasons? Or is it necessary to spend crores on something as inconsequential as a Commonwealth game?
Can we not postpone defence spending instead of pushing a fuel price hike at a time when food inflation is still not contained?
Is our priority to build an international profile based on smart advertising or is it our priority to improve living standards of more number of people?
The choice is ours.

It is pretty easy to raise our voice with all the free market ideologues defending petro price hikes, as long as we individually do not face the trying situation of fellow Indians. Some of us living outside India can really lecture on the benefits of market based petro pricing regime because we will not suffer like India's ordinary citizens.
For some strange reasons, Indian governments ( both NDA and BJP) shifted their focus from basic livelihood issues while shifting focus to building an international profile. It may please us NRIs seeing our country being given more respect in the international arena. But isn't that a sham?
When a fast growing nation is collecting more in tax revenues, can it not spend more on ensuring basic food items at affordable prices? Or is it more important to spend a billion dollars in building infrastructure for Afghanistan for strategic reasons? Or is it necessary to spend crores on something as inconsequential as a Commonwealth game?
Can we not postpone defence spending instead of pushing a fuel price hike at a time when food inflation is still not contained?
Is our priority to build an international profile based on smart advertising or is it our priority to improve living standards of more number of people?
The choice is ours.

>> What has achieved by the Bharath Bundh?

>> Apart from some fuddy duddy, useless and corrupt opposition party politicos had their inflated egos massaged, hike in patrol price remains the same, as it should be.

Agree.

>> the cost to the Indian economy is staggering-to the tune of about 13000 crore Indian Rupees.

This is what I don't understand. Sure, there is some cost to the economy, due to lost productivity of a day. But then, does each holiday, including the weekends, cost us that much? Anyone know how FICCI or similar bodies come up with these figures?

SCARIA VARGHESE

But just you watch how Congress jumps and reduce fuel price in an years time after DMK loses Tamilnadu, Trinamol loses West Bengal, JDU/BJP combine retain BIHAR and may be even LDF GOVT retain KERALA during state elections in 2011. The Indian POOR have an uncanny way of teaching arrogant political parties a lesson they will remember- Mr Indira Gandhi, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, Mr Vajpayee have all experienced it.

SCARIA VARGHESE

What else can the AAM ADMI do when the elected GOVT become "dictatorial"??? The food inflation is 17%- cost of RICE has gone up from Rs 15/- to Rs 35/-. The increase in cost of DIESEL will push up the cost of RICE by atleast another Rs5/-. What do you want the POOR 40 CRORE people of India to do??? STARVE or commit suicide???

The GOVT has other options as under

1---Reduce the tax on DIESEL and the lose suffered by oil companies will be neutralized.
2---Increase TAX on new DIESEL VEHICLES less those used for goods/ public transport.
3-- All DIESEL CARS be made to pay an additional TAX of Rs 20000/- per year and other DIESEL VEHICLES less those used for goods/public transport be made to pay Rs 40000/- per year and the GOVT can collect at least Rs 4000- 6000 Crore as TAX. It will have the added benefit of reduction of number of "more polluting" DIESEL VEHICLES on the road.
4-- Taxation at 2 and 3 will neutralize the lose of revenue the Govt will suffer due to reduction TAX of DIESEL.

But the CONGRESS GOVT which claims to be AAM ADMI GOVT will not do it. So what do the people do???

What has achieved by the Bharath Bundh? Nothing, the cost to the Indian economy is staggering-to the tune of about 13000 crore Indian Rupees. Apart from some fuddy duddy, useless and corrupt opposition party politicos had their inflated egos massaged, hike in patrol price remains the same, as it should be.

"Go ahead and bring Mother India down. Some of the most irresponsible earthlings and they in turn elect some of the most fuddy duddy..."

Earthlings bring down Mother India? Ha ha ha ha. What is his "beef" with Earthlings that he abuses them in two posts? Who is this outer space alien from Australia? Is he from the heavens of the advanced West? Was he born there or did he emigrate? Scaria, who are you trying to scare yaar?

What can ordinary people do against such Congress Governance.

1--- The Indian farmers are paid Rs 9.50 per Kg as procurement price of wheat but Congress Govt imports (RED)wheat at Rs 15 per Kg from Australia. (Hay Wheat produced by White Man is more expensive than those produced by stupid Indians)The imported RED WHEAT was found unfit for human consumption and was converted to "cattle feed" and sold off at Rs 4 per Kg. The BIGGEST JOKE is that the very same "cattle feed wheat" was converted to ATTA and was eaten by Indians. That is the MAGIC OF CONGRESS RULE. Make Indians worst than cattle.
2--- Sugar imported at Rs 16 was allowed to be "horded" in PORT WAREHOUSES (so that NON-CONGRESS STATE GOVTs do not confiscate the horded sugar) till prices went upto Rs 40 a Kg (in six months time) to make huge profits. That is "MANMOHANECONOMICS" for you.
3-- If Indian farmers are given Rs 13 per Kg of wheat as procurement price they would produce all the wheat essential for India. But CONGRESS Govt wouldn't do it. Similar is the situation in Sugar cane price too.

YET CONGRESS is elected repeatedly and MANMONHANECONOMICS is cheered- by minorities to keep out BJP.

