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06 NEW DELHI, THURSDAY 06 JUNE 2024 Vol.

CXXXXXVIII 133

Incorporating and directly descended


Shastri’s tasks A MEMBER
OF THE

ASIAN VOICES
from THE FRIEND OF INDIA - Founded 1818
In June 1964, with the 1962 Chinese invasion still rankling India, Prime Minister Shastri Let’s take immediate
Social justice agenda said, ‘It had always been our desire to establish friendly relations with China. But all action so no more

T he 2024 Lok Sabha elections herald a significant our efforts were nullified by the Government of the People‘s Republic of China. China children will be
shift in Indian politics, marking a resurgence of has wronged us deeply and offended our Government and people by her premeditated forgotten on
Mandal politics and the principles of social justice.
This election has shown in some parts of India, a depar- aggression against us‘ school buses

I
ture from the BJP’s approach that dominated the past n addition to raising awareness of

I
decade. The electorate’s move towards parties advocat- Development Department sho- responsibility among those invol-
ing fair representation and economic justice have put t was 11 June 1964 when uld for the next one year do ved in transporting children to and
the brakes on a narrative that many deemed increasing- Lal Bahadur Shastri made nothing else except concen- from schools in every school in the
ly hegemonistic. For the past 10 years, the BJP’s strategies his first broadcast to the trate its efforts on increasing country, implementing solutions from
in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were pivotal to its national nation, two days after agricultural production. Every all levels of government is crucial to
being sworn in as Prime Min- worker in the block should effectively prevent the recurring issue
consolidation. However, the 2024 results indicate a chan- ister of India on 9 June 1964. of children being forgotten on buses.
see to it that every field is
ge, particularly in UP. The electorate’s focus shifted from Paying his tribute to his pred- attended to. Every field must be Heartbreak and outrage are the
the BJP’s rhetoric to more immediate and pressing conc- ecessor, Jawaharlal Nehru, he surveyed to find out what is its overwhelming emotions I felt upon
erns ~ unemployment, rising prices of essential commo- said, “The towering personali- present production, what it reading the news on Wednesday
dities, and the erosion of rights. The opposition, made up ty who was in our midst till should be six months hence or evening about the tragic death of a
of the INDIA bloc, seized this opportunity. Led by the but a few days ago is no longer a year later…So we have to five-year-old child in the northern
Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress, the coalition with us to lead and guide us. work more in the fields and less province of Thái Bình, who was forgot-
championed a social justice agenda that appeared to res- The last of his mortal remains in our offices. I remember the ten and left on a school bus earlier that
onate with the public. Their campaigns highlighted the have gone to join the soil and late Prime Minister having day. My heart sank. The questions of
water of India he loved. Even once suggested that the Food 'How could someone forget a child in a
necessity of a caste census to ensure equitable welfare
though Jawaharlalji has and Agriculture Department bus?' and 'What can be done to quickly
delivery and emphasised fair representation by inclu- passed out of our sight, his should be taken over by the prevent similar incidents in the future?'
ding a significant number of OBC, Dalit, and minority work and inspiration live on. Chief Ministers themselves. echoed incessantly in my mind thou-
leaders in their lists of candidates. The SP's focus on the And we, his contemporaries And he did so because the sands of times.
‘PDA’ (Pichhda, Dalits, and Alpsankhyak) was ins- and colleagues, to whom was whole economy is based on According to an initial investiga-
trumental in their success. The INDIA bloc secured 44 of given the privilege of being his adequate food production and tion from the local police, around 6:20
the state’s 80 seats by appealing to a broader spectrum of countrymen, must now brace total elimination of imports.” am on Wednesday (May 29), the driver,
the electorate, demonstrating that inclusive politics could ourselves to the new tasks It pays to acknowledge N.V.L, and the teacher, P.Q.A, were
effectively counter the BJP’s narrative. This strategic pivot ahead and face the situation Shastri’s knowledge of grass- tasked with picking up pre-schoolers
away from the narrow ‘MY’ (Muslim-Yadav) focus to a the very prospect of which we roots realities, when he said, from their homes and taking them to
once used to dread ~ the situ- “We derived all our strength the school, including the child T.G.H.,
more inclusive coalition played a critical role in their ation of an India without before Independence from the who lived in Minh Khai Commune, Vu
gains. While the NDA retained a majority, the INDIA Jawaharlal.” peasants and from the cultiva- Thu District.
bloc's efforts resulted in a more competitive race, high- Shastri’s speech is filled tors. We went to villages, work- After dropping off the children at
lighting their ability to mount a substantial challenge by with emotion, conscious as he ed for months together. I re- the kindergarten, neither the teacher
forging broad-based social alliances. Beyond these heart- is of the historic role he needs to accommodation and by a con- recent broadcast showed both member in the year 1934 ~ nor the driver noticed that H. was still
land states, the INDIA bloc made significant strides in play and responsibilities to dis- stant search for areas of agree- wisdom and understanding and which was a very difficult period on the bus. It wasn't until 5pm that
regions like Rajasthan and Haryana. In Rajasthan, alli- charge: “There comes a time in ment as the basis for action that it has come just at the appropri- when a big movement was with- same day, when the child's relatives
ances with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, the Bharat Adi- the life of every nation when it democracy can work. It is in this ate time. However, a great deal drawn by Gandhiji and the Con- came to pick him up but could not find
vasi Party, and the Left paid dividends, as did the co- stands at the crossroads of his- spirit that I shall devote myself of patience will still be neces- gress was almost at its lowest him, that the school started looking for
alition efforts in Haryana. These successes underscore tory and must choose which way to the duties and responsibilities sary.” ebb, I, as the Secretary of the him. Then they discovered the child
to go. But for us there need be of the office I have been called In June 1964, with the 1962 District Congress Committee of
the importance of building diverse social coalitions to no difficulty or hesitation, no upon to fill,” he said, with deep- Chinese invasion still rankling Allahabad, went round the vil-
counter the BJP’s dominance. looking to right or left. Our way is seated conviction in his voice. India, Shastri said, “It had always lages for full one month, ex-
The 2024 election results are a testament to the straight and clear ~ the building The dire poverty of his cou- been our desire to establish plaining our policy or prog- still on the school bus. Despite being
enduring relevance of social justice in Indian politics. up of a socialist democracy at ntrymen was causing him dis- friendly relations with China. But rammes to the people. So, in our rushed to the provincial General Hos-
The opposition's ability to address economic injustices home with freedom and pros- tress. “I remember particularly all our efforts were nullified by freedom struggle, it was the cul- pital for emergency treatment, the
and ensure fair representation has not only helped them perity for all and the mainte- the claims of the most backward the Government of the People’s tivator, the peasant, who lent his child tragically passed away.
reclaim lost ground but also positioned them as credible nance of world peace and friend- sections like the Scheduled Republic of China. China has fullest support to us.” Following the heartbreaking inci-
challengers. This election has demonstrated that the ship with all other nations. To Castes and Sched- wronged us deeply He highlighted the question dent, on Wednesday night, the local
electorate values substantive issues over polarising rhet- that straight road and to these uled Tribes, who and offended our of the peasantry, and of food and police decided to prosecute the case
shining ideals we re-dedicate have suffered neg- Government and agriculture essentially with its as 'Involuntary Manslaughter' as stip-
oric and that social alliances remain a potent force in ourselves today.” lect and have had people by her pre- human element. “Our package ulated in Article 128 of the 2015 Penal
shaping India's political landscape. As the dust settles Having been an integral to endure disabili- meditated aggres- programme has not been much Code. The negligence of those involv-
on this electoral battle, some lessons emerge. Parties that part of the freedom struggle, ties for many cen- sion against us. (of a) success. It is a big ex- ed, including the driver and the tea-
embrace inclusiveness, address the economic woes of Shastri knew the importance of turies. It would be Despite our strong periment, a big trial, where you cher responsible for transporting the
the populace, and champion social justice can stake valid building up the unity and soli- my proud privilege feelings about this feed the cultivators with all the students, is the root cause of the wron-
claims on the minds of voters. The resurgence darity of our people. to work for the aggression we have things needed by them. If we do gful death of the child.
of Mandal politics, with its emphasis on fair representa- “Our country has often establishment of a shown our desire not produce the desired results Nga said she believed that those
tion and economic justice, has indeed redefined the stood like a solid rock in the face more just social for a peaceful set- in a concentrated area it will de- involved in the tragedy were all at fault,
contours of Indian democracy. But there is still a long of common danger and there is a order,” he said. tlement by accept- press me and depress all of you. showing the irresponsibility and negli-
deep underlying unity which Like Pt Nehru, RAJU ing in toto the It needs your fullest attention to gence of adults. “It's a crime,” she
way to go for the Opposition if it wishes to consolidate MANSUKHANI
runs like a golden thread thro- Shastri was firm in Colombo Propos- know where things are lacking added. That's because their negligence
these gains. ugh all our seeming diversity. his belief that eco- The writer is a researcher- als. We adhere to and what we should do in the led to the abandonment of a very
author on history and her-
But we cannot take national nomic develop- itage issues and a former them and it is for case of other areas,” he said. young child on a school bus for many

China Housing unity and solidarity for granted ment was first and China to reconsid- Hailing from a farmers’ hours, unnoticed by anyone, resulting
deputy curator of
Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya
or afford to be complacent, for foremost priority er her attitude family, Shastri knew the dynam- in his death, she said.
there have been occasions when for his govern- towards these pro- ics of production, distribution In addition to raising awareness of

C hina’s latest affordable housing policy marks a sig-


nificant step in addressing both the housing crisis
and broader economic challenges. By converting
unsold apartments into affordable homes, the govern-
unfortunate and disturbing divi-
sions, some of them accompa-
nied by violence, have appeared
in our society.”
Working closely with Mah-
ment. posals and to give up the anti-
A man of peace, growing up Indian campaign that has been
with principles of Swaraj and carried on in China and also
Ahimsa, the new Prime Minister amongst our friends in Asia and
said, “India and Pakistan are two Africa.”
and sale of foodgrains. He
warned, “Prices have gone very
high. Wholesale prices in India
are now at the highest level ever
reached and we are entering the
responsibility among those involved in
transporting children to and from
schools in every school in the country,
implementing solutions from all levels
of government is crucial to effectively
ment aims to tackle an oversupply in the property market
atma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and great countries linked together On 24 June 1964, Prime difficult lean season when prices prevent the recurring issue of children
while simultaneously providing accessible housing for
being a true Congressman, Shas- by common history and tradi- Minister Shastri addressed the normally rise further. The gen- being forgotten on buses.
various demographics. This innovative approach could tri emphasized on political tion. It is their natural destiny to Chief Ministers’ Conference in eral index at 144.5 on May 30, This is not the first such case in
not only stabilise the housing sector but also stimulate democracy and the way it has be friends with each other. New Delhi when he underscored 1964, is 8.6 per cent above the Viet Nam. In 2019, a child was found
domestic consumption, providing a much-needed boost functioned in our country. Goodwill and friendship and the importance of agriculture level a year ago. Prices of food- dead after being forgotten in a school
to the economy. One of the most commendable aspects He termed it a great achiev- mutual cooperation between and increasing production: “The grains, and other agricultural bus in Hà Noi, which also sparked
of the policy is its inclusiveness. It recognises the diverse ement. “Here again we owe an these countries will not only be real key to the problem is commodities, in particular have public outrage.
needs of the population by offering three distinct types of immeasurable debt to Jawahar- of immense benefit to them but increased production and unless risen sharply in the past year. The issue of children being forgot-
affordable housing: public rental housing, government- lalji for his deep attachment to will make a great contribution to we achieve that we will always While prices of food articles have ten on buses is not unique to Viet Nam
subsidised rental housing, and shared ownership homes. democracy as a form of govern- peace and prosperity in Asia. For be faced with difficulties and our gone up by 13 per cent cereal but is a global concern. Therefore, in
This multifaceted approach ensures that a wide range of ment and as a way of life. There too long have India and Pakistan economy would be in jeopardy, prices have increased as much some countries, authorities have taken
is something in our older cultur- been at odds with each other. leading to a crisis. It is impossi- as 16.5 per cent. This rise in measures to minimise similar acci-
individuals, from low-income families to young profes- al heritage too. I have particular- The unfortunate relations bet- ble to believe that we cannot prices imposes extreme hard- dents and better ensure the children's
sionals and skilled workers, can benefit from the pro- ly in view that enduring strand ween the two countries have increase our food production or ship and inequity on large sec- safety.
gramme. By setting income thresholds and providing in Indian life which can best be somehow had their repercus- we cannot fight the shortage of tions of the people.” For example, in the United States,
substantial subsidies, the government ensures that hous- described as respect for human sions on the relations between food in our country. How to do Sixty years after Shastri’s school buses in the US public school
ing remains within reach for those who need it most. personality and the spirit of tol- communities in the two coun- it?” historic address, governments system have installed a button called
The financial mechanisms underpinning this policy are erance. I have no doubt in my tries, giving rise to tragic human Community development are grappling with similar issues, the 'child check button'. The button is
said to be robust and multifaceted. Local governments mind that it is only by methods problems. We must reverse the programme was his focus. “My though intentions and perspec- located at the back of the bus, behind
are leading the charge, but central authorities are step- of persuasion and mutual tide… President Ayub Khan’s feeling is that the Community tives are dissimilar. the last row of seats.
ping in to provide critical support. The finance ministry’s
frontloading of subsidies and the central bank’s increase LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
in pledged supplementary lending funds are pivotal
moves. These actions not only demonstrate the govern- traying its return to power as
ment’s commitment but also ensure that sufficient
resources are available to meet the ambitious housing
targets. Moreover, the introduction of a 300 billion yuan
Respect the verdict inevitable.
Yours, etc.,
Sanjay Chopra,
MODIFIED

SIR, Though the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the
relending facility specifically for affordable housing Mohali, 5 June. Lok Sabha elections, failure to get an absolute majority will force it
underscores a strategic use of financial instruments to SIR, This refers to the editorial politics after 10 years. to depend upon its allies.
address social needs. “Back to a coalition” (The States- The Congress too should The consequence of this is that the party cannot govern like it
man, June 5). The people’s ver- respect the verdict, and avoid an BY CONSENSUS did in the last two terms.
The policy’s potential to revitalise the real estate mar-
dict can’t be louder than this as it attempt of any post-poll coalition SIR, This refers to the front page For Mr Narendra Modi, it is a kind of ‘modified’ verdict sug-
ket is significant. By converting unsold apartments into wants the BJP to be more concil- at this moment. report, “NDA wins but Opp on gesting that he should ‘modify’ himself by shedding his style of
affordable housing, the government addresses the issue iatory and less confrontational Respect for the people re- revival path” (5 June). The BJP- functioning.
of excess supply, which has plagued the Chinese real towards the political aspirations quires all parties to stick to their led NDA has won the election, For other parties which have romped home, the verdict should
estate market in recent years. This move could help sta- of various communities and pre-poll alliances and positions. but with a slender majority. be taken with all humility as the offer of freebies does not bring
bilise property prices and restore confidence among regions of India. BJP has performed wonder- The ruling party has failed to about votes and they will face the wrath of people if they go berserk
investors and consumers alike. Furthermore, it aligns The verdict also shows the fully by winning a seat in Kerala, get a simple majority on its own, misusing the ‘power’ wrested upon them.
with broader urban renewal and infrastructure projects, limits of communal politics. The thus breaching a fortress and by receiving shocks in UP and Yours, etc., V S Jayaraman,
creating a cohesive strategy to rejuvenate urban areas BJP must accept this message in a ousting the BJD in Odisha. Maharashtra. The Congress dou- Chennai, 5 June.
and stimulate economic growth. Importantly, this policy democratic spirit, and retune All said and done, the people bled its score, proving to be a
itself to the reality of coalition did not like BJP’s strategy of por- force to be reckoned with.
also aims to reduce the financial burden on households. There is now ample oppor- for the future of federalism and ment, price rise and social dis-
With affordable housing options, families and individuals tunity to revive parliamentary democracy in India. crimination.
can allocate less of their income to rent or mortgage pay- sovereignty which was in peril Yours, etc., The party failed to penetrate
ments. This increased disposable income can then be under the shadow of executive S S Paul, in rural Bengal, rather tried to
channelled into other areas of the economy, driving dominance. Nadia, 5 June. cover its weaknesses by alleging
domestic consumption and fostering economic It would be prudent now to Trinamul terror. The party did not
resilience. In a country where savings rates are tradition- ensure that there is effective do any self-analysis.
deliberation in Parliament and LEFT OUT The only propaganda the
ally high, this shift could have profound implications for
economic dynamics and growth. However, the success of decisions taken by consensus. SIR, Not only did the Bengal CPI-M emphasised on was a
There was too much centralisa- CPI-M fail to win a single parlia- Modi-Mamata secret under-
this policy will hinge on effective implementation and
tion and a polarisation which mentary seat, it has been placed a standing, despite both parties
oversight. Local governments that are often accused of had to fail in a diverse society distant third in all the seats of being a part of the Opposition.
sloth and corruption must ensure that the quality of con- such as India. West Bengal. So the report rightly des-
verted housing meets acceptable standards and that the The regional parties are back The reasons behind this dis- cribed the left party's campaign
allocation process is transparent and fair. Additionally, in the fray and their support has mal show have nicely been artic- as directionless.
continuous support from Beijing will be crucial in main- become inevitable now. A vibrant ulated your report today. Yours, etc.,
taining momentum and addressing any unforeseen chal- Opposition and a Central govern- The party could not highlight Sukhendu Bhattacharjee,
lenges. ment cut to size could augur well important issues like unemploy- Sheoraphuli, 5 June.
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY 06 JUNE 2024 07
Early signs of a
100 YEARS AGO

