A Wishlist For Narendra Modi

For Better Experience http://ibijay.blogspot.in/2014/05/a-wishlist-for-narendra-modi.html

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” – Voltaire. As Narendra Modi swears in as India’s next Prime Minister, a new era in Indian history unfolds. The mandate is literal reflection of his personality of being immensely decisive. A mandate that empowers a capable statesman like Modi to fulfill all the hopes, that sets him free from all the traction of coalition. The first ever government in the recent past that vows to work 18 hours a day altogether skipping its honeymoon period, truly living up to the grand expectation. Off late I have a sincere urge to stop writing on politics and going back to issues of public interest and social reform. However, I thought lets set some agenda before I drop the thread and continue to play the role of a constructive critic.

 

After a long while we have a no-nonsense leader in Delhi’s corridors of politics who has a vision that impresses every right thinking national. Much have been said about the perils of caste and religion based politics or a politics that has bias of any kind. In that sense, Raj Thakrey and K Chandrasekhar Rao indulge in the same kind of hate politics which has nothing to do with development of the very people they represent.

 

In the face of a formidable neighbor like China with mountainous military strength and economy power, this is high time we should set our house in order and get ready for the monstrous challenge. Had it not been the typical international equation while US plays a serious role in maintaining the status quo, China would have already marched on its expansion mission. Countries like Japan, India and Vietnam would have already proved to be easy prey where Russia hardly doing some kind of lip service.

Irrefutably, India would always give a good fight but ask an Army insider he would actually tell you the exact number of days that India could stand against China in case of a war, where US or any other power plays any role. No body likes a war so why did I mention it, what’s the relevance here? When two super powers fight for the same resources and market they end up with nothing but war. India can either remain under China’s economy servitude or power itself to the top post in Asian continent. However, there is a remote chance of a war breaking out considering the strategic role played by Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. Moreover, America can’t afford to remain neutral as India’s fall would tilt the balance of power equation unfavorably towards US. Please do not blame me being another George Fernades of 90s, who too raised serious concerns about China, but this is a reality we live in.

From my perspective, this is the time when the Alice (read as government) should come out of the wonderland and play a Batman that has people’s endorsement to save the city of Gotham.

 

Manufacturing

My worst nightmare is the missing “Made In India” label, this is highly disappointing that we have actually lost the manufacturing sector to our neighbors. Pick any electronics item or a toy China has a brutal presence, that is extended to all assembled global brands, across the globe. India’s leadership in service sector is already threatened by the emergence of minnows like Philippines. Perception about Chinese product was never good, as far as the quality of the product is concerned, they lag behind. However, in the third world country no body actually complains much about that and China continues to lead as a manufacturing and assembling hub. We need to establish our strong footing in this sector and start defying China’s supremacy. This would optimally utilize the available man and material resources at our disposal in abundance. Sitting pretty on the natural resources, we export raw material from iron to coal and import again steel and improvised coal for our own consumption. At the same time we are proud of a billion plus population with a majority in its youth which is without employment. The human resources should better be engaged in tapping the manufacturing sector or the same youth would be a huge liability on the nation. Even though there would be a lot of friction from
aggrieved parties like our close neighbor we need to have a strong determination on achieving this long term mission.

 

All Indigenous

A fourth of our budget goes to external vendors for defense procurement, but still that does not assure us failure proof ammunition with uninterrupted supply during the time of crisis. We can’t expect Russia to support us against the wishes of China as an old communist ally. The fact is non of the military super powers bank on hired arms, but rather a geographically invisible, Israel, has strong international presence because of their ability to build their own state of the art military weaponries. We need to reverse the convention, by positioning ourselves from the largest importer to largest exporter. When we talk about true competition there is actually no place for runners up. Either you are a winner like the Spartans or a looser like Athens, then it hardly matters how advanced you are in comparison. We need to build our military capability as second to none and spearhead as a global leader. No doubt when we partially achieve the above 2 points there would be a paradigm change in power equation, flipping both China and US, leaving a huge vacuum, for us to fit in. Considering government’s commitment to spend heavily on social sector, strategic investment in defense sector, in right earnest would have long fetching dividends.

 

In a crisis ridden economy already crippling under welfare schemes, self reliance is a distant dream when it comes to a manufacturing hub including for military weapons. Neither sufficient white money in dispensation without new taxes could fund these massive infrastructural investments nor the new tax proposals would have any takers. The multi-billion dollar black money stashed outside India should be sufficient for a range of dream projects, may be the benefits can be extended to the individual tax payers via some reliefs. The acrimonious campaign is long over, the election rhetoric should see the lights of reality. A typical problem with the politics, politician forget all such things they say during campaign, but in contrast voters remember every detail. All corruption or malpractice allegations including Bofors case never got the justice post election. Its unfair to allege Mamata for chit-fund scam or a Vadra for land scam if the government is unable to set up a fair probe on such allegations. We have a lot of expectation at least on the black money front, hypothetically if the new govt delivers nothing but succeeds just in the black money case, that would give sufficient ammo to fight all its opposition in next election.

 

Of course, for future contracts

Election funding is a major source of corruption, a sincere effort to eliminate corruption should always start with election reforms, through public funding. Whosoever, donates to a political party would always look for fevers post election. The petty retail level corruptions would have a natural death the moment the people at top stops taking their percentage. Now if somebody tries hard to convince us that Mr.Ambani’s multi-crore donation has nothing to do with the contract pricing afterwards it would fall on deaf ears. However, the government still can adopt a middle path without toeing corporates’ line, a right balance between crony capitalism and venture socialism. Couple of years ago, a fellow journalist was ridiculing, Sivraj Chauhan’s proposal for public funding of election. Its quite distressing, that no body advocated in favor of the MP Chief Minister, who had the courage to accept the fact of corporate interest in the political donations. All cash donations including the “One Note One Vote” is nothing but hoodwinking the Election Commisioner’s model code of conduct on expenditure, acts purely as a camouflage to hide huge corporate money. Same with some self proclaimed non-corrupt parties, who forge the transaction ids or route illegal money (organisations with vested interest) via legitimate NRIs. What we need is government to take right initiatives, eventually all parties would fall in line in cleansing the politics, whosoever does not, have to face public ire.

 

Identity Crisis

In India, most of us suffer from identity crisis with a multitude of ID proofs, a Ration card, a Voter ID, A Driving License, an Aadhar Card or a Passport are nothing but duplication of service at the exchequer’s cost. Aadhar no doubt a giant step, where a card can actually authenticate an individual on the basis of undeniable bio-metrics data, but the actual identity is still a question when the card is sold for a Gandhi note. Very aptly, the Supreme Court snubbed government of India for considering Aadhar as a legitimate ID proof, unless all the loop holes are plugged. Lets move towards a highly secured and confidential citizen data bank under a separate ministry and issue the same bio-metrics based ID card for a host of utilities. This would be an opportunity to convert the mulit-billion dollar liability into a purposeful national asset that veteran Advani once conceived. The mammoth venture should additionally take up the task of striking out bogus citizens, and maintain sanity of the data bank.