Outlook raised a pertinent problem of current public apathy towards the economic and social issues. In fact this development will affect the future of the society and polity in India. Like problem, the explanations are also complex, and may be traced to 90’s.This decade was the path setter of Indian polity as well as the economy which we are witnessing today. The real public issues were replaced by the emotive Mandal and Mandir issues by the political parties through vigorous campaigns on one side while on the other side the country subscribed to new economic policies without much discussion on the public forums. The emotive issues are still on the top of the agenda of major political parties while faded in public thinking. The political parties preferred these issues because such issues hardly require any intellect and vision, only caste and religion is enough to lead particular thinking and party. Just to prove that these issues are still in the centre stage of public life, they have devised different methods of public gatherings like arrangement of free vehicle, food and some cash amounts. On one side people became habitual of some freebies for rally, demonstration etc on the other side political parties disconnect from the general issues as BJP is for Hindutva, Samajvadi and other such brands for minority, Communists for labourers, BSP for schedule caste, regional parties like DMK, BJD, Trinamool for local aspirations so nobody for general issues like inflation, agriculture and international issues. After 90 almost all the political parties enjoyed power in different formation at centre and supported the new economic policies which are the source of present economic scenario as inflation is merely a symptom of the globalised economy. The role of so called intellectuals and media also created confusion among the society as they hardly play the neutral role, one noted economist in editorial proved that petro inflation will bring prosperity as production was increased in 70 and 80 when the price of petro products were hiked. Now Bandh are merely organized to strengthen the hierarchal system of the parties and anybody may observe the eagerness and efforts to show their faces to the party high command. The set drill is people gathered at 11 after breakfast on some busy road/track, slogan shouting for the preparation of stage, arrival of the big leader who may be party president or president of frontal organizations escorted by ticket seekers, arrest of leader, and drama by ticket seekers pre agreed use of limited force,click of media cameras and then arrest of these ‘workers’.

What can a people say when they have reproduced so much that it is hard to count the citizens let alone plan and provide for them. I know there are reasons for the population , etc, but hey the government is us! what do you journalists think, that we cant reason that much??
Some governments have thought that illiterate people are stupid people, and have fallen out power because they did; looks like your reporters are following in their footsteps! Indians have sound commonsense and know when it is their own fault. That is why there is silence!

UPA
Congress Ka Haath Aam Admi Ke Saath- Use Kabr main pahunchane ke liye.
Garrebi Hatao-Garibon Ho Hatao Garibi Khud Hat Jayegi.

NDA
India Shining-Naha Dho Ke Chamakte Raho log kuch saal bad khud hi vote de denge kuch karne ki jaroorat nahin


Common man is silent but what can he do. He has say only once in five years and at that time too he has no choice. When he begins to think while pushing button on the VM he finds that every candidate of every prominent political party is contesting election for his own personal gains. None I must repeat absolutely none is there in the list of contestants from any major political party who intends to serve people. Every contestant wants to rule the people and ruling class only works for the welfare of ruling class. Common man only gives vote once in five years whereas wealthy persons gives money with every deal and almost on daily basis. In such circumstances for whose benefit the politician will think. For the man who gives him an intangible thing only once in five years or those who gives them tangible comforts of life on daily basis. Moreover the common man can be befooled easily by keeping him happy just six months prior to the election. Those being ruled have to do some hard thinking to find a solution. May be such circumstances may have forced some of our country men to rebel against our chosen government who are being branded Naxals, Maoists etc etc. If our governance continues to be irresponsible day is not far off when we may see civil war like conditions and parallel governments is most part of India.

SCARIA VARGHESE

Just see the photographs with the article. For such Indians who are more than 40 Crore in India, "TWO MEALS a day" is more important than everything in life and even GOD is secondary to FOOD". If you have doubt FAST for "ONE DAY" - from morning 6AM to night 10PM, drink only water and then at 10PM see what would be your priority??? That is the condition of YOU who is assured of food next day and for 365 years a year. But the POOR CRORES who go without food in India are NOT sure when will they get their next meal- there is NO SOCIAL SECURITY as it exists in developed countries. For these people MILLIONS- politics, politicians, nation etc are last in their mind. The decision to HIKE FUEL PRICE- especially of DIESEL tantamount to "SNATCHING FOOD FROM THE MOUTH OF STARVING MILLIONS OF INDIA" and it has been done by Congress Party and Dr Manmohan Singh.

Go ahead and bring Mother India down. Some of the most irresponsible earthlings and they in turn elect some of the most fuddy duddy , incompetent and corrupt politicians and what more India need.

well said batraji. andthis govt. will ensure no energy ever remiains. its a very insesitive govt.gives on;ly slogans like garibi hatao andaam admi ke saath.garibs have increased by leaps and bounds and aam admi is also in running to join bpl.

“The reason of people’s silence is straight & simple – Protest needs Shouting, Shouting needs Energy, and Energy needs Food – but where’s the Food?”

silent waters run deep and beware the fury of silent man. old sayings but say more than a book.

captalists hoarders andpoliticians of mainly congressibreed have ganged iu to loot the nation.wheneever cngress inpower aam admi has suffered.but now their grief has gone through the roof.well mannmohan and sonia a silent fury is building up,

wonder why Scaria Verghese who passionately believes India is going to part of the big league and enjoy double digit economic growth is in Australia.