OCCASIONAL NOTE
If the attitude of Germany
depends upon Great Britain urging

future leader
counsels of moderation upon her and
such is the view of M. Gauvain, writing
in the Journal des Débats - the unrav-
elling of the Reparations tangle ought
to present few further difficulties.
Great Britain has often endeavoured
to bridge the gulf between France and
Germany during the past two years,
but has failed hitherto, largely on
BASAB DASGUPTA This is a key requirement for anyone Singh. I admire his loyalty to Mamata account of the attitude of M. Poincaré.
aspiring to be a successful political Banerjee even though he was She is now apparently authorized to

I
am delighted to learn that Sauga- leader. I worked with him side by side opposed to her in the past on vari- tell the Germans that the French are
ta Roy, a veteran leader of Trina- in preparation of posters and other ous issues. Saugata was probably not bent upon crushing them - an
mul Congress (TMC) has con- paraphernalia for a protest demon- instrumental in persuading another assurance which, if backed by
vincingly won the Lok Sabha seat stration he led in front of a locked PC one of our contemporaries at PC, prospects of an early withdrawal from
from the Dum Dum constituency for during the infamous Naxal movement Amit Mitra of Economics, to join the the Ruhr, will undoubtedly carry great
the fourth time in a row against all which caused the college to shut West Bengal Cabinet as a finance weight with a people sick of the end-
odds: his age, allegations of TMC cor- down for over four months. minister. less post-War struggle. At the same
ruption, aggressive campaign by the I remember him telling me his Saugata has all the attributes of a time, the British Government must
BJP and even disagreements within experience of meeting Indira Gandhi leader. He is smart, passionate about not omit to warn Germany that the
his own party about his nomination. for the first time as the General Secre- causes, articulate and confident with a consequences of a refusal to accept
Saugata had strong support from tary of Chhatra Parishad: “I shook her commanding voice – traits sadly lack- the experts' report will be serious.
Mamata Banerjee who had said in a hands and it felt soft like butter”. He ing in most political leaders. I liked
pre-election speech that age does not has been hobnobbing with national the way he handled the alleged
matter and TMC needs both old and leaders since college days. bribery scandal in the so-called Nara-
new. Despite his popularity at college da sting operation where he was
NEWS ITEMS
Saugata was my classmate at and easy-going personality, I never secretly filmed taking money. Saugata
Presidency College (PC) and also in saw him in the company of co-eds in a pointed out that it takes a lot of
the M.Sc. class at University of Cal- romantic sense. I once asked him money to run a campaign and most SIR A. MOOKERJEE
cutta. The purpose of this essay is not about the reason. He said that “my of that money comes from donations
to analyse his political views or per-
sonality or career in politics; it is a
from the Congress party to TMC.
Despite his obsession with the US
story one night when the bungalow
where we stayed had a power outage.
problem is that if I visit the house of a
female student I invariably get
just like the one photographed.
Saugata’s elder brother Tathaga-
CONDOLENCES
nostalgic reminiscence of my college
days with the realization that he
during his college days, I seldom saw
him in a western outfit; his attire was
His style of storytelling totally capti-
vated his audience. I still get goose-
engaged in a political discussion with
her father. Even if I bring up the sub-
ta Roy seems to hold a different polit-
ical view even though they were not
FROM FAR AND
exhibited many early signs about his
future leadership.
always the same - dhoti and punjabi,
made of khadi or cotton, the trade-
bumps when I think of that evening.
When I went back to India after
ject of his daughter’s marriage in
some way, the father will invariably
only raised by the same parents but
also went to the same high school, St.
NEAR
Saugata (extreme right in accom- mark of Indian political leaders. my mother passed away, Saugata seek my help in finding a suitable Lawrence. Tathagata is a member of SIR Bipin K. BOSE, Vice-Chancellor
panying photograph; the writer is on Saugata seemed to know almost showed up to offer his condolences groom. It is very difficult to say at that the BJP and a strong supporter of of the Nagpur University, has sent the
the extreme left) caught my attention everything about any given subject. even though I did not inform him stage that the right person is yours Narendra Modi. He served as the following message to the Hon. Mr. Bhu-
on my first day at PC. During a break Once I asked him about his secret. He about my mother’s death nor my visit. truly”. I believe that the reason was governor of Tripura and Meghalaya. I pendra Nath Basu, Vice-Chancellor of
in classes, he and another classmate said that he read every book he got his I was touched by his gesture. On his focus on his goal; he considered attribute this to the difference in the Calcutta University:-''The Nagpur
engaged in a contest to see who could hands on, but only the first and last another occasion, my father ran into spending idle time with female class- their college education: Saugata’s University deeply mourns the loss of one
name all 50 states of the US. Coming page and the inside cover which had a some problems with the neighbour- mates as a complete waste. physics education gave him a liberal of India's most eminent sons whose
from a school outside Kolkata, I was bio of the author and sometimes a hood “mastans” because he said I was happy and excited when viewpoint; physicists must be open great work in connection with the pre-
surprised to see such an obsession synopsis. something derogatory to one of them. Saugata not only won the election for to all possibilities because they are mier university of India and university
with a foreign country; I could proba- His other trait was a biting sense My father was fearful of some retribu- an MP from the Dumdum constituen- out to explain how the universe education in general will forever remain
bly name not more than twenty states. of humour often bordering on being tion. Saugata took care of the situa- cy but also briefly became a central works. Tathagata, who is an engineer a land-mark in the history of our educa-
Saugata exhibited a similar pre- inappropriate. I remember his line: tion, and I did not even know about minister in the Charan Singh govern- having graduated from BE college, tional progress."
occupation with the US when he “Do not give too much attention to the incident. During my last visit to ment. I chuckled when I learnt that he has a more practical and structured At a public meeting held at
declared that the subject of his essay your parents because they would Kolkata, he arranged my accommo- became a physics professor at mindset which led him on a conser- Kurseong under the presidency of Dr.
(in the given category “My Hero”) at climb up on your head”. Clearly, he dation for a few days at a guest house Ashutosh College because he never vative path. Pramathanath Banerjee, resolutions
the Jagadish Bose National Science was fiercely independent and not through his connections. He has appeared to be a professor-type. He I was saddened at the news of expressing a deep sense of sorrow at the
Talent Search exam was “John planning a career moulded by his par- always been a good, reliable friend, must have figured out that a profes- Saugata's wife, Dolly’s death. Dolly is irreparable loss sustained by the death
Fitzgerald Kennedy”. ents. one who never forgets his friends. sor’s job would give him a steady fondly remembered as the famous of Sir A. Mookerjee, and offering condo-
Saugata seemed to like a Saugata became a close friend. Saugata could easily socialize and income while providing ample time “tea-taster” by people who visited her lences to the bereaved family were
Kennedy-style leadership featuring Apart from picnics with the whole build rapport with students from all to pursue his first love – politics and at tea shop. passed.
strong anti-communist but liberal class, I went on a trip to Giridih in backgrounds in college regardless of the same time with a respectable title. I will always cherish his friend- At a meeting of the Howrah Town
policies within a capitalist framework. Bihar (now Jharkhand) with him and whether they came from some rural I was delighted when Saugata ship. Club, Mr. Charu Chandra Sinha presid-
He probably did not find his ideal ide- four other friends. My fondest memo- high school in Midnapur or some elite got a second chance to serve in the ing, Mr. Barada Prasanna Pain moved a
ology in Indian politics and switched ry from that trip is him telling a ghost English-speaking school in Kolkata. central cabinet under Manmohan (The writer, a physicist who worked in industry resolution expressing a deep sense of
and academia, is a Bengali settled in America.)
sorrow at the death of Sir Asutosh
Mookerjee. In doing so Mr. Pain
observed that the fact that one of her

Climate catastrophes of the past


greatest sons, who was about to devote
himself to the country's cause, was so
suddenly taken away only indicated that
Bengal was ill-fated.
Messages of condolence were also
Even as they wreak utter havoc combination of foreign invasions and sent by the Bengal Buddhist Young
RAFIA ZAKARIA and destruction on Pakistani cities, natural catastrophes wiped out the Men's Association, the Darjeeling Bar
there are few lessons learned, and Indus Valley Civilisation thousands of Association, the Oriental College of

I
f words could cool people down, inhabitants are restricted to self-help years ago. Homoeopathy and the Hogg Market
writers would be very busy these measures as they deal with the con- The gargantuan climate-related Trade Association. -
days. As the heat index rises to sequences of widespread corruption, challenges, which drought-struck and At a special meeting of the Syn-
previously unheard of levels, it is apathy and disinterest in preparing heat-harried cities along the Indus dicate of the Calcutta University a
tempting as an author to write for the consequences of climate valley all the way to Karachi face resolution was passed placing on
columns that evoke the very opposite change. This year, after people have today, create the feeling of a cata- record an expression of the Syndi-
of the fiery hot reality that most peo- borne the unbearable heat, the rain clysmic ending. It is impossible not to cate's profound grief at the death of
ple are enduring these days. and the floods are predicted to come wonder whether the inhabitants of Sir Asutosh Mookerji. The resolution
Alas! Words fail when it comes to again; once more, cities will face a civilisations that fell in the past were stated in part that the remarkable
making the discomfort of such wave of destruction brought on by conscious of the fact that their way of developments in tlie work of the uni-
unbearable heat any more tolerable. urban flooding. life, the place they called home, their versity during the last two decades
The sweat, the dehydration and the A recent report released by the basis of existence, could be wiped out were largely the product not only of
danger of heatstroke are real threats German development agency GIZ in the manner that it was. his constructive genius but of the self-
that can kill a human being and can- shows just how terrible things are My guess is that they were not. less, incessant and devoted toil,
not be imagined away. Even more going to get. By 2080, the temperatures People by nature are optimists, who which he brought to his task as a
troubling is the fact that the prognosis in the country will have risen by over have great faith in the ultimate victory member of the body. It concluded
for the future threatens a continua- was flooded multiple times during its life in a place that is far inland, 4°C. This means that places that are of survival. People in Pakistan are with the hope that the memory of his
tion of, even an increase in, the hellish period of inhabitancy. These floods reveal that during prehistoric times, seeing temperatures in the upper 40s enduring the scalding heat, trying to devoted labours might inspire the
heat of the present. are believed to have caused destruc- many places were closer to the will become uninhabitable as human find shade or water or respite and, like present and future members of the
Another strategy of diversion tion on the scale of the recent ones in ocean than they are today. beings cannot tolerate such heat with- all optimistic humans, imagining bet- Syndicate to imitate his great example
from the cataclysms of the present is Sindh. Scholars have long argued over Tectonic shifts in Sindh and out severely suffering its effects. ter times ahead. Unfortunately, the and dedicate all the powers which
to place them in a historical perspec- what caused the Indus Valley Civili- Balochistan possibly caused the seas Sea levels are expected to rise by data shows that respite is unlikely and they possessed to the service of their
tive. The wider the lens and the fur- sation, of which Mohenjodaro was a to recede and the coastline to be 40 centimetres, which means that that conditions are already such that university and to the achievement of
ther back one looks, the more one central settlement, to simply disap- altered. It may well have been that it large swathes of the coastal area, large swathes of areas occupied today that object for which he lived; the
realises that nearly every catastrophe pear. Archaeological findings suggest was these shifts that caused migration including where construction has will either disappear into the sea or advancement of learning amongst
that confronts human beings in the that this city, which was a highly and demographic shifts, which meant been carried out on reclaimed land, be subjected to very high tempera- the people of his motherland.
present moment is one that people in developed metropolis complete with that even advanced cities like Mohen- will be submerged. In prehistoric tures and extreme drought — in a nut- A public meeting under the aus-
the past have already had to endure. a proper sanitation system and well- jodaro could not tolerate the times, it was the rising of tectonic shell, no one will be able to live here. pices of the Kissore Sahitya Samaj,
One of the highest temperature maintained roads, was abandoned onslaught of repetitive climate catas- plates that caused the sea to recede; The entire world is living in Agartola, was held on May 31 to express
readings these past days was in the and left to crumble. trophe. now the rising of the seas may reclaim momentous times, when deep civili- sorrow at the death of Sir Asutosh
ancient site of Mohenjodaro, where Climate change may not have The climate shifts taking place in the land that emerged thousands of sational changes are happening right Mookerji and Sir Asutosh Chowdhri.
the temperature reached 52 degrees been the definitive reason why the Pakistan, one of the world’s most vul- years ago. before our eyes. Glaciers are melting, Maharaj Kumar Navadwin Chandra,
Celsius. The settlement, which is civilisation fell or why Mohenjodaro nerable countries threatened by the Prehistoric-era climate change rivers are flooding, seas are rising, and President of the Council of Administra-
said to date back to 2500 BCE, may was abandoned, but it is known that effects of climate change, are palpable led to drought conditions. The unpre- heat and havoc are the only certainty. tion, presided.
be among the places that tell us the area was suffering the conse- and terrifying. Temperatures like 52 dictability of the water supply, some- These momentous times are not com- The Cuttack Bar Library has record-
most about climate catastrophes of quences of tectonic shifts. Evidence degrees Celsius were unimaginable thing modern-day city dwellers will fortable, but it seems there is no ed its deep sense of sorrow at the death
the past. of this can be seen in prehistoric even as recently as a couple of identify with, meant that infrastruc- escape from them. of Sir Asutosh Mookerjee and Sir Asu-
Analyses of Mohenjodaro’s layers ‘beaches’ in Pakistan. These beach- decades ago. The flash floods and ture and agriculture both suffered tosh Chaudhri.
of sand and soil reveal that the city es, which have evidence of marine rains that now ravage cities were rare. drastically. It is plausible then that a Dawn/ANN. The Bengal community at Lahore
held a condolence meeting on May 31
when feeling references were made to
death of Sir Asutosh Mookerjee.
CROSSWORD NO-292802

1 2 3 4 5 ACROSS 16 Not sending through full DOWN 9 Boy lifting hot food (4)
HARMFUL FILMS
light? Mains broken, with 13 Persuasive exercises given
BISHOP OF
6 7 8 9
rest requiring generator to students in future
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION 6 German composer, hard (15) 1 Nothing before dawn, say, is (10)
10 11 B I RCH
U E I
P E C K
H H
MOS S
M W
8
one, working the mind
(9)
No terrain curtailed
19 See about US university
working for a small interval
(8)
2
a burden (4)
Pilot here endlessly flying?
(8)
15 Upturn in good crafty
things – leg breaks – follow
on? (8)
TINNEVELLY AND
12 13 14
R E COGN
N T H
S HOR T S
I S E D
S E
H A R P S
L I MA
N
HOC K
N Australian painter
(5)
22 Morning publication
returned letter
3 Lough of questionable
status, receiving last of
17 Assumed American used
drugs – time to get involved
EFFECT IN INDIA
10 Dog in dispute involving old (5) sludge from river (6) (7)
15 R R L E U (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
woman? 24 Sort of ferret about behind 4 Note first pair of traders 18 Boosts soldiers after a
16 17 18
L A Y P EO P L E C A S E D mast, getting tense coming in to target Irish month, way up (8) Addressing a meeting at Wembley
(7)
A A R S R A 11 A rugby forward’s larger (7) location (6) 20 Provoke enlightenment, we of the British Missionary Society, Bishop
WE A R S OB S C E N E L Y
M O S T D
than average, by the way 25 I caught seabird moving 5 Wake master roughly after hear, shifting stress Tubbs, of Tinnevelly and Madura, said
19 20 21 22 (7) round Arctic feature error (10) (6)
HUMA N I T A R I A N I SM 12 Clergyman overlooking last (7) 6 One who may mock 21 Article Phi’s written up
that the majority of films exhibited in
23 E O R E R F A page 27 Principle involved in first- pollsters during half of about grand puzzle (6) India were harmful to the prestige of the
24 25 26
A CN E F A C I L I T I E S (5) rate networking electioneering (8) 23 Difficult position? Best to white race. These pictures degraded
R I T G E C O
D E A N B E A N S H E E N
14 Some getting upset with it (5) 7 Tries initially expediting roll over (4) white women.
in the old American park 28 Missed tea being served up some late vehicles 26 A lot of food not originally
(8) in cup (9) (7) from China? (4)
The speaker admitted that the films
27 28
to which he took most objection, name-
ly, those dealing with sordid subjects,
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London) divorce, and crime, were brought chiefly
from America.
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HGWRWKHPRUDOKLJKJURXQGYDOLGDWLQJLWVSROLWLFDODSSURDFKDQGLGHRORJ\ While Modi's previous terms one poll.' This change could delimitation process. This Despite being hamstrung by
have seen significant achieve- make the electoral system ?>;8C82B1DC8C could create a North-South arrests and other crackdowns,
ments, his 'Modi 3.0' government more efficient and organized, divide, causing contention the Opposition mustered its
?82D1<; will not be without its challenges.
These include navigating the
but it could also concentrate
power in the hands of the rul-
B7>D;3=>C;403 among regional parties in the
South.
most united front in years. Still,
exit polls indicated it could not
post-pandemic recovery, address- ing party and reduce the fre- C>0=4G4A28B4>5 The BJP is pushing for a cut into the BJP 's parliamen-
ing social unrest, managing for- quency of elections. Modi has 01DB8=60=3 Uniform Civil Code applicable tary majority. Congress leader
eign policy issues, and meeting already laid the groundwork to all citizens of India, regard- Jairam Ramesh claims that
the diverse expectations of the for this proposal. A commit- 14;8CC;8=6C74 less of religion. Uttarakhand, the Opposition bloc will get
electorate. tee under former president governed by the BJP, is taking more than 272 seats and will
Modi has an unfinished agenda Ramnath Kovind's leadership A8E0;BC74 steps to implement it, and choose the PM candidate in 48
of BJP's core issues. This means has suggested holding Lok B?44274B other BJP-ruled states will hours.
implementing a Uniform Civil Sabha and all state elections soon follow. However, this If the Indian coalition manages
Code,' one nation-one poll ', pro- together. 34;8E4A431HB><4 raises concerns about potential to form a government despite
pelling India to become the third However, the delimitation social disruption and backlash the odds, it could herald a sig-
largest economy and continuing exercise involves redrawing >5C74;4038=6 from religious communities. nificant shift in India's politi-
to make essential changes to land the boundaries of parliamen- ;867CB>5C74<08= During the campaign, the cal landscape. It would face
and labour policies. Over the past tary and assembly constituen- Opposition expressed con- challenges, such as selecting a
three months, the Modi govern- cies. The decennial census ?>;8C820;?0AC84B cerns that the B.J.P. might Prime Minister and executing
ment has been working on a '125- must be completed before change the Constitution to its ambitious plans.
day plan' for the next phase of that. The delimitation could F4A434?;>A01;4 remove the word 'secular.' A (The writer is a popular
governance. Initially, the plan have significant political impli- 0=334B?8201;4 Modi government with a sub- columnist views are personal)
was for 100 days, but it was cations, especially for the stantial majority could alter the