 

A blue print

Narendra Modi hails from RSS, so his vision for India, so when he would retire he should be a proud RSS volunteer, an ideal Ram Rajya without any bias or favor.The enterprising Modi should have the blue prints for next decade handy with all building blocks in right places, to drive us in the direction of development and position India in the top slot.

Seeing Through Mandate, 2014, An Open Letter To Narendra Modi

For Better Experience http://ibijay.blogspot.in/2014/05/seeing-through-mandate-2014-open-letter.html

Beyond This Election

After a couple of days of euphoria, I am bit pensive again of course after micro analysis of the results. Beyond reasonable doubt, this is an incredible mandate for Modi powered by many factors both positive and negative, worked in favor of the man of the moment. The BJP and its previous incarnation BJS, in the election fray right from 50’s, have gone through many ups & downs and notably few of the landslides of Indira and Rajiv. Never before in the history, a non-Congress party had such a huge mandate nor the Congress suffered such a humiliating decimation. Such was the extent of the loss that the grand old party could not even open its account in 13 states and non of the 6 union territories. In rest of the country, Congress was merely an act of saving face than actually fighting an election for another turn. Well, the figures speak for itself, national tally of 44 while no individual state touching a double digit, turned the national party that ruled over the biggest democracy for past 6 decades into a party of bits and pieces. In the remote North-East too NDA is a much bigger force than combined UPA. The effect of the political devastation is not just limited to Congress but all the Alliance partners, non-alliance sympathizers and road-blockers for Modi’s BJP. The likes of Farooq Abdulha, Karuna, Raja, Kanimozi, Raj Thakrey, Mayawati, & Ajit Singh’s parties, are cursed and brushed off from entering Parliament as a natural consequence to either aligning or benefiting Congress, the demon.

Vote/Seat Disparity

While my fellow mates are still celebrating the victory, I would like to draft this thought-full article in this scorching heat because beneath the massive verdict of 282 out of 543, lies the truth of 31% vote share. Although for combined NDA the vote share rises slightly to 38% with a staggering 335 seats but alarmingly that’s much bellow 50% mark in popular vote share. However we can neither blame the electorates nor the political parties but our constitution. Had it been a bi-party system we would always have a 50 plus vote share with the party in power. However, in this kind of mandate, its natural for new groups joining the party (celebration) strengthening government’s decision making further, also being more representative in nature. In due course KCR, Naveen, and even Jaya would build new bridges for the obvious purpose of managing their own states well. in a similar way, Jagan, Chautala, Soren, and Pawar would bait for Modi as a pure survival instinct. Sooner than later we would witness a super NDA with 400+ seats and close to a comfortable 50% vote share, nevertheless all these formations are temporary and would fizzle out eventually in the time of actual crisis. A noteworthy point here, non of the previous governments including that’s led by Nehru, Indira and Rajiv never enjoyed a 50+ vote percentage for any individual party. So any attempt to illegitimatize this mandate is a loser’s attempt to mock our very constitution with retrospective impact.

Opposition Consolidation

Apparently, Mamata’s AITC, would virtually occupy the opposition space as Congress’ Rahul is a complete misfit even for the leader of opposition. Though she needs Modi’s help more often than Modi, while managing the cash strapped state government but her ego on top of vote bank politics never allows her to do so. The worst victims of Tsu-Namo  (Mulayam, Maya, Nitish, Lalu, & Ajit) would potentially make for an national alliance to retain their vote share to pursue the self proclaimed secular politics through minority vote banks. They would probably play a side kick to AITC, Congress combine to fill the vacuum of opposition. Certainly, a very bad situation for our democracy where we need an alliance for opposition.

(Celebration) Party is over!!!

The Congress party is in a catch 22 situation, sooner the better, they need to shun the Gandhi family and look for a formidable leadership from within. After the failure of all the right based welfare schemes ruining our economy, they resorted to all Mandal/Kamandal politics. But the gimmicks of giving reservation to Jats, Muslims or inclusion of Jains in minority never yielded any tangible benefit to them. With the lackluster leadership combine, Sonia-Manmohan-Rahul, they finally played their trump card Priyanka to boost up their fortune but to no avail that failed even more badly. Being a political observer, they in fact have nothing in store that could revive congress when the rival is Modi backed by a strong BJP and a even more stronger RSS. Sensible Sonia already pushing her retirement several times because of her illness but Rahul’s reluctance combined with incompetence is turned to be a double whammy for congress when Priyanka already carries the baggage of a tainted Robert Vadra. Few of the intelligent Congress leaders confessed honestly that they were fighting RSS rather than BJP. I think they must have realised this fact that it was easy fighting BJP but not RSS, as that would ensure not only a defeat but a complete annihilation. Well, both RSS and Congress leadership knew it very well and considered this election as a DO or Die kind of fight. However, this would be a grand mistake to write off the grand old party now, as they continue to enjoy a permanent cushion of 20% vote share even in the face of massive negative sentiments. So what they need to do is ramping up by just another 5-10% votes through some engineering or en-cashing negative sentiments. So more importantly from RSS perspective this is also imperative to identify the demography that constitutes this permanent vote base for Congress. Are they serious beneficiaries of Congress party or its policies or this is just a vote for protection for Indian minorities? Nevertheless, all attempts should be made to legitimize the support base by instilling trust in the political system and stopping all consumption of spurious perks.

Governance Not My Cup of Tea

At the hindsight, the AAP’s decision to go national was a completely miscalculated political stunt. However, being Kejriwal himself the kind of politics he plays and the medium he uses, this was very natural for them to fight in 400 odd seats through length and breadth of India. Mr.Kejriwal being the only star, was playing to the gallery in national capital while appealing to the audience all across the country. The ninety days of uninterrupted media publicity helped them garnering close to 2% votes i.e. more than many regional powers. However they committed more errors of commission than omission in the 49 days of governance which met its natural death, outweighed by the contradictions of APP’s applied politics. To be honest, they never thought of governance so the mandate was like a hot potato that they eventually dropped. Even though the 4 seats from Punjab was a miraculous face saver, they would have drawn a huge blank in this fretful election. However, this serves as a warning who takes voters for granted and manage elections, leaving voters with no options. After all, money, drugs can’t win election, so much was the anger that a deserving leader like Arun Jetly too was defeated.

Good Politics, Always welcome!!!

APP’s Punjab chapter is a story in itself and a great learning for all, at least to those vocal leaders like Arvind and Sazia that there is enough room for good politics. Arvind failed miserably in his plan to sabotage Modi and getting publicity even while travelling. Two things happened in tandem with each other, Modi ignored Kashi and all his opponents there in his campaign, while all media houses deliberately snubbed him by not playing for his purpose. Even in the course of election campaign they started realizing that they have almost lost all the grounds they seemingly gained in last few months. When it comes to strategy, nobody has better idea than the Parivar, the Sangha Parivar. Everybody thought BJP was bowled out when Arvind resigned from Delhi as that had ostensibly set him free for a nation-wide campaign. However, it was BJP’s plan not to support Arvind during the Lokpal fiasco and allowing him to go national. The plan paid off as he was very high and ultimately dry after this election, by ensuring their thickness in Delhi spread thinly across India and virtually leaving no impression anywhere losing almost all deposits.