"Dr. Manmohan Singh who has single handedly catapulted India to the big league."
SCARIA VARGHESE

When ever MMS has been in Govt- as Finance Minister in early 90s and a PM now, inflation has shot up making the poor 35% of Indian population "destitute". In the absence of any social security as obtained in developed countries, when the cost of rice increased by more than 133% from Rs 15 to Rs 35, the poor of India have no option but "go with out FOOD". PM's economic assists the rich in India which has more than 35 Crore POOR and have commenced measuring economic progress of the nation by the "number of CARS being sold".

The increase in cost of DIESEL will push up the cost of all "FOOD ARTICLES" by at least another Rs 5-10 per Kg and more poor will go "without food". The increase on cost of DIESEL could have been avoided Firstly by reducing the TAX on DIESEL and Secondly by imposing a TAX on all DIESEL VEHICLES except those used for public transport and Goods Transport. But Dr MMS will never impose TAX on CARS because then the "number of cars being sold" will go down thus affecting the economic indicator of growth prescribed by CONGRESS PARTY and MMS.

Inflation is the predictable outcome of a fastest growing economy, India’s case the second fastest growing economy in the world. Government can control demand driven and cost pushed price movements resulting in inflation over time. Disruption of the economy by calling for strike and Bandh is sheer lunacy.

The forthcoming Bharath Bandh is another stupidity of the opposition parties to bring India on her knees. The proponents exhorting for the Bandh are living in a fantasy land and petroleum products are imported and should have parity pricing commensurate with that of world pricing level. We have a market driven economy that catapulted Indian economy into the big league. Yesteryears Licence Ray that had subsidised everything to the tune of millions Rupees to the determent of the Indian exchequer, the proponents of the Bandh is romancing with the yesteryears and it is unsustainable at present. Moreover, the proliferation of cars on the roads and the attendant problems-congested roads, alarming road deaths and injuries and emission of alarming rate of CFC into the atmosphere-necessitate patrol and car prices should be at an exorbitant level to prevent people from obtaining cars. Of course, petrol price hike will be corollary for inflation and the government has to have to proper tools to curb inflation. There is no magic wand to wave to obliterate inflation instantaneously. It can only be done over time.

How long can an elected government remain inactive while these thugs have their sway and on a killing spree of CRPF men often? I have said umpteen times that the Indian military must be deployed on a search and kill mission to obliterate these thugs with no mercy. These days I refrain from responding to blogs on Outlook India because I am disgusted by what is happening in India. Through Indian satellite TV channels, I have been watching events unfolding in India on quotidian basis and that are nothing to be proud of and plenty to be ashamed about for an outsider Indian looking in. I have always hoped that India has the potential to become an economic superpower that approximates the military superpower. Now I can say with no shadow of doubt that it won’t happen because of India’s earthlings, by and large, are her worst enemies, notwithstanding her traditional enemies-Pakistan and China who are ready and willing to pounce on her at the right opportune time. Democracy is the bedrock or the foundation on which the superstructure and the rest to complete the Indian edifice. The chaotic things that are happening in different part of India with politicos of governments-central and states- are, by and large, mired in corruption and indifferent to good governance. People by and large are taking democracy for granted and engaging in activities that are not conducive to India’s march towards superstardom: superpower status. The agitation followed by destruction of public properties for separate Telengana state was only a tip of the iceberg. Kerala is the loadstar of what is wrong in India. There quotidian Bandh and Hartal and the attendant destruction of public properties, not to mention inconvenience to the public, to say nothing of loss of production, these thuggish behaviours are not going to help India’s cause of double digit economic growth needed to alleviate poverty and improve standard of living of her earthlings. Again, there rule of law in tatters-various mafia groups are holding sway and hired killers are on the rampage, killing people are on the rise, environmental vandalism has reached to the zenith, filth is piling up at various metropolitan cities resulting in affliction of various kinds of fever, afflicted people are crowding at various public hospitals for treatment while the health minister, in charge to make sure to alleviate their suffering, is in America and enjoying herself as akin to the yesteryear Roman emperor Nero was fiddling while Rome was burning.


In other states things are not as bad as in Kerala and not good either-Kashmir is buffeted by terrorists’ insurgency well over two decades aided abated Pakistan, Assam is having militant insurgencies and other neighbouring states are having similar problems. All the other states are also having problems of their own.


What more can I say? Corrupt politicos and irresponsible Indian earthlings are Mother India’s worst enemies and she is weeping. I am lachrymose as well at the plight of India.


In the midst of all these gloom and doom, the news- of Indian Rupee has catapulted to big league of other International currencies like US and British Pound- has brought joy to me.


In conclusion I have to doff my hat off to Dr. Manmohan Singh who has singlehandedly catapulted India to the big league. He did his part to lift India from a certain economic abyss and other fuddy duddies of Indian politicos and other irresponsible earthlings of her are hell-bent to stop her from reaching the full potential.

A socialist government with capitalist politics. The people have chosen it and it performs for them. What else do the people want?

Inflationary wage policies both in the private and public sectors must contribute to the problem.