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Madam — Regarding the news story
“Small is beautiful for Gangetic dol-
phin,” published on June 4, here are my X]Vb[XVWc[h[^fTaVa^fcWaPcTbCWXbRPdcX^db
thoughts. As a daily newspaper reader, bT]cX\T]cXbR^\_^d]STSQhaXbX]VDBQ^]S

_fUbc`_[U^g_bTc it’s heartening to see smaller rivers in the hXT[SbP]SV[^QP[\PaZTc_aTbbdaTb


Ganga basin finally getting the attention 8]eTbc^aP]gXTchXbUdacWTaPVVaPePcTSQhcWT_a^
C1>:1I270=3A0 they deserve for their crucial role in pre- [^]VTST[TRcX^]_TaX^SCWTTgcT]STS_WPbTb
serving the endangered Gangetic dol- _PacXRd[Pa[hX]]^acWTa]P]STPbcTa]8]SXP]^c
(DFKRQHRIXVQHHGVDSSUHFLDWLRQRUYDOLGDWLRQWKURXJKDNLQGRU phin. The joint study by the Wildlife ^][hX]RaTPbTPS\X]XbcaPcXeTR^bcbQdcP[b^SXb
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Institute of India (WII) and the National
ORYLQJZRUGDQGVRPHWLPHVWKURXJKDWRXFKRUHYHQDQRFFDVLRQDOKXJ Mission for Clean Ganga highlights the cX^]SdaPcX^]R^d[SWT[_bcPQX[XbTcWT\PaZTcP]S
often-overlooked importance of these aTbc^aT X]eTbc^a R^]UXST]RT <TP]fWX[T cWT
e were fond of a Technology has also changed smaller rivers. Despite covering 1,290 A18³b PRcX^]b bdRW Pb cPaVTcX]V #$ _Ta RT]c

W nursery rhyme dur-


ing our hostel days,
“One for sorrow, two for joy,
our lives in many ways.
Virtual communication is the
new order over the verbal or
kilometers of tributaries and identify-
ing 620 kilometers of critical habitats,
it’s clear that these smaller water bod-
0
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three for letter, four for toy...” the written word. There are ies need more focused conservation ^]9d]T#cWXbXb\haTb_^]bTCWTaTRT]c d]STa[X]TcWT]TTSU^aX]]^ePcXeTUX]P]RXP[_^[X
I realised much later that we more messages of greetings efforts. bc^RZ \PaZTc _[d]VT Ua^\ &%  c^ &"'%% RXTbCWT]TfV^eTa]\T]cUPRTbcWTRWP[[T]VT
had tweaked the rhyme to suit on social media from and to The dwindling range of the Gangetic WXVW[XVWcbcWT\PaZTc³bbT]bXcXeXchc^_^[XcXRP[P]S ^U]PeXVPcX]VcWTbTd]RTacPX]cXTbc^aTYdeT]PcT
us, to help us cope with sep- family members living under dolphin in various rivers, now extirpat- TR^]^\XRd]RTacPX]cXTb3Tb_XcTcWTA18³b&_Ta cWT\PaZTcP]STR^]^\hQP[P]RX]V_^[XcXRP[P]S
aration. The original did not the same roof. In the earlier ed from several key areas, is alarming. RT]c Va^fcW U^aTRPbc X]eTbc^a R^]UXST]RT TR^]^\XR_aX^aXcXTbTUUTRcXeT[h
have any reference to letters. days, when we did not have These smaller rivers harbour significant aT\PX]bbWPZhfXcW\PY^aX]bcXcdcX^]b_aTSXRc Isha Joshi | Pune
Most of us had come out of social media at our beck and portions of the dolphin population and
the sheltered life of our famil- call, a written note was some- contribute to the overall biodiversity and people to commit crimes. To truly have always harmed the environment,
iar surroundings for the first at home. got busier in our daily lives – thing to be preserved and health of the Ganga river system. The reduce crime, society must focus on but the last two centuries have seen
time. I did the next best thing – jobs, raising children, and cherished. study emphasises engaging local com- eradicating these negative emotions unprecedented destruction due to
Emails and mobiles were not write her a letter every day. many other things, which One might argue that it is bet- munities, addressing their concerns through spiritual education and medi- advances in science and technology. We
even on the horizon in 1974. She also responded, with some may call mundane, but ter than not communicating and linking them to broader conserva- tation. Such measures could enhance have abandoned the sustainable prac-
Many homes did not have almost the same frequency. which I call as the flow of life. at all. My counterpoint is that tion initiatives. This holistic approach is individuals’ resilience against stress and tices our ancestors valued for short-term
landline telephones. We were Almost four decades later, I There would be bickering not all communication essential for the long-term survival of temptation, ultimately preventing crim- gains. As a daily newspaper reader, it’s
homesick and eagerly looked do not recall the contents of between the two of us, inter- should be silent or on the net. these majestic aquatic mammals. inal behavior. The cost of implementing evident that this neglect is leading us
forward to handwritten letters our letters; but I am sure they spersed with silences, which Each one of us needs appre- Meera Kakkar | Mumbai widespread psychological and spiritual toward a bleak future for our children.
from home. Each day, we anx- would have served the same we had not even envisaged ciation, or validation, through education is significantly less than We must ask ourselves: What good is
iously crowded around the purpose that today’s practice through the rose-tinted glass- a kind or loving word, and 144B5CC9>7B??D31EC5C?63B9=5 maintaining the legal and penal systems. wealth if our descendants inherit a
table outside the mess where of youngsters going out sev- es that we wore while writing sometimes through a touch or Madam — Regarding the news story By addressing the root causes of crime, degraded planet?
the postman dumped all the eral times over months serves. those long letters during our even an occasional hug. “Crime and Conscience,” published on we could create a more harmonious soci- Efforts to restore our environment,
posts. A few would gleefully We have begun to rationalise courtship. Lord Tennyson said almost June 4, here are my thoughts. The trag- ety, reducing the burden on our judicial such as reforestation and wetland
pull out theirs, while others and accept the change in the Now in our sixties – my wife two centuries back, “The old ic hit-and-run involving a teenager and and penal systems. restoration, show promise. Successful
walked into the dining hall younger generation for a bet- is short of that magical num- order changeth, yielding place two IT professionals is a stark reminder Aryan Nair | Ranchi examples like China’s Loess Plateau
dejected. ter understanding before ber by less than a year – we to new.” Change is inevitable of the complex nature of crime. Criminal and Srinagar’s Khushal Sar Lake illus-
A few years later, I was committing to a future rela- even communicate through and needs to be welcomed psychologists argue that crimes often G51B55H@<?9D9>7?EB@<1>5D trate the potential of coordinated, large-
engaged to be married to a tionship; while we did it after these silences. We are more with open hearts. To not occur in moments of high tension or Madam — Apropos the news story “Is scale environmental rehabilitation. This
young girl within the next five we had been engaged in an like the couple of birds that I change is to stagnate. It is uncontrollable passion. This suggests it possible to restore the lost vigour of year’s World Environment Day, focusing
months. It was a long-distance arranged relationship by our recently spotted sitting a lit- within us to differentiate and that if individuals could resist these our planet?” published on June 4, this on land restoration, reminds us of the
courtship. I was posted in a parents. tle apart from each other on embrace the good. impulses, many crimes could be prevent- is my response. Humans often only con- urgent need to act and reverse the dam-
government job in Calcutta, The traditional has given way an electric wire looking in dif- (The writer conducts work- ed. sider our planet during celebrations or age for a sustainable future.
she was in the final year of her to the new to suit the chang- ferent directions, contem- shops on creative writing for Our legal system punishes criminal catastrophes. In normal times, we Arjun Desai | Chandigarh
graduation in Delhi. I did not ing times. Age and familiar- plating life, and probably in young adults and corporate actions, but it seldom addresses the psy- exploit it mercilessly, forgetting that
have the benefit of telephone ity bring inevitable changes in silent communication with executives. Views are chological state preceding these actions. resources are finite and meant for BT]Shh^daUUTTSQPRZcc^)
facilities either at the office or life. As years rolled on, we also each other. personal) Anger, jealousy, greed and fear drive future generations too. Historically, we [TccTabc^_X^]TTa/V\PX[R^\
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he planet is grappling with

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T unprecedented environmental
challenges. According to media
reports on May 29, 2024, Delhi
recorded the highest tempera-
ture of over 50 degrees Celsius, a record-
breaking event in 80 years. Then, there is
the impending water crises, looming large
WRSHUFHQWRIHOHFWURQLFSURGXFWVDUHGLVFDUGHGLQODQGILOOV:KLOH in the Capital City – between politics and
their blame game. Meanwhile, forest fires
LW·VJRRGWRUHF\FOHDWWKHVDPHWLPHLWLVFUXFLDOWRSULRULWLVHVDIHW\DQG ravage the hills amidst the political fire
SURSHUSUDFWLFHVZKHQKDQGOLQJVXFKZDVWH1RGRXEWWKDWUHF\FOLQJGRHV ignited by the biggest dance of democra-
DLPWRUHGXFHSROOXWLRQEXWLWVKRXOGQRWFRQWULEXWHWRHQYLURQPHQWDOKDUP cy, the Lok Sabha Elections which has final-
MXVWEHFDXVHRIKXPDQLUUHVSRQVLEOHSUDFWLFHV ly ended and a new government will soon
+RZHYHUWKHVHULRXVHQYLURQPHQWDOULVNVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKHZDVWHDUH join the league of service within this ‘demo-
VLJQLILFDQWDQGPXOWLIDFHWHGDIIHFWLQJHFRV\VWHPVZLOGOLIHDVZHOODV cratic’ panorama.
KXPDQKHDOWK Not only this, according to media reports,
a massive fire broke out in Kashmir’s
$VSHUVHYHUDOUHVHDUFKVWXGLHVWKHIDVWHVWLQFUHDVHLQHZDVWHRXWSXW Ramnagar forest division early Sunday, June
LVSHRSOH·VLQVDWLDEOHQHHGWRRZQWHFKQRORJLFDOGHYLFHV:LWKWKHJURZ 2, 2024, causing immense damage and an
LQJDJHDQGJHQHUDWLRQWKHUDSLGWHFKQRORJLFDOLQQRYDWLRQKDVOHGWRIUH estimated loss of crores of rupees in tim-
TXHQWUHOHDVHVRIQHZPRGHOVRIHOHFWURQLFGHYLFHV0RUHRYHUKXPDQ ber and other natural resources. Another
JUHHGWRRKDVHQFRXUDJHGFRQVXPHUVWRXSJUDGHWRWKHODWHVWYHUVLRQV major fire has been raging for three days
UHVXOWLQJLQWKHGLVSRVDORIROGHUEXWVWLOOIXQFWLRQDOGHYLFHV)UHTXHQWGLV in Daya Dhar of Ghordi Block, Udhampur
SRVDORIVPDOOHTXLSPHQWVXFKDVPLFURZDYHVWRDVWHUVPRELOHVODS District, intensifying, despite continuous
firefighting efforts. The Daya Dhar forest,
WRSVFRPSXWHUVSULQWHUVDQGWHOHYLVLRQVIROORZHGE\ODUJHHTXLSPHQW home to a significant population of pea-
VXFKDVZDVKLQJPDFKLQHVGLVKZDVKHUVUHIULJHUDWRUVDQGPDQ\PRUH cocks, has suffered extensive harm, impact-
MXVWWRPDLQWDLQWKHVWDWXVTXRPDNHV$VLDJHQHUDWHWKHPRVWHZDVWH ing these birds and other wildlife. The for-
E\WKH$PHULFD(XURSH$IULFDDQG2FHDQLDZLWKDUHF\FOLQJUDWHRIMXVW est fires in Udhampur pose severe threats
1RWRQO\WKLVDFFRUGLQJWRWKH:RUOG+HDOWK2UJDQL]DWLRQ :+2  to the environment, wildlife, and local com-
VHYHUDODGYHUVHKHDOWKHIIHFWVDUHDOVRFDXVHGE\H[SRVXUHWRHZDVWH munities, with the destruction of vegeta-
OLNHQHJDWLYHELUWKRXWFRPHVVXFKDVSUHPDWXUHELUWKFKDQJHVLQOXQJ tion and the release of harmful pollutants
having far-reaching consequences.
Not just this, the social media ‘Instagram’
is upbeat with a heart-wrenching visual dis-
play of hundreds of people of all age groups
raising their solidarity in preventing the 2,592 were in Uttar Pradesh. To and promoting sustainable develop- In this context, Mahatma Gandhi’s
authorities from felling over 2000 trees of compensate, the National Highways ment. Transitioning to renewable poignant reflection on our connec-
the Khalanga forest, prominently the Sal Authority of India (NHAI) propos- energy sources like solar, wind, and tion to the Earth resonates pro-
trees in the hill state of Dehradun. The rea- es to plant 1.76 lakh trees. geothermal is crucial, with coun- foundly in these times: “If Earth is
son for felling the trees – to address the Welcome to the celebrations that- tries like Germany and Denmark not we are not. I feel nearer to God
water crises faced by the City. marked the 2024 World leading in adoption. Enhancing by feeling Him through the Earth.
This proposal has sparked significant Environment Day on June 5. energy efficiency in buildings, In bowing to the Earth, I at once
opposition from local activists and citizens, Amidst these glaring adversities and transportation, and industries can realise my indebtedness to Him,
who are protesting, pleading, and urging threats to the environment, the further reduce emissions. and, if I am a worthy child of that
officials, including authorities – from the World Environment Day 2024 cel- Sustainable agricultural practices, Mother, I shall at once reduce
Chief Minister to the bureaucrats – to
reconsider this move. They highlight that
34B?8C4 ebrations – whose underlying
theme this year is “Our land. Our
like agroforestry and organic farm-
ing, help lower emissions and
myself to dust and rejoice in estab-
lishing kinship with not only the
the Khalanga Forest, a vital green lung for 2><<8C<4=CB future We are enhance food security, while urban lowliest of human beings, but also
the city, contains century-old trees and #GenerationRestoration,” calls for farming and vertical agriculture with the lowest forms of creation
IXQFWLRQVDQGUHVSLUDWRU\LVVXHV$QGQRWWREHVXUSULVHGWKHVHFKDO diverse species, crucial for maintaining eco- C>BDBC08=01;4 global action for protecting the offer innovative solutions. whose fate-reduction to dust I
OHQJHVDUHHPHUJLQJGD\E\GD\
:LWKUHF\FOLQJDQGGXPSLQJLVVXHVHPHUJLQJWRGD\PDQ\HOHFWURQLFSURG
logical balance. Activists suggest con-
structing the reservoir in Dwara village,
34E4;>?<4=C environment and rethinking the
decisions, that could be detrimen-
Protecting and restoring natural
ecosystems, which act as carbon
have to share with them.” This pro-
found statement encapsulates the
XFWVDUHRIWHQGHVLJQHGZLWKVKRUWHUOLIHF\FOHVGXHWRSODQQHGREVROHV which has barren land and suffers from 6>0; "1H!" tal to Mother Nature and her sinks, is vital. Efforts like the Bonn essence of environmental stew-
water scarcity, as a more sustainable alter- inhabitants. No doubt, this year’s Challenge and Costa Rica's refor- ardship and the need for sustainable
FHQFHZKHUHPDQXIDFWXUHUVLQWHQWLRQDOO\OLPLWWKHOLIHVSDQRIDSURGXFW
WRHQFRXUDJHUHSHDWSXUFKDVHVEXWLPSURSHUHZDVWHGLVSRVDOOHDGVWR native. 2;8<0C4270=64 World Environment Day (WED) estation initiatives demonstrate the development.
KDELWDWGHVWUXFWLRQ)RUH[DPSOHZKHQHZDVWHLVGXPSHGLQQDWXUDODUHDV
According to a report, dated May 9, 2024,
published at https://groundreport.in/lat-
?4AB8BCBF8C7 campaign, focused on land restora-
tion, desertification and drought
benefits of increasing forest cover
and biodiversity.
James Lovelock, a British scientist,
proposed the Gaia hypothesis,
LWFDQGLVUXSWORFDOZLOGOLIHKDELWDWVOHDGLQJWRDORVVRIELRGLYHUVLW\,Q est/dehradun-2000-trees-will-be-cut-in- 4B20;0C8=6 resilience. The Kingdom of Saudi Promoting a circular economy can which views the Earth as a self-reg-
VRPHFRXQWULHVUHJXODWLRQVJRYHUQLQJHZDVWHPDQDJHPHQWDUHHLWKHU khalanga-forest-to-make-a-reservoir- Arabia hosted the 2024 World reduce resource consumption and ulating system. This idea aligns with
ODFNLQJRUQRWHIIHFWLYHO\HQIRUFHGOHDGLQJWRLPSURSHUGLVSRVDODQGUHF\ 4550484, activists are voicing strong oppo- 34E0BC0C8>= Environment Day global celebra- greenhouse gas emissions by min- Mahatma Gandhi’s view of the
FOLQJSUDFWLFHV,QUHJLRQVZLWKRXW([WHQGHG3URGXFHU5HVSRQVLELOLW\ (35 sition, citing the ongoing climate challenges
like wildfires, etc. Citizens believe that the
6;>10; tions.
Despite commitments to
imizing waste and reusing materi-
als.
Earth as a living entity with which
we share a deep connection.
SROLFLHVPDQXIDFWXUHUVDUHQRWKHOGDFFRXQWDEOHIRUWKHHQGRIOLIHPDQ
DJHPHQWRIWKHLUSURGXFWVFRQWULEXWLQJWRWKHDFFXPXODWLRQRIHZDVWH
plan to cut 2,000 trees from the reserve for- C4<?4A0CDA4B Sustainable Development Goal 13 The European Union's Circular Lovelock’s work emphasizes the
est requires serious rethinking. Further, res- by 2030, climate change persists Economy Action Plan exemplifies interdependence of all living and
%\DGGUHVVLQJWKHVHXQGHUO\LQJIDFWRUVWKURXJKFRPSUHKHQVLYHSROLFLHV idents of Doon, led by Colonel Vikram 0A4A8B8=6 with escalating devastation. Global this approach, aiming to transition non-living components of the
SXEOLFDZDUHQHVVFDPSDLJQVDQGLPSURYHPHQWVLQUHF\FOLQJLQIUDVWUXF
WXUHLWLVSRVVLEOHWRPLWLJDWHWKHJURZLQJHZDVWHSUREOHPDQGSURPRWH
Thapa (retd), president of Bal Bhadra
Khalanga Vikas Samiti, suggest using bar-
5D4;;8=6 temperatures are rising, fuelling cat-
astrophic events like Europe’s 2019
from a linear “take-make-dispose”
model. Sustainable urban develop-
Earth, suggesting that harming
one part affects the whole system.
PRUHVXVWDLQDEOHSUDFWLFHVLQHOHFWURQLFFRQVXPSWLRQDQGGLVSRVDO$OVR ren land instead of encroaching on lush 20C0BCA>?782 heatwave and Australia’s 2019- ment, focused on creating resilient, As we face the pressing issue of cli-
E\DGGUHVVLQJWKHHQYLURQPHQWDOULVNVRIHZDVWHRQHFDQZRUNWRZDUGV green forests. Initially proposed for the 2020 bushfire season. Melting ice low-carbon cities, emphasizes pub- mate change, it is imperative to
PRUHVXVWDLQDEOHDQGVDIHUPDQDJHPHQWSUDFWLFHVWKDWSURWHFWERWKWKH Kulhan Mansingh area, the site was shift- 4E4=CB;8:4 caps imperil coastal regions and lic transportation, green building adopt sustainable practices to pro-
HQYLURQPHQWDQGSXEOLFKHDOWK:KLOHUHF\FOLQJHZDVWHLVJHQHUDOO\EHW
ed to Khalanga. Demonstrators, including
‘Nature Buddies’, ‘Citizens for Green Doon’,
4DA>?4³B! ( islands like the Maldives, Miami,
and Venice. Extreme weather
practices, and smart city technolo-
gies.
tect our environment and secure
the future for coming generations.
WHUIRUWKHHQYLURQPHQWWKDQGLVSRVLQJRILWLQODQGILOOVVRPHUHF\FOLQJ
SURFHVVHVDUHHQHUJ\LQWHQVLYHDQGFRQWULEXWHWRJUHHQKRXVHJDVHPLV
‘Balbhadra Vikas Samiti’, ‘Toy Foundation’, 740CF0E40=3 events, including record-breaking Education and awareness are also Individual actions, combined with
‘Proud Pahadi’, and ‘Pahadi Peddlers’, sym- hurricanes and deadly typhoons, critical, as schools, universities, collective efforts, can pave the way
VLRQV,PSURYLQJWKHHIILFLHQF\RIUHF\FOLQJWHFKQRORJLHVDQGSURFHVV bolically tied “Rakshasutra” (see Instagram 0DBCA0;80³B wreak havoc, exacerbating water and community organizations play for a sustainable world, ensuring
HVFDQKHOSPLWLJDWHWKLVLPSDFW video) on marked trees.
Not only this, in another such incident, the
! (!! scarcity through prolonged
droughts and shifting precipitation
essential roles in fostering environ-
mental stewardship. Through envi-
that future generations inherit a
healthy and thriving planet. It is
,WLVWLPHWRHPEUDFHWKHSRZHURIFLUFXODUWKLQNLQJDVRQHWUDQVIRUPV
ZDVWHLQWRRSSRUWXQLW\E\WDNLQJRQHVWHSDWDWLPH,W·VWLPHWREUHDN Delhi-Dehradun Expressway construc- 1DB758A4B40B>= patterns. ronmental education programmes now or never.
tion, aimed at improving connectivity, Addressing climate change requires and campaigns, individuals can be (The writer is Programme
IUHHIURPWKHOLQHDUPLQGVHWDQGIRUJHDSDWKWRZDUGVDJUHHQHUIXWXUH resulted in the felling of over 7,500 trees, a comprehensive approach: reduc- empowered to make informed Executive, Gandhi Smriti and
ZKHUHUHVRXUFHVDUHPD[LPLVHGDQGZDVWHLVPLQLPL]HG along a 16-km section. Approximately ing greenhouse gas emissions, decisions and take action to protect Darshan Samit; views are
7KHZULWHULVDQHGXFDWRUYLHZVDUHSHUVRQDO 4,983 trees were in Uttarakhand, while adapting to changing conditions, the environment. personal)

