Mr. Prime Minister Needs a Sabbatical

This post is dedicated to all those individuals who created much noise about RG's sabbatical.  Mr. Vardarajan, a veteran journalist went on to say "Rahul, Please Note That Modi Takes No Sabbaticals".  I wondered, why so much brouhaha about  taking a sabbatical? Bible refers to God taking Sabbatical.   Even the growing field takes sabbatical during which time, it prepares for the next crop. The period of “Kharmas” in Hindus too depicts a similar spirit, where people take break and do no auspicious work.

Every university and almost every good company have provision for sabbatical. University of Columbia too  has provisions for sabbatical (Univ. of Columbia is Mr. Vardarajan's alma mater!), where  employees take a break for their self-development or  for complete leisure.

Coming back to point that Mr. Modi takes no sabbatical, I think  Mr. Modi may not take a sabbatical for as such he is mostly rejuvenating himself in foreign land, announcing his "make believe" plans and policies, which his team back is working hard to turn it real!  Mr. Modi hardly visits his constituency, and hardly spending any time on "soil of India", both literally and virtually! He may not feel the need for a sabbatical. 

However, I have a suggestion for Mr. Modi! I think he must take sabbatical to rethink on his future course of action, for his current approach on governance  seems to be failing him, his party and most importantly, people of India.

For instance, government claimed that coal auction will be done in more transparent way, yielding to higher yield. Not many know that  the government still retains the discretionary power to allot coal mines under it’s new auction policy vide section 5 of the proposed Bill. A copy of the Bill can be found  here. 

Further, the price of coal mines under the new auction policy will be administered by the government; and, as is the case whenever resources are allotted by any means other than competitive bidding in the open market, leaving  a lot of scope for “quid pro quo”. The resulthas been, and will be; no different with coal mines.

While Mr. Piyush Goyal, his cabinet minister, claims that the new Bill will bring transparency,  I wonder how? Section 20 allows successful bidder to enter into “Certain Agreements" or arrangements with other successful bidder or allottee or coal linkage holder, as the case may be, for optimum utilisation of coal mine for the same end-uses in the public interest and to achieve cost efficiencies. Well, to my sane mind, this agreement sounds more like “collusion” or “cartelization” that most of the antitrust agreements aim to prevent.

Modi Government’s claim on Rafale deal  too has mixed reviews, both by experts as well as people.

 Even in case of spectrum auction, while the govt claims that the price of airwaves in 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz has seen significant rise over the value fixed by government, on the flip-side, the telecom companies are lobbying very hard to impose OTT costs on to the consumer (against Net Neutrality). This will try to get them the money back that has been spent in procurement of spectrum.

Talking about consumers, Consumer Price Index CPI in India increased to 120.10( it did touch that peak even during UPA time, when oil prices In international market was much higher!)

 

Source : NASDAQ:http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/crude-oil.aspx?timeframe=3y

Oil prices, well crude oil prices have gone down significantly but its impact on the consumer is less significant. This is because high price charged by oil marketing companies (OMCs) to their dealers. Is the government is hand in gloves with these companies? Why does the government not check the soaring price? As rightly pointed out by Mr Sitaram Yechury, “the benefit of low fuel prices in the international market has not been passed on to the common man. Instead, the Government hiked excise duty to benefit industrialists. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/petroleum-dharmendra-pradhan-excise-duty/1/406286.html)

Some where the economics of BJP has failed both its own electoral who have been waiting for their “Acche Din” and all Consumers! Let alone the discussion on religious intolerance that has grown in our country, the anti- national behaviour of their alliance govt in J&K and spread of religious discrimination by acquiescing to decision on separate dresses for Hindu & Muslim kids in Ahmedabad. 

Source: Indian Express

Source: Indian Express

The main purpose of a school uniform is to spread uniformity and uphold equality           ! But even the government seems to sow the seed of discrimination eve in those innocent minds.

It is high time, Mr. Prime Minister takes a sabbatical, reflects back on these issues and come back with a cogent plan on how to run the country.