The main reason behind the 2 to 3 X price rise in India for staples is simply that production has not kept up with the money supply which has primarily benefited the IT community and traders around them. India has far too many Cambridge - trained do - nothing elitist Economists and Planners but too few people with street-smarts & guts. Compared to Commie / ultra - Capitalist China, dear old India - the so called " largest democracy " is no better than a Latin -American Banana Republic !

What the Govt. of India needs to do urgently is to engage in crash program to boost Agricultural production, control flood / drought, improve rural roads / IT & micro-loans, build basic housing all over using local entrepreneurs. The corrupt cliques ( Marwari / Gujrati / Tamil ) who control Delhi and various State capitals must be bypassed.

And the upwardly mobile middle class who are so self centered and merely ape what they watch over cable TV must not be allowed to hijack the national agenda. They need to be reminded that they still live in a country with 60 % of the worlds poor & destitute.

Oh...Montek keeps saying that the prices will come down with a good monsoon! Message is clear...only God can help the so called 'aam admi'

The only beneficiary of fuel price hike is AMBANIS whose "closed" petrol pumps can be re-opened.

Petrol price hike will not hurt the poor as much as the price hike of Diesel. The poor people of India do not enjoy any "social security" unlike in developed countries and so the hike in DIESEL PRICE will hurt the poor most- they will starve. There are better options for the the Govt with out increasing the price of DIESEL.

Withdraw all Tax on DIESEL so that the oil companies do not lose money. Thereafter TAX all DIESEL VEHICLES except those used in "goods carrying" and "public transport" . All private Diesel Cars, buses, vans etc should be made to pay a fixed sum every year based on their engine capacity. It can be easily implemented by directing the Insurance Companies to collect the amount and deposit to Govt. Since all vehicles on road has to have minimum THIRD PARTY insurance and the same is to be renewed yearly, it would be easy for the insurance companies to collect the TAX from non-goods carrying/public transport vehicles. An added advantage would be that the number of diesel vehicles, which are more polluting, on the road will go down.

Rising prices are world phenomena.Poor people are suffering most but they are helpless.They know what kind of leaders of opposition party.Thousand time they experienced them.Leader of opposition parties are cheaters,they never fulfil their dream,so why should they participate their Bandha?

The dream team can be mighty proud of what they have acheived. After all one measure of success is how high something rises. By that yardstick, the prices are sky high and the dream team can justifiably be proud.

The most heartening fact is that even in times of economic stress, families continue to set aside money to give their children a good education.

Our government has got its priorities in a knot. Agriculture, which directly or indirectly provides livelihood to over 70% of our population, is being grossly neglected in favour of IT, Service and the manufacturing sectors, solely to please greedy businessmen. Of course, it also does not help that our Union Agriculture Minister is more involved with the IPL and ICC than in the affairs of our farmers. Maybe this only goes to show how much the Government cares for the agricultural sector. There is nothing being done to curtail the growth of our population, which is stretching all our resources to the maximum. While our rich keep indulging in all the "Super Power India" hyperbole, our poor struggle for one square meal a day. It is starting to look like France in the 17th century or Russia before the Revolution. I hope the 'Audible Silence' of our poor is not the calm before the storm, though the thought of some of our leaders being guillotined by our poor is a rather pleasant one.

The Silence of the Netas could be due to "Delhi Belly"?? (as at least one common strand amongst the motley politicos is 'ab dilli dur nahin'!)

The Silence of the Netas could be due to "Delhi Belly"?? (as at least one common strand amongst the motley politicos is 'ab dilli dur nahin'!)

Our government has got its priorities in a knot. Agriculture, which directly or indirectly provides livelihood to over 70% of our population, is being grossly neglected in favour of IT, Service and the manufacturing sectors, solely to please greedy businessmen. Of course, it also does not help that our Union Agriculture Minister is more involved with the IPL and ICC than in the affairs of our farmers. Maybe this only goes to show how much the Government cares for the agricultural sector. There is nothing being done to curtail the growth of our population, which is stretching all our resources to the maximum. While our rich keep indulging in all the "Super Power India" hyperbole, our poor struggle for one square meal a day. It is starting to look like France in the 17th century or Russia before the Revolution. I hope the 'Audible Silence' of our poor is not the calm before the storm, though the thought of some of our leaders being guillotined by our poor is a rather pleasant one.

The most heartening fact is that even in times of economic stress, families continue to set aside money to give their children a good education.

The dream team can be mighty proud of what they have acheived. After all one measure of success is how high something rises. By that yardstick, the prices are sky high and the dream team can justifiably be proud.

Rising prices are world phenomena.Poor people are suffering most but they are helpless.They know what kind of leaders of opposition party.Thousand time they experienced them.Leader of opposition parties are cheaters,they never fulfil their dream,so why should they participate their Bandha?

The only beneficiary of fuel price hike is AMBANIS whose "closed" petrol pumps can be re-opened.

Petrol price hike will not hurt the poor as much as the price hike of Diesel. The poor people of India do not enjoy any "social security" unlike in developed countries and so the hike in DIESEL PRICE will hurt the poor most- they will starve. There are better options for the the Govt with out increasing the price of DIESEL.