Ohh No!!! What an Anti Climax

Personally I am impressed by AAP as a great idea against corruption but unfortunately both AAP and BSP in spite of being incredible ideas are spoiled by useless leaders. Arvind must be feeling very sorry for thousands of AAP supporters who left their jobs relying on its high philosophy, who are now left with nothing but a feeling of letdown in the hands of the one they once looked up to.

Go to Hell Kejriwal

The next few months would see a complete reversal of what happened in last Nov-Dec, the very people who ran a vitriolic campaign against all, would turn their firing direction towards AAP’s leadership and leave AAP as if there is a fire broke out in the house. The public would keep a watch on leaders like Ms.Saniyal and Ashutosh Gupta, how far they are committed to public service in their respective constituencies and silence their critics. Their true color would emerge only when they prove themselves in public service without holding the public office and all the media fan fare. Notwithstanding, they always be a force to reckon with in upcoming state elections.

Abhi,  Ek Saath Comunal  Taqatse Ladenge

Coming back to my concern about the animated 400+ mandate, as all the huge mandates are always followed by a colossal fall, a political science books could be a good reference on this. The concern is quite legitimate as BJP’s vote share of 31% is very vulnerable sitting on a large number of votes of hope. Secondly this would threaten all the losers to club their strength together in order to flip the balance of equation. The process has already been started JDU now reconciling with RJD, for a long term national goal to prevent Modi. This is a kind of worst nightmare for even RSS, if this kind of consolidation happens at a national level no body can stop them coming back to power again. In such a scenario, BSP, SP and CONG may fight together in UP leaving BJP completely dry. This is one factor that worked positively in favor of BJP in last election, as all these parties fought separately. Had it not been the arrogance and complacency of Gogoi in Assam, AIDUF would have fought in alliance with Congress giving an altogether grim picture for BJP.

A Desert MODIfied To a Solar Power Plant…

On the vote of hope, no body has the right to take a free ride, unless the hope is fulfilled, you have to face Kejriwal’s fate. Then everybody would like to capitalize on the negative sentiment and then they can even get votes without promising anything. Not being cynical here, I have all faiths in the leadership of Modi as a man of delivery and development. However the situation demands to accentuate the delivery at a speed that would overwhelm the very electorates, while they would cast their votes in 2019. Modi need to pull all his resources to work 24/7, restlessly delivering the dreams that we all are aspiring for. I would suggest Modi, to consider the human resource, few millions in size, that’s qualified, trained, and particularly young in demography but may be still unemployed. This powerful population can be entrusted with national projects ranging from connecting rivers to cleaning the filth after all, this is our nation and this is high time we should start rebuilding it.

A wise man always learns from others mistakes, mistakes become firm commandments when they come from your own family. National security and corruption are issues that stands BJP out, so never ever think of conceding a self goal at least on these 2 fronts. A good thing about Modi’s future ministry, that’s free from the baggage of Bajpai, but in order to remain taint-less trade carefully when the likes of Tehlka & Cobrapost would be very active alongside few paid NGOs to discredit the government.

Recruitment In Progress

Usually, when a party remains in power its organisation is worst hit, as everybody wants to enjoy the power and nobody is interested in sweating out for the party. Modi should entrust right people managing the organisational affair while keeping the cadres in good humor. Not just BJP cadres all affiliates from RSS to Ramdev, who helped in the mass mobilization should continue with their patronage for the more bigger battles ahead when the possible consolidation happens in the opposition camp. While I look at politics, I see typically 3 types of inclusions into a political party. The heir apparent from political families, retired professional and party turn coats. There should be conscious effort to bring in fresh bloods with brand new ideas, into politics rather than political turn coats. Modi should heavily invest in next generation leaders to carry the baton of development forward when he retires. When it comes to political successors, I am mesmerized by Advani looking at the battalion of able leadership that he nurtured in last few decades. From Modi to Jetly, Susma and Shivraj all were once proteges of the man of steel. So the leadership should simultaneously be working on the next Modi in making rather than political pets.

Organisation Is The Only Way out

The BJP should work along side RSS to make new inroads onto the areas which are potentially fertile in this election campaign but a good harvest could not be reaped. Prospective good showing in states like WB, Odisha, Andhra, Kerla or TN could potentially work as an insurance against any possible upsets in Hindi heartland in next general election because of anti-incumbency. BJP should handle its allies with utmost care, as only a strong BJP could attract good allies not the other way round. The party has enough numbers to set its own rule and keep boosting up its organisation in states like Andhra, where all the major players are struggling to gain some ground. At least they should not repeat the mistake of projecting an alliance partner (read as Nitish) at the peril of their own. In this matter Congress handles its allies better, by coercing them to support Congress even if they have less number. In a nut shell, the battle is not over yet at least till 2019 general election, and all resources should be used in the right earnest to repeat the performance again or get repelled in a similar fashion.

We all know how corporate money was lavishly used in this campaign but we accepted this truth as a price that needs to be paid in the national interest. However, this no way authorises the government to play in the hands of corporates, as this is a vote for hope capitalisation rather than crony capitalism. Misreading of this mandate would have serious implications but then there would be no chance of bouncing back again.

AT The Center Of FDI Riddle…

For Better experience… http://ibijay.blogspot.in/2014/04/at-center-of-fdi-riddle.html

Let Me Think, I am bit puzzled…

There is nothing sexier than SENSEX, when over pouring FDI, overwhelms the indices. Political correctness, coerces the leaders to selectively welcome the overseas money while rejecting the same for multi-brand retails, as that would persuade erosion of crucial retailer vote bank. In fact, we already have multinationals making huge inroads into multi-brand retail segment. The Reliance Industries, and the Future Group’s operation is not restricted to Indian subcontinent only, and they are big enough to wipe out the entire retailer community here. So whats the fuss all about, its more political than real. The local retailers concern reminds me of early 2K when Bajaj group Chairman, Rahul Bajaj connived with, the then Bajpai Government to stall the possible entry of Chinese automobiles into Indian market. At the hindsight, that was one of the perfect decision ever made by any government. The Chinese products are not only poor in quality but also hazardous for users, they only push sell with a low cost tag – most appropriate for use and throw commodities, with shortest life span. In short term the consumers might pose a winners’ smile but in long that would have destroyed the whole automobile segment, perpetually damaging the very foundation – beyond any repair.

Indian Multi-Nationals

In the cacophony of high decibel TV debates, we often found ourselves lost at the middle of this riddle called Foreign Direct Investment. With investment flowing in, the target market reacts positively, with a market rally and eventually a bullish market. The whole turn around results in a cascading impact in the growth of the economy, with everybody cashing in some money home. Most importantly the retail investors, a majority in demography, can make some good profit while short selling. At the same time, when the money is pulled back from the market for reasons best known to those external investors, the retail investors suffer the most with their entire profit made in months together completely up-set negatively in one such occurrence. Before we discuss further to unravel the riddle its imperative to understand the psychology behind the FDI or the external investors.

