Despite all the talk of a new age India & Indians, and of youth, modernity and development, many an Industrialist would not be wrong in lamenting that we still operate in a 70s political mindset. The big Industrialist has remained the convenient villain - especially during elections, and for politicians. One can maybe understand Kejriwal’s ‘theatrics’ (to get prime coverage), but even a ‘youth leader’ like Rahul has not been above this gamesmanship. The result is that, while Industry may (rightly) be touted as the best answer for large-scale employment/jobs – which our burgeoning youth population sorely need - Industrialists have not been given the respectability that most of them deserve. Let us remember that they take the maximum risks; try running a large manufacturing business.
Does the Congress not have (and always had) their ‘favourite industrialists’? Did Ambani flourish only under Modi, and under BJP Central rule? Many approvals need to come from the Centre. Why is industry, and that too only in Gujarat, suddenly the focus? Rahul says land has been given ultra cheap to Ambani, Adani and Tata (Nano). The world over industry is wooed – because they invest heavily and for the long term, hire people in thousands and lakhs, pay multiple duties and taxes, and produce goods that are required by millions of customers. And how come the IT industry and Private Hospitals are not seen similarly – after all, prime land in many Metros has been given to them virtually free (for far lesser investment or job creation). Big Industry (read Industrialist) remains the most convenient scapegoat. Is it because they are not politically – as in votes – relevant? Is it maybe expedient for AAP to look for appreciation from the aam aadmi by railing against a top Industrialist like Ambani?
Kejriwal & AAP should also have sensed the mood on corruption (at least the type) by now. The middle class does not see Mukesh Ambani as a villain – in fact he is probably a role model for many; and the poor clearly have other (lower level) priorities. Reliance as a corporate is still the pride of India. It has delivered record output, employment, returns and taxes – for decades; that too through global scale investments and operations. It requires entrepreneurial skills, including risk-taking, of the highest order. To go after him as if he is the worst scamster is, to put it mildly, being ‘political’ – as Kejriwal now happily concedes he has become. The reality is that corruption in high places is not the killer app. In fact even the scams may have not tilted the scales against the Congress, if food and fuel prices, atrocities on young women and the daily corruption had not escalated – and some concrete action was taken to tackle them. The poor (rightly) see AAP as a Party that can best deliver them their basic rights, services and facilities (including removal of corruption at ‘low places’). As long as these are delivered, aam aadmi can ‘live with corruption in high places’. The real scams are of Ministers and Politicians merrily making money and delivering nothing; of Builders making profits based on inside information, and late/non-delivery and ‘change of land use’ regularly – by first duping farmers of their land. The Builder Mafia has been allowed to run amok. They are playing with the middle-class’ hard-earned money. Gurgaon, in a State run by the Congress, is their favourite playground.
AAP, and especially Kejriwal, also need to come clear on some other points. Why is he silent on corrupt (ex-fellow) bureaucrats – and there are more than a few? In fact, without them, scams are almost impossible. Hopefully he does not see them as victims of the system! Further, are ‘middlemen’ not the really big villains in our country? They buy from farmers at Re 1, then hoard, and sell finally at Rs 10. And yet BJP and AAP do not want FDI in Retail. They see traders as their vote bank (how so for AAP?) and are willing to ignore farmers and consumers. They probably believe that if these beneficiaries are not given the opportunity, they will never know the benefit. Kejriwal has even gone to the extent of calling 90% of traders basically honest. He says that the system makes them do wrong things. What a convenient alibi. Why not so for others? Kejriwal should know that traders seem to prefer the current system – they can fix it easily. They are not looking for a change.
The talk from all Parties should be one of hope…and opportunity. There should be no room for the stoking of fear or for making grand accusations. We need to increasingly look at the youth. They all want to make it big. Politicians and even Society will do well to remember that in today’s world, and especially for the youth, money and profit are most positive words – and they know that they do not come automatically (for most anyway). Successful Industrialists and Businessmen are therefore strong role models for them – as they should be.
The piece de resistance is to hear the Congress, including Rahul, talk of the high BJP Ad spends! The big Party has just been outdone on something that was its pride. The Congress crib cannot be due to a shortage of Party funds – the past 5 years have been a bonanza of scams of the highest order. Maybe the funds are being parked privately – after seeing the writing on the wall….
The aam aadmi’s interests would best be served by AAP fighting and winning the Delhi and Haryana Assembly elections – and then proceeding to deliver good governance and delivery of effective civic services through Mohalla Sabhas. With a few years of that performance as a showcase, they should be in a strong position in the next Parliament elections, as also for other State assembly elections. Any shorter cut is proving to be impractical and costly….and also leading to a credibility loss.
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