Withdraw all Tax on DIESEL so that the oil companies do not lose money. Thereafter TAX all DIESEL VEHICLES except those used in "goods carrying" and "public transport" . All private Diesel Cars, buses, vans etc should be made to pay a fixed sum every year based on their engine capacity. It can be easily implemented by directing the Insurance Companies to collect the amount and deposit to Govt. Since all vehicles on road has to have minimum THIRD PARTY insurance and the same is to be renewed yearly, it would be easy for the insurance companies to collect the TAX from non-goods carrying/public transport vehicles. An added advantage would be that the number of diesel vehicles, which are more polluting, on the road will go down.

Oh...Montek keeps saying that the prices will come down with a good monsoon! Message is clear...only God can help the so called 'aam admi'

The main reason behind the 2 to 3 X price rise in India for staples is simply that production has not kept up with the money supply which has primarily benefited the IT community and traders around them. India has far too many Cambridge - trained do - nothing elitist Economists and Planners but too few people with street-smarts & guts. Compared to Commie / ultra - Capitalist China, dear old India - the so called " largest democracy " is no better than a Latin -American Banana Republic !

What the Govt. of India needs to do urgently is to engage in crash program to boost Agricultural production, control flood / drought, improve rural roads / IT & micro-loans, build basic housing all over using local entrepreneurs. The corrupt cliques ( Marwari / Gujrati / Tamil ) who control Delhi and various State capitals must be bypassed.

And the upwardly mobile middle class who are so self centered and merely ape what they watch over cable TV must not be allowed to hijack the national agenda. They need to be reminded that they still live in a country with 60 % of the worlds poor & destitute.

Inflationary wage policies both in the private and public sectors must contribute to the problem.

A socialist government with capitalist politics. The people have chosen it and it performs for them. What else do the people want?

Inflation is the predictable outcome of a fastest growing economy, India’s case the second fastest growing economy in the world. Government can control demand driven and cost pushed price movements resulting in inflation over time. Disruption of the economy by calling for strike and Bandh is sheer lunacy.

The forthcoming Bharath Bandh is another stupidity of the opposition parties to bring India on her knees. The proponents exhorting for the Bandh are living in a fantasy land and petroleum products are imported and should have parity pricing commensurate with that of world pricing level. We have a market driven economy that catapulted Indian economy into the big league. Yesteryears Licence Ray that had subsidised everything to the tune of millions Rupees to the determent of the Indian exchequer, the proponents of the Bandh is romancing with the yesteryears and it is unsustainable at present. Moreover, the proliferation of cars on the roads and the attendant problems-congested roads, alarming road deaths and injuries and emission of alarming rate of CFC into the atmosphere-necessitate patrol and car prices should be at an exorbitant level to prevent people from obtaining cars. Of course, petrol price hike will be corollary for inflation and the government has to have to proper tools to curb inflation. There is no magic wand to wave to obliterate inflation instantaneously. It can only be done over time.

How long can an elected government remain inactive while these thugs have their sway and on a killing spree of CRPF men often? I have said umpteen times that the Indian military must be deployed on a search and kill mission to obliterate these thugs with no mercy. These days I refrain from responding to blogs on Outlook India because I am disgusted by what is happening in India. Through Indian satellite TV channels, I have been watching events unfolding in India on quotidian basis and that are nothing to be proud of and plenty to be ashamed about for an outsider Indian looking in. I have always hoped that India has the potential to become an economic superpower that approximates the military superpower. Now I can say with no shadow of doubt that it won’t happen because of India’s earthlings, by and large, are her worst enemies, notwithstanding her traditional enemies-Pakistan and China who are ready and willing to pounce on her at the right opportune time. Democracy is the bedrock or the foundation on which the superstructure and the rest to complete the Indian edifice. The chaotic things that are happening in different part of India with politicos of governments-central and states- are, by and large, mired in corruption and indifferent to good governance. People by and large are taking democracy for granted and engaging in activities that are not conducive to India’s march towards superstardom: superpower status. The agitation followed by destruction of public properties for separate Telengana state was only a tip of the iceberg. Kerala is the loadstar of what is wrong in India. There quotidian Bandh and Hartal and the attendant destruction of public properties, not to mention inconvenience to the public, to say nothing of loss of production, these thuggish behaviours are not going to help India’s cause of double digit economic growth needed to alleviate poverty and improve standard of living of her earthlings. Again, there rule of law in tatters-various mafia groups are holding sway and hired killers are on the rampage, killing people are on the rise, environmental vandalism has reached to the zenith, filth is piling up at various metropolitan cities resulting in affliction of various kinds of fever, afflicted people are crowding at various public hospitals for treatment while the health minister, in charge to make sure to alleviate their suffering, is in America and enjoying herself as akin to the yesteryear Roman emperor Nero was fiddling while Rome was burning.


In other states things are not as bad as in Kerala and not good either-Kashmir is buffeted by terrorists’ insurgency well over two decades aided abated Pakistan, Assam is having militant insurgencies and other neighbouring states are having similar problems. All the other states are also having problems of their own.


What more can I say? Corrupt politicos and irresponsible Indian earthlings are Mother India’s worst enemies and she is weeping. I am lachrymose as well at the plight of India.


In the midst of all these gloom and doom, the news- of Indian Rupee has catapulted to big league of other International currencies like US and British Pound- has brought joy to me.