Maximum ROI

Nevertheless, an investor always looks for avenues that maximises the Return On Investment (ROI) with complete apathy towards the investment destination. Everyone sees India and China as top opportunities as they not only guarantee high return but also the invested principal is secured. PK and AF might assure you with huge potentials but nobody is interested because many factors including poor state of infrastructure as a key ingredient, missing there. For the external entities, India is nothing but a fertile land for investment, if tomorrow Philippines would promise better return, the same set of investors would not hesitate a bit in turning their back on us. Like a dumping partner, they would probably drop a brief note “No Hard Feelings Please”, that only a ditched one could explain. Moreover, FDI behavior is more symphonic to the performance of SENSEX than the other way round. The moment the market loses its sheen the entire gamut of investment would fizzle out without any clue.

Build your own Brand

Sooner than later, we should understand the fact that it’s more important to build our own fundamentals than solely looking for foreign investment to rescue us from the economic crisis. The bonus of foreign investment might offer temporary solution to our financial woos or unemployment problem but they are never intended to serve any of these purpose. The bottom line here suggests us to be more inherently cohesive that naturally makes us more alluring to foreigners who look at us as nothing but a vast market. Sometime, we have a dilemma of choice between poor nationalism and quality internationalism. The consumers have every right to quality products – the value for money, so promoting mediocre indigenous products is rather stupidity in the name of SWADESHI. Concurrently, being such a vast country with so much of man and material resources, its absolutely shameful on our part to buy cold drinks, soap or a detergent from a multi-national outlet. This clearly says, we might have all resources but entrepreneurship or the government policy is not at all conducive to promote our own national brands to sustain the challenges of foreign multi-nationals. Till such time Coke and HLL would take away all revenue generated out of Indian market though they would offer some respite in terms of employment while managing their supply chain.

Strength from within

So long as we have a growing economy and a fascinating market, FDI would flow effortlessly to tap the opportunity. The need of time is to grow our own multinational brands, not restricted to few sectors like telecom, steel, automobile or information technology. We have proud moments not merely when we have an impressive investment but when a TATA or Bharti makes an international presence,  transforming into our own multi-national brands. With a practical approach the true spirit of Gandhi’s SWADESHI is about building our own brands rather than shunning international ones. China is almost commanding monopoly in production sector across the globe with all top brands going for it for manufacturing and assembling. India is a obvious market, a dumping yard for a range of electronics-electrical equipment, gazettes and even toys. This is high time we wake up to this challenge of economic subordination, imposed by our powerful neighbor.

Hindsight BJP, Onus of Secularism…!!!

Charismatic Leader

In late nineties, they already decided to move on sans those core but contentious issues. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) drafted its common minimum program that put those matters in back burner in the interest of good governance. The decimated Congress without firm leadership never enthused electorates enough to rally behind it, so nobody made any fuss about the said shift in BJP’s election strategy. Also BJP’s political formation at national level seem to be the only available and a formidable option. As usual Congress was more concerned about its conventional pockets to put forward a good fight. The rhetoric of secularism and allegations of communal agenda against the nationalist party never gained any ground. The reason was quite obvious, leading the pack was an unblemished character, AB Bajpai. He was able to march the whole bunch of ideological fence sitters behind him. The noteworthy exceptions here were already marginalized, let that be the entire Leftist movement and the grand old Congress party, slowly bouncing back after resolving the leadership issue.

 

Post Nuclear Test AB With AK

Come 2004 before the general election, the mood in incumbent establishment was quite upbeat. Quite naturally, they were able to bring the nation back on the track of development and the economy was at its peak. At least on those fronts even the biggest critics would appreciate the debutante’s performance as very impressive, its always a difficult task when you are fighting against all odds of external sanctions. The 2004 general election too never witnessed use of the so called communal propaganda as BJP fought the election on the planks of development. The BJP think tank relied heavily on the Rising India pitch, newly anointed global super power both on intellectual and muscular sense. Worlds largest democracy with 3rd biggest army with the most dangerous nuclear arsenals under the wrap of “No First Use” doctrine. The world looked at the same country of Snake Charmers as an emerging power in Software as well as Space Research. Investment in critical infrastructural projects put India in the league of top investment destinations. A country of new promises that could get rid of the menace of unemployment and price rise in the second populous nation in the world.

 

So what went wrong, the possible reasons behind BJP’s loss? There are in fact many. Close analysis should substantiate BJP’s loss in 2004 election was not exactly translated into Congress win. Those who claim that as a Congress’s stupendous performance against BJP’s unexpected debacle, should understand the actual fact that completely contradicts the popular assumption. The reality is both BJP and Congress secured 130 odd MP each. A micro analysis suggests how different factors lead to BJP’s defeat and loss in almost 50 odd seats. The anti incumbency becomes a major force in every ten years if not five, lets not forget Congress was out of power for almost a decade, since Rao government. People across the country continuously voted for BJP and sent around 180 seats or more for 3 consecutive terms. In the mean time the BJP lost its credibility too to a great extent, inefficiency to build a Ram Mandir was quite clear, some allegations of corruption dented the Party with Difference with irrecoverable damage. The local factors became more relevant to electorates and started mounting over cosmetic national issues. The opposition was successful in hitting BJP where it hurts most, they fabricated many chinks in their armour, and forsook the very perception that once India voted for e.g. non-Corruption, national security. BJP’s so called ideological shift while being part of NDA never won it a secular tag but it lost crucial support from its core vote base, BJP was no longer drawing a 50+ number from UP alone. Though it was compensated a bit by virtue of new alliances with BJD, TDP, TMC and even DMK but the regional factors marginalized these satraps in their own stronghold. Except BJD all major partners including JDU, Shiva Sena  and Akalis collectively lost almost 100+ seats to ensure no repeat of NDA government in 2004. In comparison, BJP did not do well in just 20-30 odd seats, where it fought alone in direct fight against Congress.

 

Leadership Crisis

One more factor that also pervaded voters mind with strong impression was the issue of leadership, after a decade long struggle, the BJP apparently full with a bunch of tired and old leaders. The leaders that marched the entire youth behind it could not realise that their voters are actually bored with them. They needed a new young face with new ideas to counter anti-incumbency and rejuvenate the cadres to force them to power again. A timely promotion of Pramod Mahajan, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitly or a Narendra Modi then could have reversed the motion, in favor of the ruling establishment. In opponent camp, serious political realignments happened, being marginalized Left parties along with the socialists aligned with their arch rival Congress, as a pure survival instinct. If you look at the arithmetic, neither of the leading political formations NDA and UPA was in striking distance of simple majority. But there was this so called Third Front (read as Left and SP) to the rescue of UPA on the pretext of keeping communal forces out of the reach of power.