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n the age of instant com- The global film festival circuit Cuarón's "Roma" and towards embracing digital sto- consumer streaming plat- ally showcasing the benefits of This move has fostered bridg-

I munication and paradigm


shifts, transformative
changes are progressively tak-
is also witnessing winds of
change giving rise to new col-
laborative partnerships,
PawelPawlikowski’s "Cold
War," both of which received
significant accolades at major
rytelling platforms, reflecting
a broader trend of film festivals
adapting to the digital age.
forms. Major film festivals are
integrating digital content into
their programs, recognising
blending digital components.
The pioneering move not only
tackled the challenges posed by
ing the gap between tradition-
al and digital film realms.
By embracing a hybrid
ing place in the content renewed style of storytelling, international festivals, under- This evolution is mirrored in the potential of OTT to bring the pandemic but also set a approach that combines virtu-
domain as it is being collated, narration, participation and scoring the increasing accep- the increased recognition of innovative storytelling and new gold standard for Film al access with in-person
consumed and distributed branding of cinematic appeal. tance and influence of OTT- web series and digital fea- diversity. Some have even Festivals worldwide. The suc- screenings, festivals have the
across media platforms. The As a consequence, film festivals produced content within the tures, which are now celebrat- introduced awards for web cess of IFFI in 2021 as a opportunity to broaden their
communication landscape is have repositioned themselves mainstream cinema landscape. ed for their creative quality and series to highlight the creative hybrid model inspired other audience reach and promote
witnessing a sea of opportuni- 3819D1>I1;E=1B as platforms with broadened This is evident in the case of innovation at such internation- quality of OTT productions. prestigious festivals like TIFF inclusivity.
ties, being available to access ?A0B03 appeal, wider audiences and a Indian OTT content represen- al platforms. Over the years IFFI, Goa has to adopt similar formats in Collaboration between festi-
content in a form suitable to variety of diverse themes relat- tation as well, with many big- Indian presence at Cannes created unique templates for subsequent years ensuring vals and streaming services
viewers, audiences and stake- has become a convenient pas- ed to storytelling. Cannes Film name international film festi- 2024 has been a testament of integrating the festival with the ongoing engagement and could encompass sponsor-
holders. Cinema also is wit- time for home viewing. Today Festival 2024, is responding to vals accepting its nomina- diversity, talent and unique OTT narrative, reinforcing inclusivity. ships, premieres, acquisitions
nessing an innovation & dis- the OTT domain is a witness these changes by forging new tions. identity; which was show- storytelling with fresh per- The 52nd IFFI kept up the or joint projects with filmmak-
ruption bringing, forth a to a recalibration of distribu- collaborative partnerships and India's representation at cased by the multiple nomina- spective, imagination partici- momentum. More than 50 ers enriching the festival expe-
change in the status quo of tion channels, new revenue adopting fresh storytelling Cannes 2024 exemplifies this tions in various categories and pation & collaboration. The films were screened simultane- rience and aligning with audi-
viewing on the silver screen. models, focus on artistic merit techniques. This dynamic is trend, showcasing films that innumerable wins that Indian 51st edition of the ously on OTT platforms. 10 ence preferences for person-
and reconfiguration of the evident as film festivals broad- bridge traditional Indian nar- creators and films have bagged International Film Festival of Masterclasses. For the 54th alised viewing options.
The exponential growth of content with outreach mech- en their thematic scopes and ratives with contemporary this year. India (IFFI) made history by edition, IFFI introduced the (The writer is a Former Addl.
OTT platforms has redefined anisms. India has also been embrace diverse cinematic global themes, thus appealing Since 2023, there has been an introducing a hybrid format in Best Web Series (OTT) Award DG DFF & Festival Director
the mode & matrix of cinema seeing a rise in the OTT expressions, integrating OTT to a wide array of audiences. increase in the inclusion of 2021. and honoured "Panchayat IFFI, Views are personal.
viewing globally. Apart from domain with quality content content that resonates with The increasing inclusion of OTT content in film festivals This innovative approach Season 2", from Amazon Inputs provided by Zoya
promoting binge-watching, being produced in huge num- global audiences. Notable Indian OTT content at Cannes showing a shift influenced by allowed attendees to partici- Prime Video, for its authentic Ahmad, and Vaishnavie
and accessible viewing, OTT bers. examples include Alfonso highlights a strategic shift the popularity of direct-to- pate both in person and virtu- depiction of rural Indian life. Srinivasan)
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EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | THURSDAY | 6 JUNE 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 6

Subhani

6 JUNE 2024

Can Modi transition into


a good coalition leader?
P
rime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise that there will be big deci-
sions in his third term at South Block and that he will go on a hot
pursuit of corruption should warm the hearts of his followers but
he will come across impediments that he, as chief minister of
Gujarat for three terms and as Prime Minister for two, has never faced in
his mission. One may attribute these to the compulsions of democracy or
coalition dharma but it will now require all the skills of a seasoned nego-
tiator to steer his government down the road towards his stated goals.
Few today will deny that the first two editions of the Modi government
have been marked by the cavalier attitude of the executive to treat the leg-
islature as a rubber stamp. Important bills were moved in the House on a
few hours’ notice with members of Parliament having little clue on what
they were going to debate and legislate upon. Opposition voices
in Parliament and parliamentary panels — which act as mini-Houses —
were smothered. Government negotiators were seen repeatedly requesting
leaders of the agitating farming community on the changes they need
in the now-scrapped laws that sought to regulate the agriculture sector but
to no purpose. Even when a bit of patience and

Pyrrhic win: Will hubris


Few today will deny the willingness to hear them out would have
that the first two saved the government the blushes, not to men- LETTERS
editions of the tion several lives. That the BJP leadership was
Narendra Modi not willing to accede to the demands of its then-
ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, exposes its
PEOPLE’S VERDICT
government have inability to meaningfully engage stakeholders. One aspect of the polls is
been marked by But the BJP was able to go on a solo cruise on
the cavalier such important measures, thanks to its numeri-
attitude of the cal strength in the Lower House. Now that it has
fallen short of a majority, it would need to revis-
executive to treat it its methods.
the legislature as a The Modi government’s so-called crusade
make way for humility? The days of Mr Modi’s political
the fact that people have
chosen good candidates
over parties, which is a
positive sign. The results
rubber stamp against corruption in its last term was marked Modi-Shah will
climb has been driven by have been a mixed bag,
by its abuse of both laws and law enforcement such exaggerations, but
wherein some set targets
agencies. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a draconian piece of
legislation originally intended at reining in the drug mafia with impossi-
Mohan Guruswamy become the days
of Mr Modi and
the results this week tell
us that the bubble has have not been met, while in
ble bail conditions, was flung at political leaders even as courts were left Mr Shah with Nitin been pricked. some cases parties have
wondering what evidence was there against the defendants. It showed not By its own estimations,
the commitment to hunt down the corrupt but a compulsion to intimidate
Gadkari, Rajnath the Modi-led BJP fell performed beyond expec-
opponents and dissidents. Singh and others short of its declared goal tations. In a nutshell, the
Mr Modi, however, was right when he said that dealing with the “menace speaking up. It by over 150 seats (Ab ki
of corruption is a complex task” due to increasing political greed and tech- might tone down Baar Char Sau Paar). people have given thought

P
nology will be an important tool in this mission of ending corruption. An rime Minister of all in its Gangetic his hubris with The BJP seat tallies to the verdict, and not one
honest attempt to strike at the roots of graft will enable the government to Narendra Modi heartland, where the BJP diminished in all its dom-
allocate more resources for development and welfare schemes aimed at the won an electoral led by the Modi-Yogi Adit- humility? inant states and increased
based on emotions and
weaker sections of society. But it remains to be seen if Modi 3.0 will walk victory on June yanath “double engine” only in Odisha and favouritism.
the talk on these counts. 4, which can at train has been derailed by Telangana. The BJP is Vijay Shekhar, Chennai.
best be described as a the youthful and educated Bharat Express trains, still the largest party in
pyrrhic victory. This duo of Akhilesh Yadav but over 95 per cent of pas- Parliament, but it has
and Rahul Gandhi. sengers still travel in been cut to size. Inside the
EXIT POLLS
term owes its origin to
King Pyrrhus of Epirus, The results also cut Mr crowded and grimy trains party, Narendra Modi too

DMK’s Stalin walks tall whose army suffered irre-


placeable losses while
defeating the Romans in
Modi down to a more real-
istic size. He won in Vara-
nasi in 2019 by 4.93 lakh
piled up on each other,
usually without minimal
facilities. But he tried to
has been cut to size. The
BJP, which despite the
malign influence of the
PROVED WRONG
The poll results have defied majority of

T
he centre of power in Chennai and Tamil Nadu has always been Fort the Battle of Asculum in votes, only to have it whit- convince people that their RSS, used to have a vigor- the exit polls projections. With no
St George. And in modern days, the state itself has become an ideo- 279 BC. tled down to 1.52 lakhs lives had improved. The ous inner-party democra- party gaining majority, it offers a fer-
logical fortress that projects and protects certain values like social Closer to our times and this week. Ironically, Ra- perceived standard of liv- cy with debate and discus- tile ground to revive the parliamentary
justice and women empowerment. nearer home we have the hul Gandhi won in Rae ing is a relative concept. sions animating it, had sovereignty which is in peril over the
Standing tall in the bastion of social values is M.K. Stalin who promised turn of events after the Bareli by over 3.9 lakh How does a passenger in a been stifled for a decade. years under the clutch of the executive
a 40-0 (39 + one Pondy seat) verdict from the people for the INDIA bloc and Battle of Gangwana votes after being hu- typical second-class bogie Mr Modi ran it by diktat dominance. It would be prudent if
delivered it in style despite the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most between the armies of the miliated in another Gan- view the passenger zip- along with a bunch of effective deliberations take place in the
strenuous efforts to woo the state in multiple visits, including for a spiri- Marwar Rathores and the dhi family bailiwick, Am- ping by in a plush Vande faceless and callow aides, parliament and decisions are taken by
tual stint at meditation before the Lok Sabha poll results were declared. combined forces of Jaipur ethi, in 2019. Bharat Express? but can no longer contin- consensus. This also corroborates the
The national BJP was able to even breach Kerala, a perennial battlefield and its Mughal overlord This represents a telling I wrote here on April 19 ue to do so. The party now fact that too much centralisation
between the Congress-led UDF and the communists’ LDF, where the popu- led by Jai Singh in 1741. In reversal of fortunes. Mr that I don’t see the Modi knows that the path is sidelining regional aspirations, invok-
lar actor Suresh Gopi won a seat, besides dominating Karnataka, steam- this battle, the imperial Modi is irrevocably on express going much fur- fraught with conse- ing religious sentiments of the people,
rolling Andhra in alliance with Mr Chandrababu Naidu and Mr Pawan army of over 40,000 mas- the decline with both bio- ther than the halfway quences. It may not revert polarising the masses does not last long
Kalyan and sharing the spoils in Telangana where only months ago sed in a field at Kuncha- logical and historical mark. But the electronic back to the days of Atal in a diverse society like India. Regional
Congress came to power. gaon near Pushkar, with times against him. His media’s relentless bar- Behari Vajpayee and L.K. parties are back in the forefront of
If Tamil Nadu was the symbolic gateway to the south, its doors were its fabled artillery guns swagger at the BJP’s “vic- rage of Modi positivism Advani, but the days of national politics and their support has
firmly shut by the DMK to forces considered external to the Dravidian lined up to force terms on tory” meeting was visibly and their flood of concoct- Modi-Shah will become become inevitable now to form the gov-
heartland, including in 2019 when the AIADMK, in a poll pact with the BJP the rulers of Jodhpur and contrived and forced. He ed polls cooked Mr Modi’s the days of Mr Modi and ernment at the Centre since the ruling
then, won one seat to stop a clean sweep for DMK. Nagaur. As it happened, it tried to weave his oratori- goose by making over 400 Mr Shah with Nitin party has not got even the requisite 272
The biggest factor in the stunning performance of the contribution of 40 fell upon Bakht Singh of cal magic with his usual the new norm. Mr Modi Gadkari, Rajnath Singh mark.
seats to the INDIA bloc was the DMK’s ability to substantially transfer the Nagaur and his cavalry, mix of hyperbole and half- himself contributed to the and others speaking up. It M.Rishidev, Dindigul
votes of its cadre base to alliance partners in the Congress (9 +1 Pondy), numbering about a thou- truths, but failed to high expectations by might tone down his
CPM(I) (2), CPI (2), VCK (2), MDMK (1) and IUML (1). sand, to take on the impe- enthuse the faithful. imperiously dismissing hubris with humility?
Had INDIA been able to wrest power, Mr Stalin would still have been con-
tent to stay at home as one of the most powerful regional chieftains though
rial forces. But that didn’t
deter Bakht Singh and his
For instance, he claimed
to have made India the
Rahul Gandhi to less than
fifty. He accorded the
The new NDA will now
be heavily dependent on WORK FOR ALL
his wish list in ministries may have been long, including the finance min-
istry berth for one of his colleagues. A steadfast ally of the Congress since
horsemen charged into
the massed imperial
world’s second largest
manufacturer of mobile
same gracelessness to
Akhilesh Yadav, M.K.
the two most notorious
political about-turn COMMUNITES
his father M. Karunanidhi switched out of the A.B. Vajpayee BJP+ forces and quickly phones. The truth in this Stalin, Mamata Banerjee artists on the national The INDIA bloc tore into shreds
alliance to UPA in 2004, Stalin has been the staunchest ally projecting punched through Jai is only skin deep. India and Tejashwi Yadav. stage — Nitish Kumar exit polls predictions and bagged
Congress as the head of the Opposition. Singh’s gun line. The now assembles `4.4 lakh They all fought back and and N. Chandrababu Nai- more than 230 seats to step into par-
Rathores rode through crores of mobile phones whittled him down. In the du. Both have raged and liament as a robust opposition
the Jaipur army, cutting but the value addition is last 82 days, Mr Modi railed against Narendra party. The lion’s share of the credit
down thousands of men. only 16 per cent, while criss-crossed the country Modi individually till the goes to Rahul Gandhi, more impor-
They lost most of their China manufactures in his IAF Boeing 777 air- recent past. The arith- tantly, his Bharat Jodo Naya Yatra
men but the huge toll more than six times that craft address 206 rallies, metical balance (JDU 12, which stood as a beacon to entice
extracted demoralised the with a value addition of making people like me TDP 16) requires them to the electorate in favour of INDIA
DECCAN CHRONICLE Mughal forces. After this almost 100 per cent. India wonder if the country was function in tandem to bloc. The Prime Minister’s hate
victory, the imperial exports as much dia- running on autopilot? upset the BJP applecart. speeches had a negative impact
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR army soon disintegrated. monds and jewellery by No political leader any- It is difficult to see politi- which cost umpteen number of
Editor Printer & Publisher Jai Singh never recov- its value addition is even where in the world cal events that will align NDA constituencies. The BJP
R. MOHAN their actions, but they
Resident Editor ered his elan and died two lesser. India exports even spent so much time being short of a majority to form a
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: years later. more petroleum products campaigning as Mr will constantly be breath- government and dependent on its
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254750, The BJP-led NDA might (over $70 billion), mostly Modi did in a decade. A ing down Mr Modi’s neck. allies, the Prime Minister must
22254751 have won the 2024 elec- from the Reliance refin- leader’s post is akin to a That might force Mr Modi shake off fundamentalism and work
Coimbatore: No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O. Colony Post, Kurudampalayam Village, to become a more concil-
Coimbatore-641022. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 tions but its apparently ery in Jamnagar, but its pulpit which is meant to for the benefit of all sections of com-
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) inexorable march tow- value addition, hence the preach, convince and iatory person. Which munities.
27805256. ards establishing a Hin- contribution to the nat- motivate. Mr Modi might not be an entirely Rajamani Chelladurai,
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, dutva theocracy was halt- ional economy, is a thin instead used his platform bad thing for the gover- Tirunelveli
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 nance of India?
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) ed by the combined for- sliver. These numbers are mostly to hurl political
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 mations committed to the due to Mr Modi’s focus on invective on his oppo-
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 letter and spirit of the the big and visible, but nents and rivals. When he The writer, a policy
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903, Constitution. The Hindi- what is the national spoke of achievements, he analyst studying eco-
Fax: 08554-276904
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. Hindutva phalanx that benefit? hugely exaggerated. In nomic and security Mail your letters to
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 threatened to overrun the Similarly, Mr Modi the end more voters saw issues, held senior chennaidesk@deccanmail.com
Karimnagar: H .No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karim Nagar - 505186 federal character of India highlighted the spruced- through him than positions in government
Phone : 9121181123 has been weakened. Most up and long-nosed Vande believers. and industry.