In conclusion I have to doff my hat off to Dr. Manmohan Singh who has singlehandedly catapulted India to the big league. He did his part to lift India from a certain economic abyss and other fuddy duddies of Indian politicos and other irresponsible earthlings of her are hell-bent to stop her from reaching the full potential.

"Dr. Manmohan Singh who has single handedly catapulted India to the big league."
SCARIA VARGHESE

When ever MMS has been in Govt- as Finance Minister in early 90s and a PM now, inflation has shot up making the poor 35% of Indian population "destitute". In the absence of any social security as obtained in developed countries, when the cost of rice increased by more than 133% from Rs 15 to Rs 35, the poor of India have no option but "go with out FOOD". PM's economic assists the rich in India which has more than 35 Crore POOR and have commenced measuring economic progress of the nation by the "number of CARS being sold".

The increase in cost of DIESEL will push up the cost of all "FOOD ARTICLES" by at least another Rs 5-10 per Kg and more poor will go "without food". The increase on cost of DIESEL could have been avoided Firstly by reducing the TAX on DIESEL and Secondly by imposing a TAX on all DIESEL VEHICLES except those used for public transport and Goods Transport. But Dr MMS will never impose TAX on CARS because then the "number of cars being sold" will go down thus affecting the economic indicator of growth prescribed by CONGRESS PARTY and MMS.

wonder why Scaria Verghese who passionately believes India is going to part of the big league and enjoy double digit economic growth is in Australia.

captalists hoarders andpoliticians of mainly congressibreed have ganged iu to loot the nation.wheneever cngress inpower aam admi has suffered.but now their grief has gone through the roof.well mannmohan and sonia a silent fury is building up,

silent waters run deep and beware the fury of silent man. old sayings but say more than a book.

“The reason of people’s silence is straight & simple – Protest needs Shouting, Shouting needs Energy, and Energy needs Food – but where’s the Food?”

well said batraji. andthis govt. will ensure no energy ever remiains. its a very insesitive govt.gives on;ly slogans like garibi hatao andaam admi ke saath.garibs have increased by leaps and bounds and aam admi is also in running to join bpl.

Go ahead and bring Mother India down. Some of the most irresponsible earthlings and they in turn elect some of the most fuddy duddy , incompetent and corrupt politicians and what more India need.

SCARIA VARGHESE

Just see the photographs with the article. For such Indians who are more than 40 Crore in India, "TWO MEALS a day" is more important than everything in life and even GOD is secondary to FOOD". If you have doubt FAST for "ONE DAY" - from morning 6AM to night 10PM, drink only water and then at 10PM see what would be your priority??? That is the condition of YOU who is assured of food next day and for 365 years a year. But the POOR CRORES who go without food in India are NOT sure when will they get their next meal- there is NO SOCIAL SECURITY as it exists in developed countries. For these people MILLIONS- politics, politicians, nation etc are last in their mind. The decision to HIKE FUEL PRICE- especially of DIESEL tantamount to "SNATCHING FOOD FROM THE MOUTH OF STARVING MILLIONS OF INDIA" and it has been done by Congress Party and Dr Manmohan Singh.

UPA
Congress Ka Haath Aam Admi Ke Saath- Use Kabr main pahunchane ke liye.
Garrebi Hatao-Garibon Ho Hatao Garibi Khud Hat Jayegi.

NDA
India Shining-Naha Dho Ke Chamakte Raho log kuch saal bad khud hi vote de denge kuch karne ki jaroorat nahin


Common man is silent but what can he do. He has say only once in five years and at that time too he has no choice. When he begins to think while pushing button on the VM he finds that every candidate of every prominent political party is contesting election for his own personal gains. None I must repeat absolutely none is there in the list of contestants from any major political party who intends to serve people. Every contestant wants to rule the people and ruling class only works for the welfare of ruling class. Common man only gives vote once in five years whereas wealthy persons gives money with every deal and almost on daily basis. In such circumstances for whose benefit the politician will think. For the man who gives him an intangible thing only once in five years or those who gives them tangible comforts of life on daily basis. Moreover the common man can be befooled easily by keeping him happy just six months prior to the election. Those being ruled have to do some hard thinking to find a solution. May be such circumstances may have forced some of our country men to rebel against our chosen government who are being branded Naxals, Maoists etc etc. If our governance continues to be irresponsible day is not far off when we may see civil war like conditions and parallel governments is most part of India.

What can a people say when they have reproduced so much that it is hard to count the citizens let alone plan and provide for them. I know there are reasons for the population , etc, but hey the government is us! what do you journalists think, that we cant reason that much??
Some governments have thought that illiterate people are stupid people, and have fallen out power because they did; looks like your reporters are following in their footsteps! Indians have sound commonsense and know when it is their own fault. That is why there is silence!