 

Look at my Cap, Am a Muslim too

This is the time to discuss the term called Secularism in the right perspective, this word first coined by the European scholars in nineteenth century, who viewed excessive Church interference in governance matter and suggested a path for religion neutral government. In essence, contrary to the theocratic approach, Secularism advocates no special treatment to any particular belief not necessarily religious. However, on the ground secularism was always defined as minority appeasement at the cost of the majority society. In this huge country with a billion plus capacity, cultural and religious diversity is a unique feature of this oldest civilization. This in way defines no section in this society in fact enjoys majority following or Hindu majority is rather a perception than reality. Hindus are already divided into many castes, religious beliefs and languages, so considering Hindus as a block would be serious miscalculation. So when it comes about secularism, the age old British policy of divide and rule is applied in the matter concerning Hindu society but implemented policies for Minorities en-block. We never heard a particular government policy announced just for Catholics or Sunni Muslims, but for Hindu Jats. The grand design is to ensure fractured Hindu votes and united minority votes. The caste system could have long been eliminated under a strong leadership, but the same is pursued further and promoted for mere political mileage. A very simple step, that prescribes the reservation based purely on economic condition would permanently eliminate hatred within society while still serving the purpose. But this won’t allow politicians to yield any more dividends who indulge into loathsome politics of discrimination. That poses another issue to the group of people, who profess minority appeasement, as the united Hindus, would have a much stronger voice against such communal agenda.

 

The Bond of Trust

A pertinent question, how Hindu Code Bill was a product of modern thought to revolutionize our society but its always deeply communal talking about a Common Civil Code which suggests a similar modernization of other minority sections of the society. Why in the first place we have special treatment to a particular state under section -370, in the union of India. The same special status gave rise to many other issues like insurgencies in Punjab and North-East vying for similar facilities. This is beyond a layman’s understanding that how discussion about such a constitutional article is so communal. There is a multitude of issues that is very rational in perception but communal in practice. Religious conversion is quite secular but the re-conversion makes the whole matter a communal act. A meeting with a Hindu religious leader is never secular and a similar meeting with a minority leader is never communal. Who actually gets benefited from this? Those who makes their livings out of such kind of hatred politics.

 

Crown Prince

Let us come back to the subject here, Congress party ruled over India for almost six decades, there were minor hiccups but most of the time it was either a Congress Government or a Government affiliated to Congress. Congress was always jealous of any political alternative and used all means to exterminate any such emerging option. The Janata Dal of seventies reduced to regional power in few restricted states, Left parties are already fighting their last battle for survival. In corporate sector such an act of cannibalism is banned as monopolistic-restricted trade practice. However, there is still a hope in this multi-party largest democracy, a political alternative that the nation still counts on, thanks to BJP without this political formation India could rather be called a Hereditary Monarchy.

 

By the mid nineties at least one ground rule was set by the intelligent voters of this country, a bipolar political system, two alternative options led by Congress and BJP respectively. The rest always look for opportunity to show their solidarity to a particular formation, mostly towards one in power. Collectively Congress and these fence sitters define this popular term of secularism in India. In real sense they issue the secular certificate to all but themselves and found most of the time competing  with each other to prove themselves more secular. If Congress announced 9% reservation to Muslims, SP announced 18% thats too when election is in progress, in complete violation of model code, most importantly any reservation based on religion is constitutionally untenable and already spurned by the supreme court several times. Any further reservation too not acceptable as that crosses the 50% mark, so why all these false posturing. In fact secularism is measured in terms of degree of appeasement but does constitution defines it that way. By wearing a skull cap if one could be secular, then only Muslims in India are secular. This is a dangerous mindset, the voice of secularism is almost week and nullified in states like UP and Assam with significant Muslim presence. In Assam a perfume seller vows to throw out BJP on flimsy ground while nursing terrorism with illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

 

Whats in Agenda?

The whole nation debated just one riot for more than a decade while conveniently ignoring 1000 odd riots across the nation. How could just one riot be a communal act and rest all are secular riots. Why all the print and electronics media keeps silent when Congress president meets a fundamentalist cleric to urge for vote on communal line. How all the vocal moderates become deaf and dumb and vanish from news channels when any such crime is committed by a secular entity. Without any other issues Congress resorts one and only tactic, labeling BJP as communal to instill fear and hatred in voters. So that, they still remain in power irrespective of massive misgovernance and corruption, but this ploy is almost few decades old and the voters are very educated now. Congress conveniently, raises the issue of Gandhi murder even though RSS the ideological parent of BJP has already been exonerated from the same allegation. A Hindu Mahasabha affiliate Nathuram Godse killed Gandhi, but the idea of Gandhi was killed by the very Congress party and the Nehru-Gandhi family. They now stand for each of the factors that Mahatma fought against, let that be dynastical politics, corruption, or pseudo secularism for minority appeasement.

 

Vision Statement

At last the obvious question, why the onus of secularism is always on the nationalist party, BJP? Why there is always a herculean realignment on political front on the prospect of a possible BJP government at center? The same people never spared Atal who they are suitably praising now to demean Narendra Modi. AB Bajpai government was pulled back twice and they always made it tough for him during the election with consensual rival candidate. The answer to those complex questions is very straight forward, the guiding ideology of BJP challenged the very status-quo of politics in India by posing as sincere alternative that promises to break the myths of caste system uniting the Hindu votes. Once that happens, there won’t be any petty politics nor minority appeasement to remain in power, then only the politics of development ensues. The foundation of global super power lies in the rich fundamentals of its democracy sans these avoidable anomalies.

 

Vande Mataram

AAP Trilogy: Politics of Opportunism – General Election, 2014

Anything for Vote

Most of the experts still wondered about the Delhities being gullible but to their complete surprise the same Delhi people did outsmart AAP by voting for the unrealistic promises. In fact, its there way to say, well fulfill those promises now. Kejriwal was initially confused with the so called mandate but as they digested the election results little bit, the clueless-ness about the purpose of the mandate was clearly evident from their behavior. Media houses were actually embroiled in deep quandary, i.e not in a position to continue supporting Congress against popular public sentiments neither interested in promoting the rising sentiments in favor of BJP. Sooner than later AAP became the blue eyed boy of the entire print & electronics media with 24/7 coverage of all the developments including the nonsense ones. The Great India Nautanki Show hosted by Kejriwal, catered cheap entertainment to public across India. For a moment the impression was BJP’s all round performance in all the 4 states’ assembly election was minuscule against AAP’s near impressive 2nd position in Delhi assembly. Media’s grand design to wither out all hypes around BJP, past state election result, to protect Congress from a sure downfall before crucial national election, was partially successful.

 

Gimme a Tight Hug

People all across the country started joining this brand new political party as if the long lost relatives plunge into a person after the news of winning a lottery ticket just broke out. These socially oppressed and professionally suppressed people were actually looking for a platform to re-lunch their career. AAP was a relatively convenient option for these liberal looking bunch for quite obvious reason. Certainly, AAP found an army of photogenic debaters in news channels while strategically positioning itself as the primary rivals of the BJP, against the ground realty where Congress still held its forts. In the interest of Crown prince Rahul, Sonia wanted a dummy to fight BJP, so Congress could sail through easily. So, Congress adopted a 2 way policy, firstly to promote Brand Rahul with media Blitzkrieg and secondly keeping BJP engaged with AAP, secretly funded by them.

 

Always Hand in Gloves

 

BJP led by Modi was not sure of handling these bunch of mavericks with unsettling strategies unfolding with each passing days. In fact nobody was sure so they adopted the wait and watch policy to tackle the new political menace that recently out-shined Congress in national capital. Politics is a game of worst game-plans, Sonia Gandhi ensured, Shiela Dixit’s defeat in the hand of Kejriwal from a constituency of government employees, vowed never to debunk the ruling establishment. Off late the grand old lady had become a bone in the throat of congress central leadership who might be vying for an elevation at national level. So a humiliating defeat should fortify her political death in Delhi politics.