S
aurabh Garg, senior IAS officer and transfer scheme during his tenure as CEO of sparked speculation about the continuity and Similarly, a 2003-batch IAS Chhattisgarh
secretary of the department of social the Unique Identification Authority of India. stability of the current New Delhi establish- cadre IAS officer was arrested by the ED,
justice and empowerment, has been The move has caused some murmurs in ment. But this may be just a hint of more with investigations revealing his pivotal role
appointed as secretary of the ministry Delhi’s babu corridors, and while the imme- sweeping changes to come in the days ahead. in orchestrating a liquor syndicate’s activi-
Dilip Cherian of statistics and programme implementa-
tion. Notably, Mr Garg will continue to serve
diate motive is unclear, time will eventually
reveal how the transition unfolds. But one
Sources have informed DKB that the govern-
ment may soon release another list of
ties in the state.
In another instance, at least five IPS officers

Dilli Ka Babu in this capacity for one year beyond his thing is clear: Mr Garg’s continued service appointments, even as speculation is rife that in Chhattisgarh are under the Anti-
retirement on July 31. He will also take on the after retirement suggests a recognition of his some key figures in the Modi Sarkar may Corruption Bureau’s scanner for their
role of secretary to the National Statistical valuable experience and a desire for continu- continue in their posts. While by the time you alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting
Commission. ity in leadership. read this, the new government will be app case. In another high-profile case, the ED
Interestingly, observers have pointed out announced, these actions reveal the confi- raided the premises of a former Union secre-
that Mr Garg’s new appointment follows on KEY BABU RESHUFFLE dence that the Modi sarkar has in returning tary DPIIT, following a CBI case that led to a
Saurabh Garg to the heels of the similar appointment of P.K.
Tripathi as the secretary to the Lokpal of
India till superannuation and thereafter on a
WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE
In a major shake-up, right in the middle of a
busy, busy election, the Central government
to power. So, despite the busy election period,
it has ensured that some key aspects of
administration are not overlooked.
money-laundering investigation.
These raids and arrests during an election
year raise questions about the motivations

lead statistics two-year contract. Is this a new trend?


An accomplished economist, Mr Garg’s aca-
demic credentials are impressive, having
studied economics at Johns Hopkins
announced key appointments at the joint sec-
retary level, signalling a strategic shift in
leadership. This bureaucratic overhaul
included the empanelment of 26 IAS officers
THE CURIOUS CASE OF
ELECTION-YEAR RAIDS
In the run-up to the general elections, a dozen
behind the timing and broader implications
for governance. It’s not lost on anyone that
some of these officers are in Opposition-ruled
states. Are these actions then purely in the

ministry for 1 yr University, besides IIM Ahmedabad and IIT


Delhi. The Odisha cadre officer is known for
his contributions to policy and programme
from the 1995 to 1999 batches as additional
secretaries.
Among the notable appointments, Ajay
IAS and IPS officers have found themselves
under the scrutiny of the mighty
Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other
interest of justice, or is there an element of
political vendetta? The answer might remain
elusive, and it only adds another layer of

after retirement implementation, particularly his role in con-


ceptualising the Kalia scheme in Odisha.
This initiative provides crucial support to
small farmers and sharecroppers and has,
Bhadoo is currently serving at the Election
Commission of India (EC), V. Seshadri, for-
merly with the Prime Minister’s Office
(PMO), is leading the Telangana chief minis-
investigative agencies in various corruption-
related cases. Allegations range from corrup-
tion to money laundering, and some raids
have been criticised as politically motivated.
intrigue to the already complex world of
Indian politics.

Love them, hate them ignore them at national


notably, served as a model for the national ter’s office (CMO) and Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi Recently, a 2002-batch Jharkhand cadre IAS peril, is the babu guarantee and Dilip’s belief.
PM Kisan scheme. Most conspicuously, Mr is heading Telangana’s energy department. officer was summoned by the ED for ques- Share significant babu escapades
Garg was a major force behind the direct This sudden wave of appointments has tioning in a money laundering case. dilipcherian@hotmail.com.
12 THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 2024
AHMEDABAD VIEWS LIVEMINT.COM

OUR VIEW GUEST VIEW


PTI

Modi 3.0 could establish Indian


leadership in climate resilience
His Panchamrit vision and policy interventions lay down a clear path to sustainable development

(ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resil- The way forward: Despite these
ient Infrastructure (CDRI), both of achievements, India faces significant
which show how India has rallied other challenges in its climate mitigation
countries for the cause. The country is efforts. The country’s heavy reliance on
also advocating a global alliance on bio- coal, which accounts for most of our
fuels among G20 nations to accelerate energy needs, poses a substantial hur-
the world’s energy transition. This initi- dle. Substantial new investments in RE,
ative mirrors the ISA, which aims to infrastructure and sustainable land-use
make clean and affordable solar energy practices are required to meet India’s
TUHIN A. SINHA & accessible to all. The Global Biofuels ambitious climate goals. However, with
KAVIRAJ SINGH Alliance (GBA), launched during the innovative initiatives like the Green
are, respectively, national spokesperson, 2023 G20 summit, has obtained sup- Credit Programme and the GBA, India
BJP, and founder and managing director, port from 19 countries and 12 interna- is well positioned to overcome these
Earthood. tional organizations already. challenges and lead by example.

Coalition governments
The GBA is expected to enhance To decarbonize India’s economy, the
global biofuel trade and promote best Indian government plans to set up an

A
s India looks set for a third Lok practices, driving its development and Indian Carbon Market (ICM) by estab-
Sabha term under the leadership deployment while positioning it as a lishing a national structure. The draft
of Prime Minister Narendra crucial element in the energy transition, framework for the Indian Carbon Credit

serve the economy well Modi, the nation is poised to solidify its
status as a global climate leader. India’s
rising role in global environmental
stewardship will be driven by the PM’s
one that can contribute to job creation
and economic growth as well. It can
turn farmers from food producers into
energy providers, potentially providing
Scheme, notified by the Union govern-
ment last year, aims to lower the emis-
sion intensity of India’s GDP by 45% by
2030. Aligned with India’s goal of
visionary ‘Panchamrit’ strategy. This them with an additional source of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by
initiative, combined with India’s income and significantly reducing our 2070, the ICM will be instrumental in
Stock-market investors should not miss the impressive record of coalitions in driving India’s impressive climate action, can set a dependence on diesel and petrol. decarbonizing commercial and indus-
benchmark for the world in sustainable Prime Minister Modi has under- trial segments of the economy.
economic growth. Nor the fact that even single-party governance can fail on major reforms development and innovative solutions. scored the broader vision of using a As India strives to strike a delicate bal-
The Panchamrit vision: This is central ‘green GDP’ to measure economic ance between its economic needs and
to Modi 3.0’s climate strategy and out- progress. He has also emphasized the environmental concerns, a vibrant car-
lines five key elements that will drive global need to embrace renewable bon trading mechanism will be crucial

I
ndia’s stock market bared a case of frayed tion later. It initiated highway development and India’s climate policies and set global energy (RE) sources like solar, wind, to creating a sustainable future. Again,
nerves on Tuesday, with election results built rural roads, bringing the hinterland closer standards. The vision includes reaching and green hydrogen to tackle climate this initiative not only reaffirms India’s
500GW of non-fossil energy capacity, change. The concept of green GDP, commitment to combating climate
denying any single party a majority in Par- to commercial hubs. It reformed telecom policy sourcing 50% of India’s energy require- which reflects the environmental change, but also sets a precedent for
liament and necessitating coalition rule. to ease regulatory shackles over technological ments from renewable sources and impact of economic activities, can help other nations to follow.
People worry that coalitions crimp govern- potential, dissolving rigid rules to transform the reducing projected carbon emissions by countries align their economic develop- Conclusion: Modi 3.0 marks a major
ance, given how conflict and compromise sector from a low-volume, high-margin busi- 1 billion tonnes and decreasing the car- ment with sustainability goals. moment in India’s journey towards
could arise from bargaining by and accommo- ness to a low-margin, high-volume one. A suc- bon intensity of the economy by 45% Renewable energy accomplishments: global climate leadership. The PM’s
over the 2005 level, all by 2030, apart India’s RE sector has seen remarkable Panchamrit vision, combined with a
dation of diverse partners and interests. Such cessor coalition of the United Progressive Alli- from achieving net-zero emissions by growth. The country’s solar capacity robust policy framework and impress-
worries are exaggerated. Our experience shows ance (UPA) took that reform forward, issued 2070. These targets underscore India’s has increased over 26 times in the last ive RE achievements, sets a new stan-
that coalitions can yield good policymaking and more telecom licences to intensify competition, commitment to climate action. decade and its wind energy capacity has dard for sustainable development.
governance, even as they appear fractious. The brought down telecom tariffs and made servi- Major determinants and actions: India doubled. With the fourth-largest As India navigates the complexities of
record also shows that the virtues of single- ces widely affordable. Greater tele-density and faces unique challenges and opportuni- installed wind capacity and the fifth- climate action, its commitment to inclu-
ties, as environmental sustainability largest solar capacity globally, India sive growth, poverty eradication and
party rule are often overstated. India has had lower charges expanded digital networks for a must be balanced with economic devel- achieved its target of 40% installed environmental sustainability remains
coalition governments since 1989, although the boom led by information technology. The UPA opment. The country’s climate actions power-generation capacity from non- unwavering. By fostering innovation,
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime of also baked inclusion into policy, with laws to are science-driven and evidence-based. fossil fuels many years ahead of sched- encouraging international cooperation
the last 10 years was run by a single party, as the institute the right to information and a distress New Delhi has initiated several interna- ule. This highlights India’s commit- and leveraging its rich cultural heritage,
BJP had a majority on its own. Governments dole in the guise of a rural job guarantee, apart tional forums for climate action, includ- ment to RE and its ability to meet and India is not only securing a sustainable
ing the International Solar Alliance exceed expectations. future for itself, but for the world.
since then have heralded, expanded and pre- from forest dweller rights. For infrastructure, it
sided over India’s economic reforms to produce innovated with public-private partnerships,
the economy’s best period of growth in history. which yielded modernized airports in Delhi and
The Narasimha Rao government was in a Mumbai, several large power plants and net-
minority when it launched the country’s eco- works of tolled highways, among other projects.
nomic reform programme in 1991. It did away The UPA initiated Aadhaar and laid the founda-
with industrial licensing and mandatory clear- tion for UPI services and other aspects of our www.livemint.com
New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh*, Pune* Friday, June 6, 2014 Vol.8 No.134 `4.00 in Delhi-NCR/`5.00 outside Delhi-NCR 24 PAGES

ances from a monopoly watchdog, opened up digital public infrastructure. It also got rid of a WSJ: ECB enters uncharted
territory on rates >21

This is not a partisan debate;


NATION: Monsoon onset likely in 24 hours >3
CORPORATE: Idea’s `3,000 crore QIP signals

trade, liberalized the exchange rate, joined the global tech-denial regime by signing a nuclear CONTENT PARTNER
better sentiment in stock market >3
PHARMA: EU regulators find flaws but say
no health risk at Ranbaxy plant >9

World Trade Organization and overhauled the deal with the US in the teeth of stiff opposition. SENSEX 25,019.51 Æ 213.68

CLEARING LOGJAM
NIFTY 7,474.10 Æ 71.85 DOLLAR `59.33 æ `0.01

SENSEX CLOSES ABOVE 25000


EURO `80.72 æ `0.11 GOLD `26,700 æ `70

FMC tells NSEL


OIL $108.36 æ $0.04

QUICK EDIT it is a human one. Clean air


NDA to dilute to file recovery The AAP
Benchmark equity indices scaled record closing highs on Thursday, with the S&P
BSE Sensex closing above the psychologically important 25,000 mark for the first

securities market. The United Front govern- It sustained an impressive compound annual
time on hopes that the new government would be able to push through key
suits against meltdown

and water and a liveable


economic reforms. The 30-share Sensex closed 0.86%, or 213.68 points, higher at a
lifetime high of 25,019.51 with 14.78 million shares traded over the course of the
day. The exchange’s intraday all-time high remains the 25,375.63 it hit on 16 May— defaulters
forest rules O
the day the election results were declared. ne commonly held
25,374.15 doubt about the
16 May (9.40am) B Y A SHISH R UKHAIYAR Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
25,175.1 ashish.r@livemint.com was regarding its ability
························· to transform itself from a
26 May (11.36am) 25,019.51

ment that ran the country over 1996-98 was growth rate of 6.8% over its 10 years in office. for projects
MUMBAI
movement into a party
5 June (3.30 pm)
I ndia’s commodity markets
regulator has directed the
capable of governance.
Recent events show its

climate are inalienable


SENSEX board of National Spot Ex- problems are basic. The
change Ltd (NSEL) to acceler- party attracted a crowd
25,000 ate the process of recovering when it was on an up-
money from defaulters who swing.
Govt takes environment the process will become online caused the `5,574.35 crore Now that it has lost its
approval process online, completely and there will be no payments crisis at the ex- bid for power, there’s a

short-lived and given to internal squabbles, but The de facto single-party regime of the last 10
need to visit the office,” the en- change, and given it two weeks rush to exit.
proposes a reduction in vironment minister said. to come up with a plan. The AAP’s failures
parameters defining The minister added that the Concerned over the slow show the limits of civil
forests as inviolate period in between will be the 24,271.54 pace of recovery, the Forward society’s political abili-
transition phase, during which 16 May (9.07 am) Markets Commission (FMC) ties. By its nature, politics

human rights. And solving


the ministry will accept paper asked the NSEL board to file is a tough vocation. It
B Y N EHA S ETHI as well as online applications. recovery suits against all de- takes years of patient
neha.s@livemint.com Javadekar said last week that faulters, said two persons di- hard work before a party
························· the ministry would initiate the rectly involved in the discus- and its leaders can make

it dematerialized shares, allowed foreign inves- years dodged tough decisions, first on land
NEW DELHI same process for forest clear- sions between the regulator a mark.

