Behind India’s glitter
An estimated 40,000 workers protested at a mass rally in Delhi, on Feb. 23 against the failure of the government to control inflation and the exclusion of most of the poor from the benefits of economic growth and liberalization.
This was one of the biggest protest rallies held in India in recent times. Unfortunately, most of the Indian papers did not carry the news item on their front pages.
Manmohan Singh, India’s beleaguered prime minister, has finally sung a swan song and agreed to a parliamentary investigation into the telecom corruption scandal that has infuriated the entire nation. All doubts pertaining to the irregularities in the award of 2G telecoms licenses, which has cost the national exchequer $39 billion, need to be addressed, if the government has to retain any credibility. The government sold 120 licenses in one day, at prices set in 2001!
The 8 to 9 percent GDP growth rates, of which India is so proud, stand diminished by the spate of corruption and economic mismanagement. India’s capital Delhi has become the epicenter of frauds, scandals and scams.
Manmohan Singh has lost all credibility to be the leader of the government. He failed to restrain his Cabinet colleagues, who misused their offices and positions for financial aggrandizement. He should have known that an economy that is liberalizing provides ample opportunities for plunder and theft.
India’s success story is clearly aimed at mesmerizing the foreign media and boosting the images abroad of some leaders. But the reality is that slums proliferate, millions of Indians sleep on pavements and defecate on streets. The urban infrastructure is collapsing. Prices of basic foodstuffs and vegetables like onions and garlic have gone up by 200 to 300 percent.
We have seen what the prime minister has done to stem the rot. One hopes Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress, will shed her Sphinx-like silence and sack the corrupt from the party.
Comments
ARINDAM
Feb 26, 2011 20:59
Report abuseThis India seems to be doing, albeit rather slowly.
AMIN SHARIEFF
Feb 27, 2011 23:30
Report abuseINDIAN EXPATRIATE
Feb 28, 2011 14:44
Report abuseMUHAMMAD SALEEM
Feb 28, 2011 23:46
Report abusePRIYADARSHAN JHA
Feb 28, 2011 23:47
Report abuseLet people teach congress party a lesson.