 

I Need Some Loyal Supporters

This is completely absurd to imagine that a fringe party with less than a 1% vote share could garner the kind of media fanfare it enjoyed in last few months. The same media was conspicuously silent about JP Narain from Hyderabad an honest retd. bureaucrat, a true crusader against all socio-political malice. Media even conveniently downplayed, the political grand standings of the most educated and honest chief minster of  the Indian state of Goa. No body really cared whether he opted out of govt Bungalow, rebuffed securities and above all, all the luxuries attached to his office. As soon as the media hype around AAP’s electoral success settled a bit, the responsibility of governance mounted serious pressure on the street agitators turned politician. They say, politics is a one way traffic, once in politics always in politics with no option to step back. This is a double trap situation for AAP, where the mandate is interestingly scattered among 3 parties publicly posturing against each other.

 

Who is Anna?

BJP played safe this time, with clear eye on the national election just a quarter away otherwise breaking a fringe group to arrange four lawmakers was not at all a big deal for this grand party of some ethics. Though they still practice relatively cleaner politics in the matter of handling dynasties, internal democracy or corruption. But the new group in town has no history, so while they can cause immense damage to the rivals, they themselves would always remain insulated against any charges. So BJP feared even if they manage to form a government in the national capital, this would give full opportunity to AAP to accelerate the decibel of their agitation to be loud enough for the whole country to hear, causing serious impact in the election year.

 

Bhaad me Jaye Delhi… Desh ko Bachana Hai…..

Within few days, AAP has now enough political wisdom to stay away from governance but only at their own risk. The agitators’ party have already hyped their electoral performance as mandate, so the constituents have challenged back to deliver governance. A deal was allegedly brokered to arrange support for AAP, but how could AAP take support from Congress to govern Delhi while their whole campaign was against them. So with the help of media they orchestrated, an entertaining fiction called Jan Sabha to gather public opinion on the same subject. All of sudden the recently decimated Congress became very powerful as a potential king maker, but the AAP-Congress rule in Delhi offered at least some happy moments to each of the top players. BJP got enough opportunity to sharpen its arsenals before general election and possible state re-election while exposing AAP’s collective in-experience in Delhi government. Congress was enjoying a bit of power even after a serious electoral drubbing, with the control to pull the govt any day may be when it suited best to their design after discrediting them publicly. Most importantly, may be as part of the deal, they guaranteed AAP’s complete silence on Congress misrule and corruption.

Special Bungalow for General Class….

 

For those who expected AAP to govern and complete at least a full tenure even in a city state like Delhi, they have to be really disappointed. These agitators does not have this sense of responsibility in their blood, the best they can do is barb charges of misrule against others and spend exchequers’ money with a mindless economy. Within a week, they proved it time and again and looked for opportunities to escape from the duty towards the voters. In fact, vote bank politics, is Indian National Congress’s reinvention of British’s game plan “Divide and Rule”, framed to appease a few at the peril of national interest adopted well into the manifestos of Kejriwal. After they tested the first blood in Delhi, they became political predators sensing a national slot within striking distance. Starting from minority appeasement to doling out freebies to a particular sub-section in the society, they did everything, this undone all their claims to be a pro-public party with difference. They defied every such thing that they originally stood for, the nation started to realize how they promised moons to the electorates. Kejriwal mingled with ill-famed Maulana Taqueer Rana, Imamas for Muslim votes bank. Their claim to stop VIP culture took a serious beating, when all AAP ministers opted for VIP SUVs, security and luxurious flats mocking the AAM ADMI with their cruel jokes.

 

Even in the ticket distribution, they even did not allocate a respected number seats to women candidates let alone minorities. All the cases against Shiela Dixit suddenly disappeared from their website, usually vocal Kejriwal became perpetually silent about Sonia Gandhi & co. Those who claimed all their decisions are made in full public eye in the Jana Sabhas all of sudden had closed door meetings with serious fall out, with Bineys, Sharmas publicly venting their anger. Scandals involving Rakhi Birla, Somnath Bharthi, Prasant Busana, Sazia Ilmi became talk of the town. The matter of Kejriwal’s government flat in the posh location at the exchequer’s cost does not go down well with even a staunch AAP supporters. Imagine, how this unemployed politician manages to pay few hundred thousand rupees rent a month. He should have thought of some other deserving person while unlawfully occupying the house, equally despicable the pretext, upcoming daughter’s exam. Well there a millions of parents waiting for their children’s exam, if everybody would cling to a public property, that would bring anarchy in this country.

 

Who said that we follow Gandhi….

The democratic Maoism yet to start, failed in governance the depleted public image forced the desperate AAP leaders to resign. One after the other Kejriwal started all sort of drama still being a CM with the governor and the home ministry enjoying the show. In the end, on the pretext of Janlokpal bill Kejriwal staged his infamous walk out from government after 48 days in power. This did not take much time for the public to understand how they were cheated in the broad daylight when on April fool’s day all the 90 days old subsidies came to an end. Kejriwal is rather concerned about his national ambition with a skull cap to lure Muslim vote banks. Well, in this little span of time, this party of preposterous people proved this, time and again that they are no different and equally worse while it comes to politics of opportunism, or even worst. Interestingly, non of the tools they used to acquire political limelight were by their side, be that Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Kiran Bedi or the Print & Electronics Media, or the public at large. AAP’s politcal fortune is waiting for a legendary fall with this general election of 2014, to decimate the public hope perpetually. If I look back at Arvind 3 years back, in 2011 hardly anybody knew this guy, and now hardly anybody knows where Anna Hazare is? What a parody, only time would teach a lesson to this impostor, who did not even spare the Republic day.

 

This is the end of AAP Trilogy. Please watch out for Why Modi is a bare necessity this time….

 

AAP full Series:

http://ibijay.blogspot.in/2014/01/aap-trilogy-phenomena-called-aap-begins.html

http://ibijay.blogspot.in/2014/01/aap-trilogy-first-blood-mission-delhi.html

 

A Trillion Dollar Question.

All Messed up

Of course its about Health, Kishan (Hope you are reading). This is not just a figure but an estimate of health expenses in near future for a poor country like India. Sometime back, I came across a detailed report by PWC talking about various facets of this topic, healthcare in India. Though, the consulting giant’s concern is purely commercial, looking at our typical health weakness as a corporate opportunity. But the question still remains, who would foot the bill, while the discussion is about a country where majority still struggles for a square meal.

Those who are interested in making good money, please take the clue and start your own healthcare setup ASAP. However, the concern raised is well substantiated, and should be an alarm for the death knell. This is absolutely harrowing to imagine our own people dying because of lack of money to fund their treatment. Nevertheless, this grave issue has compounded over a century now with many determinants spoiling the case. We must have forgotten the ideal lifestyle since centuries and consider the same as a retrograde thought, food habits too equally deplorable. So indisputably, lifestyle diseases have crippled the entire population, leading a reckless life running after a mirage (money). The health expenses in fact an unaccounted-for spending for a growing economy, but beyond our imagination the magnitude keeps pace with the so called huge size of the economy itself. The crux of the story is whether, we are still in positive after considering the projected future medical bills or the entire lifetime savings would fall drastically short of that figure.