O n a day it took the envi-


ronment approval proc-
ess online, the new gov-
ernment proposed diluting the
norms for allowing industrial
ances soon. He added that this
was being done to ensure that
timelines are met, the applica-
tion process is transparent, and
enable real time monitoring of
and the spot exchange.
On Tuesday, the board of di-
rectors of NSEL, along with the
six members of the so-called
monitoring-cum-auction com-
The AAP sought to
short-circuit this process.
In the bargain, the party
is short-circuiting itself.
What the AAP has to re-
units in forest areas, moving to stage-wise clearances. mittee (MAC) met FMC offi- think is not its transfor-

this crisis is not a question


clear a logjam in project man- The environment and forests cials to take stock of the recov- mation into a party capa-
dates that industry groups al- ministry, rejigged as the envi- ery process. ble of governance but its

tors into debt, brought in a structured explora- acquisition and then on farm policy reform.
lege has contributed to declin- ronment, forests and climate FMC formed the commit- raison d’etre.
ing economic growth. change ministry, was criticized tee—comprising three mem- To begin with, it
Not only will it make the for delaying approvals and fail- should stop saying its
process of environment clear- ing to adhere to timelines dur- TURN TO PAGE 2® leaders have no ambi-
ances easier, the norms, once ing the tenure of the Congress- tion.
changed, will also enable ex- led United Progressive Alliance 23,874.42 ALSO SEE That will make its
16 May (1.28pm)
pansion of industrial projects (UPA). That stalled many indus- >Audit trail can show where the money claims more believable.
Source: Bloomberg went: Anjani Sinha >P6
held up because of land short- trial projects in an economy
ages. The ministry of environ- that has posted less than 5% AHMED RAZA KHAN/MINT

tion and licensing regime for hydrocarbons, Among its big successes, while bankruptcy
ment and forests (MoEF) is pro- growth for two consecutive

of politics, it is our moral


posing to reduce the number of years.
parameters defining a forest as
inviolate from the existing six to
Separately, a senior govern-
ment official, who requested
Investor interest LEADERSHIP TROUBLES
four.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-
anonymity, said the parameters
for identifying forest land as vi- in power revives Executive exodus sparks unease
led National Democratic Alli-
ance (NDA) had, in the run-up
olate or inviolate are set to be
reduced. after bid norms
to the April-May general elec- At present, there are six pa-
are revamped over Infosys bench strength
set up a statutory regulator for telecom and easing and inflation targeting may have had the
tions, promised to accelerate rameters: the quality and the
environmental procedures and type of the forest areas and the
work to reduce conflict between produce they generate, the bio- B Y U TPAL B HASKAR

obligation.
development and environmen- diversity, hydrological, social, utpal.b@livemint.com B Y A NIRBAN S EN and now Thrikutam, virtually
tal objectives. aesthetic and economic values ························· anirban.s@livemint.com the entire top and next-genera-
On Thursday, environmental of the produce. NEW DELHI ························· tion leadership have left. Anoth-
activists were quick to condemn
the proposed dilution of the
norms.
The same official said the
four parameters that were being
considered included biodiversi-
I s investor interest reviving in
the Indian power sector?
The bid for supplying 450 meg-
BANGALORE

Y et another top executive has


left Infosys Ltd, adding to
er round of top-level exits are
underway, according to people
familiar with the development,

reduced personal income tax rates to levels that party’s signature, the GST rollout came about
Environment minister Pra- ty richness and wildlife value, awatts (MW) to Kerala seems to unease among investors and who didn’t want to be named.
kash Javadekar told a confer- forest cover, forest type and suggest that it indeed is; 23 customers concerned about the Investors and customers are
ence on World Environment landscape integrity. firms, the who’s who of Indian dwindling top-level bench now asking what the company’s
Day that the process of online The proposal was opposed by power producers, have pre- strength at India’s second larg- next chief executive will inherit.
submission of documents for environmentalists. qualified for the bid. est software services exporter. The company is searching for an
environment clearances, which “We cannot dilute any pa- The interest is being attribut- Prasad Thrikutam, global external candidate to replace
he had announced when he rameters, and we must move ed to the new bid norms that head of strategic sales, market- CEO S.D. Shibulal, who wants to
took charge of the ministry on fast, and decisively to notify have been put in place, as well ing and alliances and one of the leave before his scheduled re-

still hold. After that, Atal Bihari Vajpayee led only because a coalition-style search for con-
29 May, had become operation- such inviolate areas, as we are as a clean-up of the books of highest paid executives at the tirement in March 2015.
al on Thursday. “From 1 July, losing water catchment areas, state electricity boards (SEBs). Bangalore-based company, has “While an outsider may bring
forests, and wildlife habitats at a The former has lowered the resigned, joining an exodus of at in fresh thinking to the organi-
very fast rate,” said Prerna risk for electricity generating least a dozen senior executives, Latest to leave: Prasad Thrikutam zation, he will take time to fig-
Singh Bindra, a former member companies and the latter has who have left since founder N.R. was Infosys’s global head of stra- ure out Infosys’s issues, culture,
of the standing committee of enabled SEBs to resume power Narayana Murthy’s return in tegic sales, marketing, alliances ways of working, all of which
National Board for Wildlife. purchases. June last year as executive will take time to show results,”

L EON A R D O D I CA P R I O
The official cited above de- According to documents chairman. Infosys confirmed company spokeswoman said on JP Morgan India analysts, Viju
nied that the changes amount available on the Kerala State Thrikutam’s departure, but did Thursday. George and Amit Sharma, wrote

two NDA coalitions that took reforms forward. sensus was employed to win other parties over.
to dilution of norms. “The pa- Electricity Board’s (KSEB) web- not offer any reason for his leav- A year ago, when Murthy re- in a report last week. An expect-
rameters are not being diluted, site, the 23 who have pre-quali- ing. turned to the company that he ed recovery to industry-level
they are being rationalized,” fied for the bid include Adani Thrikutam is joining Dell Inc refers to as his middle child, he revenue growth by 2015-16 is
the official said. Power Ltd, Adhunik Power and as the global head of application could not have possibly imag- likely get pushed out further by
Hydrological value is implicit Natural Resources Ltd, Bharat services, Dell said late on Thurs- ined that he would have to let go another year, they said.
in the parameter on forest cov- Aluminium Co. Ltd, DB Power day. He will report directly to of the entire next generation of Among strong internal candi-
er, said the official, adding that Ltd, East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd Dell Services president and leaders that he had promoted dates for the CEO’s post, the
the thicker the forest, the more and Essar Power M.P. Ltd. former Wipro co-CEO Suresh and in some cases, like Ashok names of Sandeep Dadlani,
will be the hydrological value. GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd, Vaswani and be based out of Vemuri, had personally men- Sanjay Jalona and Manish Tan-

The Centre rationalized customs and excise Evidently, it is political nous, rather than a brute
“Though forests are the key Ideal Energy Projects Ltd, Indi- Plano, Texas. tored. don stand out.
for hydrological value, we also aBulls Power Ltd, Jaiprakash Pravin Rao, president and With the recent exit of com- More worryingly for Infosys,
need to consider other ecosys- Power Ventures Ltd, Jindal board member at the IT firm, pany president B.G Srinivas, the erosion of leadership has
Mint is also available for R8 with will temporarily look after and also other exits like that of
Hindustan Times in Delhi-NCR only
TURN TO PAGE 5® TURN TO PAGE 2® Thrikutam’s responsibilities, a V. Balakrishnan, Stephen Pratt TURN TO PAGE 2®

rates, laying the ground for value added taxa- majority, that gets things done.

GUEST VIEW

The priorities that Modi might set to transform India


Boosting the economy will be done through Support for micro, small and medium key partners such as the EU, Asean and Afri- Digital India 2.0 will make a mark by
DHANENDRA KUMAR infrastructure development by making enterprises (MSMEs) will be stepped up by can nations. The centre may also strengthen encompassing more areas and expanding
more highways, airports, ports and logistical enabling easier access to credit and state export promotion councils to provide e-governance for better efficiency and trans-
parks, and via the use of technology to incentives. Simultaneously, doing business exporters with targeted support and market parency. Broadband will likely reach every
improve quality and safety. The National will be eased by simplifying regulatory pro- intelligence, apart from export incentives to village. Innovation will be encouraged and
Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) will get a cedures and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. boost export-oriented manufacturing also research and development.

A
s Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed thrust, smart cities mission will be Economic diversification will drive GDP through duty drawbacks, subsidies and The space sector will notch up new suc-
embarks on his third term, let’s call it expanded to more urban areas and high- growth as the administra- other measures aimed at cesses. We have a manned mission and new
‘Modi 3.0,’ expectations run high of speed rail and highway links will be built to tion promotes sectors making Indian products exploration programmes coming up. Com-
transformative policies aimed at solidifying improve connectivity in Jammu and Kash- beyond traditional indus- We can expect a globally competitive. mercial launches can also be expected to
India’s position as an economic powerhouse. mir, the Northeast and other remote areas. tries. Renewable energy, Logistics and port infra- make gains in a lucrative global market.
Modi’s letter to the nation after his 45-hour Stronger defence preparedness will be on tourism and services will burst of action structure upgradation Research grants and funding for scientific
meditation in Kanniyakumari suggests Modi the agenda, done by focusing on moderniza- likely be in the spotlight could reduce costs and innovation would help create a vibrant base
3.0 plans to hit the ground running. Here, in tion and the local production of aircraft, and focus will be placed on
aimed at laying raise export efficiency. that allows thousands of startups to flourish.

is former chairman,
brief, is what we can expect:
Strengthening manufacturing will be on
weaponry and other military hardware.
Financial sector reforms may be initiated
developing tourism infra-
structure, even as India is
an economic Inflation containment
could see action by way of
Expect more support from incubators,
accelerators and venture capital.
Competition Commission of
India, and executive director
the radar with ‘Make in India 2.0’ that
focuses on advanced manufacturing, includ-
by addressing non-performing assets and
modernizing public sector banks. Digital
promoted as a global servi-
ces hub.
foundation for agricultural reforms,
greater use of technology
Regulatory reforms could focus on stream-
lining regulations to enhance business com-
for India at the World Bank. ing Industry 4.0 technologies such as artifi- transactions and fintech innovations will be Tax reforms to simplify Viksit Bharat and supply chain improve- petitiveness and the ease of living. India
cial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, promoted to improve financial inclusion and tax structures can be ments, especially by must further simplify procedures and
robotics and big data. We can also expect the efficiency all the way to last-mile links. expected, and maybe by 2047 enhancing India’s cold reduce compliance burdens; labour reforms
development of specialized manufacturing Job creation will be promoted through another corporate tax rate storage capacity to reduce need to be implemented to create a flexible
clusters for sectors such as electronics, auto- skill development and vocational training, cut to attract investment. post-harvest losses, even as market that allows adjustments.
mobiles, textiles and pharmaceuticals to especially in futuristic areas including AI, Public expenditure, including on health, roles are played by food processing parks In a recent statement, Prime Minister
help enhance efficiency and develop spe- robotics, machine learning, drones, chip education and social infrastructure, would and market reforms. A strengthened Modi, while talking about his vision for India
cialized skills, apart from tax breaks, subsi- manufacturing. The aim will be to enhance likely be stepped up to boost productivity. National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) could over a thousand-year span, said, “If you want
dies and facilities to attract investment, and skill sets through the Skill India Mission in Exports may be boosted through trade offer farmers better price discovery. to achieve big, then think big.”
expanded production-linked incentive (PLI) alignment with industry needs and also agreements and diplomacy, with new deals Energy and transport will be focus areas We can expect his leadership to work at
schemes to cover more industries, with a apprenticeship programmes that encourage helping open up new markets, including for energy efficiency and cost reduction. laying a solid foundation for a strong and
commitment to create new jobs. private-public collaborations for training. bilateral and multilateral trade pacts with This goes with India’s RE drive. developed country by 2047.
LIVEMINT.COM VIEWS THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 2024
AHMEDABAD 13

THEIR VIEW M I N T C U R AT O R

Disparities in schooling quality Inflation would feel bad even


if it’s redefined to be less harsh
need to end for better outcomes The US shouldn’t need to argue about standard economic metrics

Never before has it been more urgent to close educational gaps and elevate the quality of education across all Indian states

MINT

CLAUDIA SAHM
is the chief economist at New Century
Advisors and a former Federal Reserve
economist.
BIBEK DEBROY, SANJAY KUMAR
& ADITYA SINHA
are, respectively, chairman of the EAC-PM,
secretary of the department of school
education & literacy at the ministry of education,
and officer on special duty at EAC-PM.

T
he people who experience the US
economy disagree with the people

A
ccess to school is not sufficient; who measure it, and the most likely
the quality of education is equally reason is inflation: Most Americans still see Elevated prices that are no longer rising
critical. While the Right to Educa- it as a major problem, while economists fast are often seen as ‘inflation’ AFP
tion (RTE) Act of 2009 effectively don’t. But this debate recently veered from
addressed access issues, the quality economics to semantics. Has the common would be cause for gloom. But all else is not
of education remains heterogeneous definition of ‘inflation’ changed, and do equal. Unemployment in the US has been
across states in India. Empirical studies, including economists just need to accept it? under 4% for more than two years, while
the National Achievement Survey (NAS), illustrate Felix Salmon of Axios answers ‘yes’ to median wages are up 18%, and more for
these disparities and emphasize the necessity of both questions. “The meaning of the word low-wage workers. And even with higher
prioritizing learning outcomes. ‘inflation’ has changed,” he writes. “It used prices, consumer spending is up 11%, in
NAS 2021 highlights significant disparities in to mean rising prices; now it means high nearly every major category, including
educational outcomes, with leading states like prices.” This helps explain the disconnect food at restaurants.
Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana consistently out- between Americans’ perceptions of the Another way to contextualize the cur-
performing others in Mathematics and Science (in economy and economists’ assessment of it. rent gloom in the US is to look at past
Class 10). Conversely, states such as Meghalaya, I would answer ‘no’ to both questions, gloom. The 1970s and early 1980s were
Mizoram, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh lag signifi- and not because I am an economist. Both another period when prices rose rapidly for
cantly behind. This stark contrast underscores sys- people and economists—and I might point multiple years. In 2022, when year-over-
temic issues in India’s education system, revealing attention in the context of NAS data indicating a Additionally, the NEP 2020 promotes competen- out that there is 100% overlap between year inflation peaked, consumer senti-
the fact that despite improvements in access, sharp decline in scores from Class 3 to Class 10. cy-based education, shifting the focus from memo- these two groups—agree on what inflation ment, as measured by the University of
quality remains uneven and needs improvement This pattern suggests that existing educational rizing content to achieving specific learning out- is. The confusing part is timing. According Michigan, hit its lowest level since 1980.
across the board. strategies may be inadequately reinforcing these comes. This approach ensures that students mas- to Merriam-Webster, inflation is “a contin- From 1978 to 1981, the price level rose 30%,
Further, NAS 2021 also indicates a decline in stu- essential concepts, resulting in progressively pro- ter essential skills before progressing to more uing rise in the general price level.” When about twice the increase now. In addition,
dent performance compared to NAS 2017, high- nounced gaps in knowledge over time. Insights advanced topics, thus preparing them for the chal- Americans complain that prices are high, unemployment averaged almost 7%. Yet
lighting significant learning losses due to a shift from Benjamin Bloom’s educational psychology lenges of higher education and the workforce. they are implicitly comparing prices now consumer sentiment in 2022 was lower.
from rote learning to competency-based assess- also underscore the necessity of securing mastery The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for to those of 2021, when inflation took off. One more puzzling development now is
ments, and the impact of the covid pandemic. For in lower-order cognitive skills before advancing to School Education 2023 employs a technical and When economists point out that inflation the disconnect between people’s assess-
Class 3, the average scores dropped by 3.9% in Lan- higher-order thinking skills. This may also explain structured approach to define learning standards is lower, they’re implicitly comparing pri- ment of their own finances and their
guage, 4.7% in Mathematics and 4.4% in Environ- the emphasis placed on Foundational Learning by systematically aligning educational aims, cur- ces now to 12 months ago. assessment of the US economy. The Fed’s
mental Studies (EVS). Class 5 saw declines of 3.1% and Numeracy in the National Education Policy ricular goals, competencies and specific learning Both time frames are informative, and Survey of Household Economics and Deci-
in Language, 8.4% in Mathematics and 8.7% in (NEP), 2020. The noted decline in academic per- outcomes that are measurable. This alignment prices rose in both periods, so both are sionmaking shows that clearly.
EVS. Class 8 experienced decreases of 1.6% in Lan- formance across grades suggests a premature pro- ensures each educational objective is traceable to inflation. Redefining ‘inflation’ would be Last fall, 72% of respondents said they
guage, 5.2% in Mathematics, 8.8% in Science and gression to complex tasks without the requisite the NEP 2020’s core vision, providing a transpar- both unnecessary and counterproductive, were financially “doing okay” or “living
8.3% in Social Science. For Class 10, the average foundational knowledge and skills, something that ent and accountable framework crucial for when all we need to do is make the implicit comfortably.” That’s relatively close to pre-
scores fell by 13.4% in Mathematics, 18.6% in Sci- Bloom’s mastery learning theory criticizes, addressing educational quality disparities high- parts explicit. pandemic levels. However, when asked
ence and 9.1% in Social Science, while Indian Lan- emphasizing the importance of comprehensive lighted by NAS 2021. The NCF’s detailed articula- This may be a case in which the often- about their local economy, only 42% said it
guage saw a 2.4% increase and English improved understanding before academic advancement. tion of learning outcomes allows for precise assess- maligned ‘Fedspeak’ is a model. At the US was “good” or “excellent.” And then, when
by 9.5%. The NEP 2020 outlines several key strategies to ment and targeted interventions, enabling educa- Federal Reserve, where I worked for asked about the national economy, there
NAS 2021 also reveals a worrying trend in the address the decline in learning outcomes and tors to monitor and address learning gaps almost a decade, the time frame was always was a big divergence: Only 22% said it was
learning outcomes of Indian students. The average enhance foundational learning. One of its primary effectively. The framework also has operational specified: the percent change in prices over “good” or “excellent.” That’s a 50-percent-
scores of students drop significantly as they goals is to ensure that all children attain founda- guidelines for adapting learning outcomes to 12 months, four quarters, one month, and age-point gap—among the same people.
progress from Class 3 to Class 10 across all subjects. tional literacy and numeracy by Grade 3. This diverse contexts and customizing teaching strate- so on. Why? Those are all measures of Moreover, the gap widened in 2020 and
For instance, in Language, the average score involves providing appropriate support and gies, ensuring all students achieve defined compe- inflation, but without a frame of reference, has been relatively stable since.
declines from 64.6% in Class 3 to 52% in Class 10. resources to young learners, and a shift from rote tencies and contributing to a more equitable and it is confusing. Moreover, the Fed defines It is hard to pin the divergence in 2020
Similarly, in Mathematics, the average score plum- learning to a more holistic, integrated and experi- effective education system. its mandate as “inflation at the rate of 2%, as on inflation that arrived a year later. Some-
mets from 61.2% in Class 3 to a mere 44% in Class ential learning approach. By periodically revisiting To address disparities in learning outcomes, measured by the annual change in the thing happened, surely—but the extra
10. The pattern is consistent across other subjects, core concepts and building upon them, the policy states must take decisive action with the help of the price index for personal consumption gloom likely goes beyond economics. It
including EVS and Science, with the lowest scores aims to develop a deep understanding of founda- Union government’s Samagra Siksha Abhiyaan. expenditures.” That’s quite a mouthful, may be trauma from covid upending our
observed in higher classes. This sharp decline tional knowledge that can be applied in more com- States should use NAS data to pinpoint and target and it makes sense to use ‘2% inflation’ as a lives, social media amplifying what was
highlights a critical issue: the foundational skills plex scenarios. This helps to mitigate the gaps in lagging areas, ensuring focused interventions and shorthand. already a bias toward negative news, a
that students acquire in their early years are not knowledge that contribute to the decline in per- resource allocation. Teacher training through rig- So economists don’t need to accept a hyperpartisan environment, geopolitical
being adequately built upon as they advance formance observed in higher classes. orous, continuous professional development and new meaning for inflation so much as events, or fears about what comes next.
through the educational system. The performance Further, the NEP 2020 highlights the impor- mentorship programmes, emphasizing modern accept that we must communicate more Words are not the problem. Nor are
of students at the foundational level is better, but tance of continuous professional development for and competency-based teaching methods, should clearly. That might help avoid these dis- economists’ tools especially well-suited to
still far from optimal, indicating that even at the teachers. It mandates regular in-service training be prioritized. States should also engage parents tractions over language. sorting out non-economic explanations.
lowest levels, there is considerable room for programmes and the establishment of National and communities actively, making them partners A far more productive use of our time is So maybe the best way forward is fewer
improvement. Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) to in the educational process. They should also align to try and understand why people are extra words from economists, less argument
Jerome Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum Theory, ensure high-quality teaching practices across all their efforts with NEP 2020. gloomy now. The key word is ‘extra.’ Econ- over the meaning of common economic
which advocates the recurrent revisitation of fun- levels of education. The policy also introduces a These steps are essential to close educational omists would agree that, all else being terms, and more discussion about all the
damental ideas, building progressively until full robust system of formative assessment that pro- gaps and elevate the quality of education across all equal, the 16% increase in overall prices non-economic reasons for our gloom.
conceptual mastery is achieved, demands special vides timely and constructive feedback to students. states. Never before has this been so urgent. from January 2021 through March 2023 That’s my hope. ©BLOOMBERG