Outlook raised a pertinent problem of current public apathy towards the economic and social issues. In fact this development will affect the future of the society and polity in India. Like problem, the explanations are also complex, and may be traced to 90’s.This decade was the path setter of Indian polity as well as the economy which we are witnessing today. The real public issues were replaced by the emotive Mandal and Mandir issues by the political parties through vigorous campaigns on one side while on the other side the country subscribed to new economic policies without much discussion on the public forums. The emotive issues are still on the top of the agenda of major political parties while faded in public thinking. The political parties preferred these issues because such issues hardly require any intellect and vision, only caste and religion is enough to lead particular thinking and party. Just to prove that these issues are still in the centre stage of public life, they have devised different methods of public gatherings like arrangement of free vehicle, food and some cash amounts. On one side people became habitual of some freebies for rally, demonstration etc on the other side political parties disconnect from the general issues as BJP is for Hindutva, Samajvadi and other such brands for minority, Communists for labourers, BSP for schedule caste, regional parties like DMK, BJD, Trinamool for local aspirations so nobody for general issues like inflation, agriculture and international issues. After 90 almost all the political parties enjoyed power in different formation at centre and supported the new economic policies which are the source of present economic scenario as inflation is merely a symptom of the globalised economy. The role of so called intellectuals and media also created confusion among the society as they hardly play the neutral role, one noted economist in editorial proved that petro inflation will bring prosperity as production was increased in 70 and 80 when the price of petro products were hiked. Now Bandh are merely organized to strengthen the hierarchal system of the parties and anybody may observe the eagerness and efforts to show their faces to the party high command. The set drill is people gathered at 11 after breakfast on some busy road/track, slogan shouting for the preparation of stage, arrival of the big leader who may be party president or president of frontal organizations escorted by ticket seekers, arrest of leader, and drama by ticket seekers pre agreed use of limited force,click of media cameras and then arrest of these ‘workers’.

What can ordinary people do against such Congress Governance.

1--- The Indian farmers are paid Rs 9.50 per Kg as procurement price of wheat but Congress Govt imports (RED)wheat at Rs 15 per Kg from Australia. (Hay Wheat produced by White Man is more expensive than those produced by stupid Indians)The imported RED WHEAT was found unfit for human consumption and was converted to "cattle feed" and sold off at Rs 4 per Kg. The BIGGEST JOKE is that the very same "cattle feed wheat" was converted to ATTA and was eaten by Indians. That is the MAGIC OF CONGRESS RULE. Make Indians worst than cattle.
2--- Sugar imported at Rs 16 was allowed to be "horded" in PORT WAREHOUSES (so that NON-CONGRESS STATE GOVTs do not confiscate the horded sugar) till prices went upto Rs 40 a Kg (in six months time) to make huge profits. That is "MANMOHANECONOMICS" for you.
3-- If Indian farmers are given Rs 13 per Kg of wheat as procurement price they would produce all the wheat essential for India. But CONGRESS Govt wouldn't do it. Similar is the situation in Sugar cane price too.

YET CONGRESS is elected repeatedly and MANMONHANECONOMICS is cheered- by minorities to keep out BJP.

"Go ahead and bring Mother India down. Some of the most irresponsible earthlings and they in turn elect some of the most fuddy duddy..."

Earthlings bring down Mother India? Ha ha ha ha. What is his "beef" with Earthlings that he abuses them in two posts? Who is this outer space alien from Australia? Is he from the heavens of the advanced West? Was he born there or did he emigrate? Scaria, who are you trying to scare yaar?

What has achieved by the Bharath Bundh? Nothing, the cost to the Indian economy is staggering-to the tune of about 13000 crore Indian Rupees. Apart from some fuddy duddy, useless and corrupt opposition party politicos had their inflated egos massaged, hike in patrol price remains the same, as it should be.

SCARIA VARGHESE

What else can the AAM ADMI do when the elected GOVT become "dictatorial"??? The food inflation is 17%- cost of RICE has gone up from Rs 15/- to Rs 35/-. The increase in cost of DIESEL will push up the cost of RICE by atleast another Rs5/-. What do you want the POOR 40 CRORE people of India to do??? STARVE or commit suicide???

The GOVT has other options as under

1---Reduce the tax on DIESEL and the lose suffered by oil companies will be neutralized.
2---Increase TAX on new DIESEL VEHICLES less those used for goods/ public transport.
3-- All DIESEL CARS be made to pay an additional TAX of Rs 20000/- per year and other DIESEL VEHICLES less those used for goods/public transport be made to pay Rs 40000/- per year and the GOVT can collect at least Rs 4000- 6000 Crore as TAX. It will have the added benefit of reduction of number of "more polluting" DIESEL VEHICLES on the road.
4-- Taxation at 2 and 3 will neutralize the lose of revenue the Govt will suffer due to reduction TAX of DIESEL.

But the CONGRESS GOVT which claims to be AAM ADMI GOVT will not do it. So what do the people do???

SCARIA VARGHESE

But just you watch how Congress jumps and reduce fuel price in an years time after DMK loses Tamilnadu, Trinamol loses West Bengal, JDU/BJP combine retain BIHAR and may be even LDF GOVT retain KERALA during state elections in 2011. The Indian POOR have an uncanny way of teaching arrogant political parties a lesson they will remember- Mr Indira Gandhi, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, Mr Vajpayee have all experienced it.

>> What has achieved by the Bharath Bundh?

>> Apart from some fuddy duddy, useless and corrupt opposition party politicos had their inflated egos massaged, hike in patrol price remains the same, as it should be.

Agree.

>> the cost to the Indian economy is staggering-to the tune of about 13000 crore Indian Rupees.

This is what I don't understand. Sure, there is some cost to the economy, due to lost productivity of a day. But then, does each holiday, including the weekends, cost us that much? Anyone know how FICCI or similar bodies come up with these figures?