Even though we are barely saving some money, the subject requires a wholehearted soul-searching. The potential complications responsible for this situation and possible way outs in order to match off strengths with weaknesses and trading off threats with opportunities. Amazingly, the solutions are very neatly embedded with each of the problem basically the lifestyle and food habits.

At the outset, we are living in denigrated environment filled with urban filth all around, the air, water and earth all are contaminated with hazardous elements. The protective layer of our mother nature has been breached to allow all sort of disorder into our psycho-physical system. Though this subject requires separate discussion, responsible bodies are in action now, in right perspective to restore some order for a living condition on this planet.

The competitive work environment and technology have taken their toll on lifestyle, we have almost forgotten all the basic commandments for healthy life. All we are religiously following is rather the rules for a wealthy life, undermining the fact that health always remains the most treasured wealth. Sound sleep is primary for good health, that must not be compromised nor substituted with. Work pressure and stress causes a lot of lifestyle diseases including diabetes and blood pressure. The anxiety level should be controlled by adhering to a philosophical approach to life.

Lifestyle being a broad subject, I am kin on attaching the work-out aspect here. Let that be aerobics, dancing, jogging, cardio, weight exercise, or even martial arts, a regular routine ensures body resistance in this hostile condition. We in India, reinvented “Yoga & Pranayam” only after westerns started preaching back the same to us. The matter of fact is we are not proud of ourselves, any thing that comes with a “Made In India” tag is rebuffed instantly as out dated or not up-to the mark. However, just fifteen minutes of Yoga everyday, conditions the body resilient enough to insulate it from all maladies including the critical ones.

Last but not the least, the food habits, alone can either kill or save the entire population. Right food of right portion on right time is key to healthy life. But in this generation a food is right only if that tastes well but lets not forget about the bitter pill. I remember during my childhood the brown rice used to be ridiculed as a backward choice. Doctors now recommend that along with other raw food items snubbing all processed and fast foods. Lifestyle too is responsible for the improper food habits, as we tend to eat nonsense just to survive and continue to work. Working hard is good but not at the cost of loosing on good health, then the benefits reaped would be dwarfed by the cost incurred.

There must be a research commissioned on the typical Indian foods for the purpose of understanding the health implications. In fact the millions year of study has been applied aptly while recommending various delicacies. The bills of material are so meticulously cooked that not only that presents mouth-watering items but also healthy food. A further study could even establish the food items cure some internal diseases, thats too quietly. For instance a pulse called “Kolatha” mixed with other pulses while preparing DAL, cures from any abdominal stone problem apart from improving the digestive system. A classic spice, cumin seed used to accentuate the taste as well as ability to digest the food. The same is used as a medicine to cure acute stomach disorder, as a clear indication of Ayurvedic influence.

Let me workout

The tragedy is, the very people I am writing for, might not be reading this, so my message may be lost in transition. Nonetheless the the menace of growing medical bill can be tames to some extent with medical insurance in place. Otherwise, the entry to a hospital would be barred, saying ‘Right to admission is reserved with the management.” The most vulnerable people are in the unorganized sector, the government should implement, health schemes to cover these people from healthcare commercialization.

This article is a heart felt tribute to all my friends who passed away untimely because of health issues.

An Engima Called Envy….

I have more dollars than you

A typical trait that comes with every living body and  whosoever claims he is not a victim of jealousy he must be lying. Even animals too blessed with this, saints who have given up all material attachments suffer from this ailment. Well this is quite natural and a pure animal instinct like eating, sleeping, sex and fear. I called this a mystery because of the complications attached to this quintessential feature. The more closer the relationship higher the degree of jealousy, and vice versa.

Carlos Slim might have added few more Bugatti’s into his convey, but that does not matter to me, I even do not care if that guy has coughed up few billions in the run-up to world’s richest person. What concerns me more is my closest neighbor bought a Volkswagen hatchback, while I still have a small Suzuki one. People won’t tolerate their own, siblings, children or even parent’s success let alone dearest friends. In case of working spouses one partner can’t digest others promotion in office though they never express their emotion for the sake of family. Why are we so mean, sometime the envy pushes us to limits, we would prefer to see others failure even complete finish off rather than a small success.

The local folklore and idioms are even more satirical, while a popular one suggests, a wife would even prefer death of her husband just to ensure her husband’s other female partners become widow. Another one is a short story where an angel gives a boon to a person “if he desires something, his neighbor would receive double of what he receives”. Ultimately, he asks for half death for himself killing his neighbor calmly. However, the incitement to achieve something for one’s self, could be a peculiar upside of this intimate feeling.

Let’s Share

There is one more kind of jealousy, when two different known but unrelated people can’t tolerate the fact that other person have another friend. In fact they share a different kind of camaraderie, emotionally attached to each other though personally yet to bond. Nevertheless, the main reason behind this wild emotion is non-participation or shareholding. Till the time we consider others’ success as alien to us we would continue to envy them, “Owners’ Pride, Neighbor’s Envy”. The moment success has a share-holding of all, everybody takes the pride and no place of other’s jealousy then. Though the onus lies on the legitimate owner of the success, to make others feel as part of them. This is a good trick though to avoid jealousy within close circles. As long as a spouse’s promotion guarantees family trip abroad that’s really fun.

Business Code of Ethics

Being Ethical

Being ethical and a businessman are altogether paradoxical. Business is synonymous to growth, only an opportunist person can lead the entire organisation for the fulfillment of the single point objective, boosting up revenue. This is altogether a non-criminal act of prudent business management that may not necessarily be absolutely ethical. When business competitors leave no stone unturned for ensuring each others failure expecting ethical practices is abnormal.

Personally I am a big fan of Ratan Tata, the former head of the oldest and largest business empire in India, the Tata Group. The elite list in fact a minuscule archive of gentleman- businessman that I personally adore and admire. Be that be Narayan Murthy of Infy or Mr.Bose, the name i.e. identical to unparalleled acoustic products. Well I never proclaimed, the business practices followed by these organisation just mentioned are completely principled or these gentlemen are completely unaware of the major unethical doings in their respective organisations. However, these honorable men primarily focus on delivering quality products and services rather than making profit. In this highly competitive business context unless you have an edge over others you are certain for purging when competitors resort to all possible methods (including the ones not in copy book). So the sum and substance of this thesis is either you be an ordinary businessman or an extraordinary one who not only professes ethics but also possesses some unordinary big ideas that put you in the lead.

Coincidentally, when I last appeared for my CFA exam, I had a spirited read through of the code of ethics section. The core of the stream entirely focus on the said subject and the ever intriguing questionnaire are aimed at reviewing the potential of a candidates understanding of the topic when applied in real life business. The ethics are so crystal clear on quite complex areas of operations that it can smell a rat in a usual looking business deal. The humor is, a stalwart student of the same stream, Rajat Gupta defied all the ethics in the lust for making more money. ‘Insider Trading’ may be a strange term in India but its quite common in USA with several monumental convictions. One principle that rules the business world is ‘make money’, money prevails over all ethics. Why just business, money controls the whole world as the only universally spoken language.