THEIR VIEW

Women-led philanthropy will improve the act of giving


take on a political colour at some point. three consecutive years by the Hurun India First, with a proliferation of professional- from this study also suggest that women
GEORGE SKARIA MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon Philanthropy Report. Her work has been led companies and startups, as opposed to tend to give away a greater proportion of
founder Jeff Bezos, received a 4% stake in trailblazing on many accounts: The wealth traditional family businesses, substantive their net worth than men do.
the online retailer after her divorce with him she gave was not from a family business, as chunks of equity shares in many new-age Second, the government is doing its bit by
in 2019. In the last five years, MacKenzie has has traditionally been the case in India; she firms are held by couples rather than just nudging companies subtly and not-so-sub-
distributed 49% of her shares in Amazon has done this independently from what her males. Even though Infosys started this tly, directly and indirectly. In a related role,

P
hilanthropy has been practised by worth $16.6 billion to over 2,000 non-profit husband Nandan has been doing; and trend more than 30 years ago, it is only in industry associations like the Confederation
Indian companies for more than a cen- organizations (NGOs) worldwide through a finally, through foresight, recent times that this of Indian Industry and Federation of Indian
tury. Over the last few decades, some ‘no strings attached’ giving policy. This is some of what she focused model has gained traction. Chambers of Commerce and Industry have
of it came to be led by women spouses of revolutionary because the NGOs that on quite early are causes Women leading This has meant that women special units or foundations that help chan-
business leaders through corporate founda- received this money had full control over like the environment and now have money of their nel their members’ CSR funds. These special
tions, often with corporate social responsi- how, when and to whom benefits would be climate change, acknowl- big-budget own and are free to redis- units are also often led by women who have
bility (CSR) activities playing a supportive given. This was radically different from the edged now as critical areas tribute it the way they specialized knowledge and understanding
role. But today, women in India and overseas traditional practice of putting in place in need of attention. In a
philanthropic would like. It also helps for of philanthropy.

is a columnist and co-author of


are playing independent and impactful roles
of leadership in philanthropy, bringing to
detailed systems and processes to track and
review the impact of funds awarded. Today,
recent Economist article,
echoing MacKenzie Scott,
missions has these young high net-
worth individuals to have
Finally, with greater prosperity on the
whole, many women now have the financial
the recent book ‘Beyond Three
Generations: The Definitive
their work distinctive styles and refreshingly
innovative approaches.
she is the poster-child of a new era in global
philanthropy.
Rohini Nilekani said that
the recipient and not the
enlivened this role models in Rohini
Nilekani, Rajashree Birla
means and freedom to give up their corpo-
rate jobs and focus on their passion of giving.
Guide to Building Enduring A few days back, Melinda French Back home, Rohini Nilekani, wife of Info- donor is best suited to field with a wave and Anu Agha. This is what Vidya Shah of EdelGive did. At
Indian Family Businesses’. announced that she will be disengaging sys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, has been a decide how to use the Data from GivingPi, a the same time, the emergence of women bil-
from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pioneer in the art and science of philan- money. of new ideas family philanthropy net- lionaires like Savitri Jindal, Rohiqa Cyrus
following a lag of three years after her thropy. Although she has been involved in Another well-known work in India, says that Mistry and Rekha Jhunjhunwala has given
divorce with Bill Gates in 2021. She will now charitable giving for many years, she has also woman who played a pio- women-led philanthropy is another step-up to women’s philanthropy.
be the recipient of $12.5 billion, which she changed course along the journey. With neering role in Indian philanthropy has gaining prominence because women show What they have in common is that all three
would like to deploy on causes like gender wealth for this purpose largely generated been Rajashree Birla, who led the group’s greater accountability and a clearer focus on lost their husbands in an untimely manner
development that she has been passionate from her and her family’s stake in Infosys, CSR initiatives after her husband Aditya complex societal challenges. A Bain and and inherited large sums of wealth, includ-
about. After divorcing Gates, she founded Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and other Birla passed away in 1995. Company-Dasra study of 2024 found that ing equity stakes in their business groups,
the non-profit Pivotal Philanthropies Foun- institutions she founded have been so active What is driving this new landscape of women have high involvement in giving parts of which are going into philanthropy.
dation. Analysts have said it is possible that under her charge that she has been hon- high-impact women-led philanthropy in the aimed at directly obtaining better outcomes Women-led altruism is steadily on its way
a part of Melinda’s future philanthropy will oured as the “most generous woman” for country? (65% versus 43% for men). Early insights to changing this field for the better.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Nobody cares how much you know,
until they know how much you care.
— THEODORE ROOSEVELT
MUMBAI | THURSDAY | JUNE 6, 2024
EDIT
SINCE 1928

FOUNDER EDITOR: S SADANAND


Voters want political stability, not hegemony
erally proved less reliable than those multi-party coalition. But these
of the Congress. But voters’ outright coalitions were held together by the

Opportunities and Insight


rejection of the BJP’s egregious po-
litical opportunism in Maharashtra
may discourage parties from switch-
logic of power-sharing. If the INDIA
alliance finds itself in the Opposi-
tion, it will have to make consicous

challenges for Modi


ing sides. efforts to remain united. For its part,
÷Bhavdeep Kang As of now, the NDA allies have de- the BJP may have to clean house af-
clared they will not only stand by the ter fixing accountability for the loss-

T
alliance but by PM-elect Narendra es in UP, Rajasthan, Haryana and

A
he decks have been cleared for the swearing-in s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his third term in office, the Manipur.
of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for a Modi prepares to take oath of onus is on him to ensure the coali- The NDA governments of the last
third consecutive term. After Jawaharlal office for the third time, he tion stays together, so that the gov- 10 years have not been successful in
must bear in mind the overarching ernment can run without constant managing the expectations of allies.
Nehru, he is the first prime minister to come to power
message of Mandate 2024 – that vot- hiccups. If that means putting paid The Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal
in this manner. He returns to power under circum- ers want stability, but not hegemony. to the proposed Uniform Civil Code, and various regional parties aban-
stances different from those he has been accustomed By narrowing the gap between the toning down the mandir-masjid doned ship, while JD (U) leader Ni-
to, both in Gujarat and at the Centre. The National two national political formations – rhetoric, limiting the free run that tish Kumar’s revolving-door politics
Democratic Alliance (NDA), headed by the Bharatiya the NDA and INDIA alliance - to 52 regulatory agencies have enjoyed is the subject of many memes. Modi
seats, they have curbed the BJP’s and adopting a more cannot afford to lose sight of the fact
Janata Party (BJP), has secured only 293 seats, just 21 electoral dominance while leaving accommodating approach on several that his two principal allies — the
more than the minimum required to form a govern- scope for continuity and political fronts, so be it. JD(U) and TDP — would be comfort-
ment. In 2019, his own BJP had secured enough seats to stability. Prima facie, a coalition govern- able in either of the two possible
carry on even if the alliance partners decided to part At first glance, the mandate is a ment is less stable than a single coalitions. Both parties have already
ways with him. This gave the prime minister enough mosaic, with no discernible pattern. party majority. But after the experi- Enough fodder has been generated to keep analysts indicated that they might lobby for
States falling within the same geo- ments of the late 1980s and 90s, India special status for their respective
elbow room to have his own way while taking policy de- graphical region have voted differ- mastered the art of stable coalitions, busy for weeks, but the end result is a healthy dose of states, and for certain Constitutional
cisions and making appointments to key posts. In other ently, reposing faith either in the as in 1999, 2004 and 2009. Political democracy, along with the likelihood of a stable regime offices and ministries.
words, Modi was not under compulsion to follow the NDA or the dominant regional party. competition is always healthy, and it There is always the possibility of
advice, let alone dictates, of his partners. In the East, the NDA lost consider- can be argued that too much bringing more parties into the fold,
able ground in Bengal, but swept stability is bad for democracy, and nance. but its importance vis-a-vis national so that no one member of the NDA
This time, Modi will have to take his alliance partners Odisha and managed to hold on to a for economic growth. What’s desirable is policy continu- security cannot be underrated. “family” can exert undue pressure,
into confidence, as he is dependent on them for contin- majority of seats in Bihar, Jhark- The stable, One Party Dominant ity in terms of economic and securi- Coalition dharma, a term coined but the BJP would do better to es-
uing in power. Small wonder that demands have al- hand and the North-East. Likewise, (OPD) or Congress system which ty drivers. A raft of initiatives has by the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is chew Maharashtra-like
ready been heard about one of the partners asking for the INDIA alliance dominated Uttar lasted until 1977 did not deliver eco- been set in motion in the last five the only means of keeping political shenanigans and focus on keeping
Pradesh, but was wiped out in the nomic growth. But subsequent coali- years: the Semiconductor and Quan- instability at bay in the current sce- existing allies happy. Voters have ex-
the post of Speaker. In a coalition situation, the
neighbouring states of Madhya tion governments did. Nor can it be tum Missions, Gati Shakti (for im- nario. Expectation management is ercised their franchise with great
Speaker is often compelled to make decisions that can Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand. said that only a single-party proving logistics), Product Nation tricky. Even former Prime Minister wisdom, and indicated that they
make or mar the prospects of the government. Inciden- Bellwether seats, too, have thrown majority government can take bold (India as a global manufacturing Manmohan Singh had to face a trust want stability but will reject hege-
tally, the Telugu Desam Party had once demanded and up a mixed result, albeit with the decisions. It was PV Narasimha hub) and space sector reforms, not to vote precipitated by the Indo-US nu- monic tendencies. These sentiments
obtained the Speaker’s post. One reason why the BJP majority going to the BJP. Rao’s minority government that mention the Rs one lakh crore cor- clear deal. But the UPA coalition of must be respected.
Enough fodder has been generated triggered economic liberalisation pus for financing private sector R&D over a dozen parties, with outside
antagonised the farming community in Punjab, west- to keep analysts busy for weeks, but and introduced Panchayati Raj, and in sunrise sectors. These are critical support from others, not only lasted Bhavdeep Kang is a senior journalist
ern UP, and Haryana was because it tried to push the the end result is a healthy dose of the Pokhran II nuclear tests were for India and must be carried for- a full term but won a second with a with 35 years of experience in working
misguided agricultural laws down the throats of the democracy, along with the likelihood conducted by a BJP-led coalition. ward, regardless of the shape of gov- larger mandate. with major newspapers and
farmers. Had the BJP been leading a coalition govern- of a stable regime. While the BJP The point is that political stability ernment. The Quantum Mission So, the Congress in the past has magazines. She is now an independent
ment, it would not have embarked on such a course of has the numbers, its allies have gen- cannot deliver without good gover- may not make sense to most voters shown its ability to effectively run a writer and author
action. The point is that a coalition government is not

Tesla needs mega bucks to fulfil big dreams


necessarily a bad phenomenon.
In 2004, when Dr Manmohan Singh was chosen to
head the United Progressive Alliance government led
by the Congress, his government was in a minority. It
had to depend upon the Left parties and an assortment in India, a 100% duty would raise its following a fatal collision of their vehi- lakh car to do well in the Indian mar- a rapid rate. In order to combat climate
of smaller parties like the Muslim League and the Ker-
ala Congress, not to mention the Bahujan Samaj Party. Wheels price to $ 80,000 (65 lakh) making it un-
affordable except for the very wealthy.
cle with a pedestrian. Licenses in this
field are being held up in the US be-
ket.
Musk needs to set up a manufactur-
change, the Indian government is
pushing to increase EV penetration so
Dr. Singh had experience as finance minister but he did
not have the political clout to head a government that
Up The price cuts have not materialised in
increased sales and Tesla’s global vehi-
cle inventory rose to 28 days this quar-
cause of accidents caused by these ve-
hicles with federal agencies no longer
willing to go soft on these new tech-
ing facility in either India or South Ko-
rea in order to take advantage of being
a cost leader in this global electrifica-
that by 2030 it becomes 40% for buses,
30% for private cars, 70% for commer-
cial vehicles and 80% for two wheelers.
was dependent on outside support. The situation was ter, a huge increase from the 15 days at nologies which include Full Self Driv- tion journey. At present he has six There is no doubt that India poses
such that the CPM leader Sitaram Yechury was report- ÷Shubh Arora the end of the last quarter. Tesla sells ing. manufacturing facilities — four in the multiple challenges for Telsa since its
ed to have remarked that if his party asked the prime cars directly to customers having done What, then, does Musk bring to the US, one in Shanghai and one in Berlin. remains a small luxury car market