It is pretty easy to raise our voice with all the free market ideologues defending petro price hikes, as long as we individually do not face the trying situation of fellow Indians. Some of us living outside India can really lecture on the benefits of market based petro pricing regime because we will not suffer like India's ordinary citizens.
For some strange reasons, Indian governments ( both NDA and BJP) shifted their focus from basic livelihood issues while shifting focus to building an international profile. It may please us NRIs seeing our country being given more respect in the international arena. But isn't that a sham?
When a fast growing nation is collecting more in tax revenues, can it not spend more on ensuring basic food items at affordable prices? Or is it more important to spend a billion dollars in building infrastructure for Afghanistan for strategic reasons? Or is it necessary to spend crores on something as inconsequential as a Commonwealth game?
Can we not postpone defence spending instead of pushing a fuel price hike at a time when food inflation is still not contained?
Is our priority to build an international profile based on smart advertising or is it our priority to improve living standards of more number of people?
The choice is ours.

It is pretty easy to raise our voice with all the free market ideologues defending petro price hikes, as long as we individually do not face the trying situation of fellow Indians. Some of us living outside India can really lecture on the benefits of market based petro pricing regime because we will not suffer like India's ordinary citizens.
For some strange reasons, Indian governments ( both NDA and BJP) shifted their focus from basic livelihood issues while shifting focus to building an international profile. It may please us NRIs seeing our country being given more respect in the international arena. But isn't that a sham?
When a fast growing nation is collecting more in tax revenues, can it not spend more on ensuring basic food items at affordable prices? Or is it more important to spend a billion dollars in building infrastructure for Afghanistan for strategic reasons? Or is it necessary to spend crores on something as inconsequential as a Commonwealth game?
Can we not postpone defence spending instead of pushing a fuel price hike at a time when food inflation is still not contained?
Is our priority to build an international profile based on smart advertising or is it our priority to improve living standards of more number of people?
The choice is ours.

Couldn't agree more DC, NEW YORK

India is going in for a BILLION DOLLAR fighter plane procurement when more than 40 CRORE INDIANS are facing 'inflated food prices". Excessive TAX is being collected on PETROLEUM products to fund "such stupid expenditure". The procurement is all the most foolish considering the fact that all the fighter planes purchased after 1971 is being "DUMPED" with out having been ever used in a CONFLICT. More importantly, the world will not allow NUCLEAR ADVERSARIES to fight each other. But the nation does not have funds to provide soldiers/ police men fighting terrorist with proper BULLET PROOFS. That is present INDIAN GOVT for you.

If arming with sophisticated weapons could ensure the integrity of a nation, USSR would have never broken up. Happy citizens are the corner stone of healthy nationalism.

1. From where will the government pay for all subsidies and populist policies? 2. Agriculture is becoming non-viable due to increasing labour costs so there will be increase in agriculture produce till it becomes viable again. 3. good that fuel prices are increased so that people use more of mass transit. less pollution less congestion and less accidents.

Where does 3% of Indian GDP go to?

ANS : WOMANS DEVELOPMENT!

What about education? It receives a pathetic less than that!

It SHOWS the PRIORITIES of Manmohanomics

I am standing by my previous two threads that India’s worst enemies are own earthlings and they in turn will stop her from reaching her full potential. Indian earthlings should have gone back to the leaves of history books and learn how Japanese people have lifted their country from smithereens to prosperity after the Second World War. Then again it will be onerous tasks with Indians are divided on caste, creed, languages and cultural diversities. Okay, bring Mother India down and live poorly ever after.

This will be my last post for the time being because I will be away from my home base.

When Reliance went out of business of Petrol retail, they declared that they would work to kill the Petrol pricing before coming back in to business. They have succeeded in that and supine UPA govt agreed to its proposal. The idiot public was happy Oh we would remove subsidies and provide a level playing field. Now, when the result came out with increasing price they are crying. other option BJP is even 100 times worse it had the gall to privatize/ sell a river to a business!!!!

The political scenario in India is unbearingly depressing. Corruption, crime, greed, money laundering,blatant oppression of the poor, misutilisation of law and order. suppression of citizens' rights etc all point to a system of governance spiralling out of control. The saddest truth is that the media, in general, which has the power to expose such nation breaking acts and their authors finds reporting on inane and superfluous stories more rewarding! Sex surveys, alternative lifestyles, glamorous stories of the rich and famous;Bollywood gossips etc etc.take precedence over the real issues tearing the country apart!Even if an investigative story is taken on, there is no continued pressure on the offender/offenders. We have the HMV type investigating authorities who only listen to their master's voice and attack only those who their master despises.
We have a Agriculture Minister who is bent on global sporting recognition rather than solving mounting food problem. We have a pro active Home Minister whose hands are firmly tied behind his back by bumbling politicians , seeking vote banks rather than arrest growing Maoist threats. We have politicians of all parties resisting return of billions of ill gotten dollars from overseas havens because all of them have dipped their paws in the loot.Whatever progress India has made has been despite these politicians and largely due individual genius and nationalistic pride.Power corrupts and in India political power corrupts absolutely! Who will save India from the grubby hands of politicians and their faithful minions?