Now if somebody claims Mr.Ambani is corrupt (that principally everybody agrees), but the charges may not be legally tenable. The case may be rejected by the court on the very ground of common jurisprudence. Everything is right as long as that’s not criminal and there is no place for ethics as long as that generates good money. However, here lies the main difference between an ordinary businessman and an extraordinary one. Till you promote an ordinary idea and commercialise to earn profit, you are bound to employ corrupt mindset for survival and growth. In contrast, an extraordinary idea sells itself with clear cut advantage over others in competition.

The Big Idea

Lets understand one more theorem, both in private and public sector the ordinary staffs are mostly corrupt or unethical at least in the matter of promotions as compared to the actual talented ones. The talented lot repose their faith in their own skills for growth so need not to adhere to any lowly or unethical method. The ordinary here implies both the IQ aspect and lethargic attitude. Desire for money would always be there but the dearth of big ideas and talent always gives space to unethical actions. Google, Facebook or Apple are the best examples, how big ideas can make really big money not necessarily being unethical.

Money Sleeps For Ever!!!

 “Greed is good” ~ Wall Street. Three words that are arguably the finest epitaph for the era of excess that began in the 1980s, excessive greed compounded even further and finally culminated in the most serious economic crisis in 2008 impairing the whole economy. “Madness is badness of spirit, when one seeks profit from all sources” – Aristotle. We have the new nomenclature as coined famously by British media “Casino Banking” quite evidently instrumental for high growth across business verticals, multiplying money over a century now. Greed probably closely echoes the inherent driving spirit of the industry. However the exposure is now unlimited and stakes are quite high, financial crisis are driving the economy to nothing but a double deep recession. The unraveling facts yet to appear in public domain might potentially bring in new surprises in the crises laden economy.

“How much is enough” ~Money Never Sleeps, sums up the important message to the underlying problem. After the Financial crisis of 2008, there was a hue and cry all over the globe about the functioning, administration and regulation of Financial Institutes. The most impacted are the banks which as per me form the most regulated sector in the industry. In an industry where a bank operates with a capital of 2% to manage £1 trillion asset/public money this becomes more imperative to censure the fooling around in the way of making money. We all have heard about the BASELIII, ICB, Dodd-Frank, SOX compliance, various stress tests and other global and local regulations coming into force like never before. Another result was a fire sale of assets to boost balance sheets. The banks were desperate to raise capital and shrink their balance sheets, often under orders from regulators. Banks now need to assess the impact of revised regime and their ability to track leverage ratio (exposure/capital), liquidity coverage ratio, large exposures, regulatory capital, risk management etc.

To add to Bankers woes, ICB now has brought in the reforms to ring-fence retail banking operations from their “casino” investment banking business. Capital ratios requirements are further raised. There is a tremendous pressure on banks by banking supervisors, central banks and finance ministries. The tighter the regulatory framework, the more likely the rules will be different from country to country, which would drastically raise the fixed costs of an international strategy, given that a number of the big players are global. These regulations are further viewed as obstacle to cross-border mergers and acquisitions by certain market participants.

The tight regulations still cannot compensate for inadequate supervision by regulators and poor decisions and rogue trades by bankers. We are in a global market and tight local regulations would mean there is no level playing field in cross border sectors/operations. Having said this, I completely endorse the BASEL III norms and banks across the globe should adopt and adhere to these guidelines, sooner the better .In a way, there would be a single set of regulations for all competitive entities. Regulators must understand that too many, or too complex rules are completely unnecessary and unwanted. By prescribing overdose of sleeping peel the regulators might be scripting for Hollywood sequel to Michael Douglas starrer  ‘Money Sleeps For Ever’. Nevertheless, these steps underscore the intention behind and the coherent message in order to build a robust industry. To conclude my view is to find the right balance to enhance the efficiency of a Bank, ensuring accountability and effectiveness of banking sector as a whole.

 

Co-Authored by Kartar Singh Parmar, written almost 18 months ago on the contemporary conditions in banking sector.

A Gladiator Who Defied The Anarchist Empress, Again…

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the late sixties, the proximity towards power exposed this wild side of her more apparently. The madness of her absolute power was so extreme that she demolished the very structure of democracy that initiated her into Indian Politics. The most powerful leader ever born in India was so power hungry that she would happily encroach upon all socio-political codes established by our revered constitution. If I go by the hearsay, she even perpetrated elimination of the most honest and loved leader of our nation in connivance with anti national external forces. As the continuance of the slain leader in office could have perpetually marred the anarchist queen’s chances in politics. There were similar allegations around the death of her younger son who was once her chief political mastermind cum henchman. May be that’s her strategy to prolong her affair with the chair even if that means killing her own people.

Whenever the paid puppets make frivolous claims about significant contributions of the empress towards developing this ever developing nation, I often charge back with two monumental contributions of her as essential add-ons. Typically two ‘C’s, Corruption and Criminalisation. Her assertion, “corruption is a global phenomena now’, is so reprehensible as a PM of a poor country, exhibits nothing more than a gloomy mindset of the so called tall leader. Truly she is the mother of the entire breed of  politicians of this generation, inheriting those two important genes in their DNA. She did this meticulous and added these 2 perilous pillars systematically into the grand democratic framework of our constitution. 

Can she hide?

 (She returns from electioneering in Orissa. A stone thrown at her split her lip and broke her nose)

Well whenever we discuss about the root of corruption in our country, I find myself lost in the obvious root cause analysis. Surprisingly, the empress usually rescues me from the so called entanglement, by making the honest confession. Very evidently the corruption was completely rootless until the show was managed by the “Man of Peace”, so the circumstantial evidence too points the finger toward the queen. Who was synonymous to this very nation as someone once famously mentioned “She is India”, going little further she even renamed the political party by her name. The naked dance of  power in literal sense reminding the folklore of Aurangzeb as a cruel and oppressive ruler. Well she too reinforced dynastic politics by gatecrashing herself and enrolling her off-springs as the natural heir to the chair. Proclamation of emergency in mid seventies as a hopeless last measure to avoid losing power clearly underscores her tyrant attitude.

ET once mentioned she legalized corruption in India. She in fact nationlised corruption along with the banking sector. Tales of her bribing public servants during elections and general governance was so widespread that corruption became practice (a necessary evil) a generally accepted norm in India. However, stimulus to write this exclusive piece on the empress was more for the other stupendous contribution, criminalisation. In fact the empress was drawing synergy from this unique fusion story of corruption and criminalisation as a tool for chronic power. The media was made deaf and dumb, the opposition was reduced to prisoners languishing behind the bar and nation at large was terrified from the fear of castration. In one of our regular discussions, my journalist friend working as a state govt information officer, instigated me to write a blog on this. Well, the story is yet to unfold, the brave accounts of the local Robin-hood, a gladiator who had the guts to defy the empress.

The story continues…