A
fter all the hype, Tesla seems to away with the dealer network. which has still to expand its base in a
minister to stand up, he would do so. Be that as it may,
he was able to do well during his first term when he
have put its plans to come to In- He can console himself with the The future lies in green energy but investment in major way. The only way it can do so is
dia in the near future on hold. knowledge that other new vehicle in- by localising production in order to
was able to enact laws of long-lasting political signifi- Its CEO Elon Musk was expected to ventories in the US are now having to renewable energy sources requires mega bucks and the make its cars more affordable, as this
cance. The National Rural Health Mission, the Unique make a high-profile trip to India in deal with a 72-day quarter. But troubles harnessing of science-based innovations on a mega scale alone will pave the way for higher
April, and was expected to announce come in bucketfuls. Tesla had to recent- sales.
Identification Authority that introduced the Aadhar
an investment of $ 2-3 billion dollars. ly recall all 3,878 Cybertrucks because Besides India being an important
card, the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guar- This came to an abrupt halt when he the US safety regulator authorities Indian table and how will his cars help The Indian government has mandates market for his social media platform X,
antee Scheme, and the Right to Information Act were announced a postponement of his trip found it suffered from a faulty accelera- transform the Indian market? India al- in its policy for EVs that he will get 50% Musk is also making a major push for
some of them. due to “heavy obligations”. What were tor pedal. Not only did this recall carry ready has a strong auto component in- domestic value addition within 5 years Starlink, a project run by his company
In fact, the Congress was able to return to power only these pressing work commitments that with it a loss of reputation but correct- dustry with Tesla sourcing compo- at the maximum to quality for the low- Space X, which aims to offer high speed
Musk could not take time off for a two- ing these accelerator pedals is going to nents worth &1.5 to $2 billion from In- er import duty rate of 15%. internet using a constellation of thou-
on the steam of such laws as the job guarantee scheme. day trip to meet the prime minister of cause a further dip in his pockets. dia annually. Tesla EV cars have a very Companies that meet these require- sands of earth orbit satellites. He has
Of course, it was not a bed of roses for Dr Singh, who a country which offered a huge market Tesla is facing another major prob- big driving range most Tesla cars will ments will be allowed to import 8000 applied for a license and if he gets it,
had to risk his own career and the future of his govern- for his Electric Vehicles (EVs)? lem and that is what direction the com- offer more than 500-700 km driving EVs a year at the lower import duty on his will become the third company af-
ment when he resisted the Left and signed the civil nu- Musk may indeed be the richest man pany should take in the coming years. range so the main concern of range cars costing $ 35,000 and above. At pres- ter Jio Satellite Communications and
in the world but he has been under Should it go in for a robotaxi or else fo- anxiety among EV owners in India will ent India levies a tax of 70-100% on im- One Web to get this license.
clear deal with the US. Ultimately, the Left parties had
tremendous pressure of late with Tesla cus on a more affordable $25,000 model be addressed with Tesla cars. ported cars depending on their value. But all these ambitious projects need
to eat humble pie when their own chosen Speaker re- shares having shown a 40% downward car called Model 2 that Musk had Tesla’s entry into India rides on the A potential Tesla entry in India will a green signal from his investors in the
fused to resign as commanded by them. Modi has trend in the last few months. He is promised would go in for production question of whether Musk will set up pit Tesla against domestic automakers US, and that, for Musk, remains a ma-
greater political experience than Dr Singh and there is locked in fierce competition with Chi- by the year end? Most investors believe his own manufacturing unit. Unlike including Tata and Mahindra. Tata has jor challenge. The future lies in green
no reason why he should not succeed as prime minister nese cars forcing him to announce Model 2 is the route Musk should take several US companies that have out- a head start with its vehicles presently energy but investment in renewable
price reductions of three of his five in order to become more competitive — sourced production to China, Musk cornering 80% of the domestic EV energy sources requires mega bucks
of a coalition government. Like in the case of the UPA, models being sold in the US, and then a step that will also help infuse confi- companies are producing car lithium- market. Global manufacturers so far and the harnessing of science-based
the BJP can also have a body that accommodates all the going on to slash prices of his cars be- dence in his customers — but Musk, ion batteries in his giga-factory facility believed that India was not ready for innovations on a mega scale. Musk has
parties in the coalition to have consultations before ing sold in China, the Middle East, with his propensity for taking risks, in Nevada and other locations in US. world class technology and hence were always been a gambler; will his Indian
new laws are enacted or policy decisions are taken. Africa and Europe. But the price cut did seems to have set his heart on a robot- Automobile analysts in India believe selling their hand-me-down gamble also pay off ?
not result in an increase in car sales. axi even though he realises only too that if he can find a way to localise bat- technology to us. This would change
Astute observers of the BJP government’s style of
Tesla cars have always been on the ex- well that this is an unknown territory tery production in India, he will with the entry of Tesla. The writer is an entrepreneur and
functioning believe that decisions were taken by a few pensive side. Even the cheapest car be- and several braveheart companies in- change the rules of the game for the India is presently the fourth largest consultant focused on IT in hotels and
persons enjoying the confidence of Modi. There were ing sold in the US costs $ 42,000 (Rs 34.5 cluding Uber chose to withdraw from premium market section of EVs as car market in the world, having sold 23 corporates, and follows car and tech
hardly any discussions, as a result of which the gov- lakh). If this vehicle was to be imported this autonomous vehicle unit sector there is a potential for a Rs 25 to Rs 30 million cars in 2023, and it is growing at trends across the globe
ernment earned a bad name. The Agniveer scheme, for
instance, was not initiated with adequate
Life lessons from LETTERS II decimating forests in the hopes of making

D
consultations even within the BJP, let alone the NDA. onald Trump’s conviction marks some more money for the capitalist class.
The BJP had some loose cannons who created more
problems for the party, like when they said the Consti-
Alexander the Great TO THE EDITOR unprecedented territory in US politics.
What a travesty of justice; a politician,
Unless there is a complete moratorium on
construction and other infrastructure
tution would be amended if the party got a two-thirds — Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji The felon President however corrupt he may be, can contest activity the situation is only going to get
elections, get elected to the highest office worse. What is gained in profits will be

M D
majority. To give voice to the restraining forces has its ost of us have read and questions, as these, are not set- onald Trump has become the first ever of the country, whether in India or the USA, spent on treating illnesses caused by heat.
own advantage. Let Modi be more accommodative and heard about the three tled by bullets or bombs or by de- ex-US President to become a convicted even if he has committed crimes. Here in We have destroyed natural resources like
receptive to make his third term a greater success. important lessons ployment of large posse of po- felon after a New York state jury returned a India, we have rogues killing dozens of there was no tomorrow. And we are now
taught by Alexander the Great licemen or by ruthless applica- guilty verdict for all 34 charges in the case people and looting money from the public, paying the price!
through his last 3 wishes. Of the tion of hurtful law. The solution relating to hush money that he paid to then getting elected to state legislatures or Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
INDIA 75 YEARS AGO three wishes he made on his has to be found only in the spirit adult film actor Stormy Daniels in 2016, Parliament and leading a regal lifestyle
FPJ Archives
JUNE 6, 1949 deathbed, the last one is most
talked about, which says that: ‘I
of understanding, accommoda-
tion and spiritual love which is
and the damaging charge of election fraud
linked to his attempt to hide such
with pension from the exchequer for the
rest of their life. In the US Trump has used
II
want my both hands to keep
dangling out of my coffin be-
cause I want people to know that
without any bias, partiality or
discrimination towards anyone.
But how can such a love
information from voters during 2016
election. Like many countries, in US too,
the more divided its Supreme Court
his office to swindle, bribe, cheat the public
and cause riots but he still enjoys
immunity. We should demand that anyone
A s part of corporate social responsibility,
top and medium companies need to
take proactive steps in supporting green
we came empty-handed in this emerge? Only if each one of us becomes along biased lines, the more with criminal antecedents must be barred initiatives, which are now a part of global
world and we will go empty- asks ourselves the question, judiciary loses credibility. But in Trump trial, from running for public office. governance practices. These companies
handed.’ In spite of knowing “Whom do our bodies belong?" the best democratic principles rocked. The Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad should go a step further by planting more
about such moral lessons, one of The answer to this would be; “To court was efficient and apolitical and also, trees in replacement of the trees often
the questions that troubles
people is the question of
our respective souls." Let
us ask further; “To which
it treated a very wealthy and powerful man
quite similarly to normal Americans.
Paying the price felled by both central and state
governments, citing reasons of
belongingness.
It is a well-known
fact that in 1946-47, it
abode on-high do our
souls belong?" The an-
swer now would be
Although poll surveys in swing States
earlier this year had suggested that 53% of
voters wouldn’t vote for Trump if any of his
D espite all the accumulated wisdom of
humankind, it just refuses to recognise
the dangers of heatwaves which are only
“development”. Trees and human beings
are intimately connected through the ages.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
was this question that, originally, we all criminal cases led to a conviction. However, going to get more intense in the future.
which led to the belong to the November 2024 might be the best and Temperatures over 50 degrees as Dear reader,
political divi-
GUIDING LIGHT Soul World, also ultimate opportunity for American voters to experienced in many places in India are We are eager to know your opinions, comments and
suggestions. Write to letters@fpj.co.in with the title of the
sion of the great subcontinent called Highest Heaven, Param decide on whether, after all, they consider bound to create problems for every living letter in the subject line. Using snail mail? Send your letters
of India and to the heinous mas- Dhãm or Alam al Arwah and Trump fit to lead their country. creature. Humankind is at a precipice and to The Free Press Journal, Free Press House, Free Press
sacre of innocent masses that that this whole planet earth, be- Sanjay Chopra, Mohali still refuses to learn as it happily goes on Marg, 215 Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021.
uprooted millions from their longs to ONE Supreme and has
soil. been given to us all to live happi- MIKA’S MATRIX
The question that agitated the ly in unity and in the spirit of
mind of political leaders, then, one family of mankind.
was: “To whom does India be- Further, if we remember the
long, or which part of India be- answer to the spiritual question:
longs to whom?" Almost the “To whom do we as souls be-
same type of question, though long”, we will certainly settle
in a changed context and in a this question of belongingness
different situation or circum- amicably.
stances in each case, is being
asked again here, there or else- The writer is a spiritual
where: “To whom does so and so educator and popular
state belong, or who belongs to columnist for publications
so and so state“ across India, Nepal and the UK,
“BIG-3” IN NO MOOD TO PROLONG TALKS History is a witness to the
truth that this question of be-
and has written more than
8,000 columns. He can be
Paris, June 5. Western Powers, led by the United States may ask longingness cannot be settled contacted at
to adjourn the Paris meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers the way; attempts were made to nikunjji@gmail.com /
unless new prospects of agreement appear this week, conference tackle it over the centuries. Such www.brahmakumaris.com
observers said today.
THE HINDU
6 Thursday, June 6, 2024

Editorial Delhi

The roads to India’s redemocratisation, the challenges


T
he 18th Indian general election that was at work under A.B. Vajpayee and Mr. Modi — would crystallise if the TDP and the
probably marks the end of a cycle, in Manmohan Singh, but coalition politics should JD(U) were to formulate exigencies affecting the
A narrow loss spite of the fact that it has not resulted
in an alternation in power, a dimension
imply a greater recognition of the Chief Ministers
— who, we must remember, were not even
BJP in terms of power sharing or the party’s
support base (reservations above 49% or in the
BJD’s ploy of equivocation towards the usually needed for characterising an election as consulted before the demonetisation of 2016 and private sector for instance). These “partners”
BJP at the Centre resulted in its decline “critical”. the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020. may also not see eye to eye with friends of the
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s loss of its majority Christophe Besides power relations, narratives matter. government (and support, for instance, an

A
fter 24 years and three months in power seems to be sufficient. It might well be — but Jaffrelot Like other national-populist leaders, Mr. Modi investigation regarding Gautam Adani’s activities).
in Odisha, outgoing Chief Minister Na- under certain conditions — for a claimed that he was the nation and tried to The bargaining power of the JD(U) and the TDP is
veen Patnaik will finally pass the baton to is Research Director
re-democratisation process to reach its logical at CERI-SciencesPo/ disqualify his rivals by calling them anti-national. immense: by shifting from one side to the other
a new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led govern- conclusion. And, many politicians, pseudo-intellectuals and of the political spectrum, they would make the
CNES, Professor of
ment. The performance of the Patnaik-led Biju Ja- For 10 years, India has followed a trajectory of Indian Politics and journalists supported this discourse. As a result, government fall and could allow the INDIA bloc to
nata Dal (BJD) in the Assembly elections was not de-democratisation that has found expression in Sociology at King’s an equation was propagated between Indianness take over.
poor — a 40.22% vote share, that was marginally the concentration of political and economic College London, and Hindutva, relegating minorities and These two scenarios are not mutually
ahead of the BJP’s 40.07%. But the BJP was able to power in a few hands: at the top of the state President of the especially Muslims, to the margin. This form of exclusive. The second one may unfold itself after
win in more constituencies, getting 78 of the 147 apparatus, a handful of men decided for the rest, French Political identity politics may well be on the defensive, a few months or even a year or two later,
seats as against the BJD’s 51. The BJD’s perfor- at the expense of Parliament and federalism, as Science Association,
now, countered by another ideological agenda especially if the Modi government is further
mance in the simultaneously held Lok Sabha and Chair of the
well as many other institutions. In the business British Association for
prioritising social equality. Once again, like so weakened by electoral setbacks (the State
polls was slightly worse — its vote share dipped by world, a limited number of cronies could get many times since V.P. Singh had decided to elections in Maharashtra and Haryana will be
South Asian Studies
2.76 points to 37.46% while the BJP’s increased to access to the country’s resources and dominate implement the recommendations of the Mandal watched closely in this respect) and if the ruling
45.41%, by a whopping 5.34 points. Clearly, a sec- the economy. In this regime, inequalities report in 1990, two repertoires are in coalition, including the TDP and the JD(U), are
tion of BJD voters preferred the BJP for the Lok increased but the poor continued to support a competition: to counter the rise of the plebeians, under pressure from other State parties and
Sabha despite voting for the incumbent in the As- pro-rich government in the name of religion the Sangh Parivar resorted to ethno-religious Congress: the Opposition has tasted blood and
sembly elections. The BJP mustered a strong vote among other things: identity politics and identity from the 1990s onwards, and to counter realised its strength in such a way that it is bound
share across geographical regions, besting the communal polarisation at the expense of the Hindutva, today, the Congress and the Samajwadi to mobilise relentlessly in the street and solidify
BJD even in its rural strongholds, while enhanc- minorities tended to prevail over social issues. Party as well as the Rashtriya Janata Dal and its unity and even recruit more partners. Ms.
ing its already substantial urban vote shares. The Substantial changes are expected in all these others mobilise supporters on social issues, Mayawati may even become less fearful of
BJD’s relatively poor performance, compared to domains today because of the new balance of including the caste census issue, in order to antagonising the ruling party in the context of the
the 2019 Assembly elections, when it won 44.7% power and because of some narrative shift. But promote social justice again. new dispensation, and revive her party, the
of the votes, must be attributed to Mr. Patnaik’s will they materialise? This programme has been clearly articulated Bahujan Samaj Party.
diminishing appeal. The party had assiduously by Rahul Gandhi whose yatras, the Bharat Jodo Under these circumstances, Mr. Modi may not
built its popularity on the basis of welfare mea- No shift but a tilt Yatra and Bharat Jodo Naya Yatra, have made him be in a position to keep the NDA together, either
sures, including targeted schemes in the largely The balance of power has not shifted, but tilted a popular leader, in both senses of the term, in because its partners would be asking for too
agrarian State. Mr. Patnaik garnered much of the because the BJP remains the dominant party. But, spite of poor media coverage. This much or/and because he has never been a team
credit for these schemes and each electoral victo- for the first time in his political career, Narendra transformation has been magnified by the player, a pragmatic expert in coalition making apt
ry over the years deepened his support base. Modi will have to play the coalition game. The election results: nobody will call him “Pappu” at defusing tensions by making concessions. The
The BJP emphasised Mr. Patnaik’s alleged frail weakening of his authority should allow any more. It is not only because of these marches Sangh Parivar, then, may replace him by a man
health and attacked his protégé, the former bu- institutions to regain some of their spine. but also because of the way he defended the such as Nitin Gadkari who has been supported by
reaucrat-turned politician V.K. Pandian and his Bureaucrats, including those of the Election Constitution of India, built a coalition of so many the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on many
Tamil roots. The insularity of this campaign not- Commission of India, should appreciate that parties, the INDIA bloc, as well as the attractive occasions in the past. Mr. Modi was the candidate
withstanding, the question of Mr. Patnaik’s suc- today’s masters are not as strong as they were — nature of his social issues-oriented discourse. of Nagpur by default in 2014 and his relationship
cession was deftly used by the BJP to sow doubts and may not be the same tomorrow. Whether The general with the Sangh’s top leaders has not improved.
in the BJD’s base. A number of defections from they will rise to the occasion remains to be seen. election may Different scenarios But Mr. Modi (and Amit Shah) will not let go of
the BJD to the BJP over the years also helped the The same prognosis applies to the judiciary and Bihar, under the stewardship of Nitish Kumar, has power so easily: there is so much at stake. And,
well mark the
BJP seize the initiative. That prior to the elec- to the media. Will they resist the government’s been the first State to organise a caste census. nobody can anticipate the techniques that Mr.
tions, both parties had engaged in parleys to con- end of a cycle
use of liberticide laws that have been passed in and the Will its Chief Minister try to persuade the National Modi may resort to, to save his post. Time matters
test as an alliance and the BJP later broke off the the last 10 years? Because we are not in 1977 and Democratic Alliance to emulate this initiative? Or a lot here: a political crisis would not make the
talks suggest that the BJP had an inkling that it the draconian laws restraining freedom of
beginning of a will he abstain from pushing this issue? More same impact if the institutions of the Indian
stood a better chance fighting the BJD. The BJD’s expression and individual rights will not be new chapter. generally speaking, how far will the JD(U), the Republic have had the time to recover from 10
policy of endorsing most of the BJP-led govern- repealed — there is no majority for that. But the TDP and others try to promote their own agenda years of erosion.
ment’s measures, including controversial ones, Federalism should be revitalised too, not only rejuvenation of and interests? This is a key variable which may However, besides the political actors, civil
and to play the role of a friendly party that was because of the relative decline of the lead to different scenarios. society is also bound to play a key role again in
India’s
not part of the NDA backfired, just as it did with government’s authority but also because this The most likely one may consist, in the weeks the rejuvenation of India’s democracy. If this
the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. These parties democracy will
government will need the support of two or three depend on the and months ahead, in a modus vivendi based on election is probably marking a transition towards
along with the Bharat Rashtra Samiti in an earlier State parties, including the Telugu Desam Party concessions made by the Modi government for a new era, eventually, a change of guard at the
period and the Bahujan Samaj Party, allowed (TDP) and the Janata Dal (United), or the JD(U),
role of key accommodating demands by the TDP, the JD(U) — State level will not be enough for
themselves to be used as buffers by the BJP in the which have traditionally defended the autonomy players, and may be others — that will be very substantial, re-democratising India — and, in particular, to
expectation that the BJP would help them stave of States. including but acceptable. counter the dense network of RSS-related
off their rivals in their States. But these stances We will not see the kind of decentralisation civil society Another scenario — the worse case scenario for vigilantes.
only affected them in the long run as they al-
lowed the BJP to pick up support and leaders
who defected from their ranks. The BJD’s loss of
power and the rapid decline of the YSRCP and
BRS offer a cautionary tale about these parties’
ploy of equivocation.
The great election over, the view from Washington
U
.S. President Joe Biden, faced with a But new priorities have emerged other than India? The Gaza and Ukraine crises show that
A new era growing number of naysayers on the China. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Biden Washington badly needs friends in the Global
The ANC should stay true to its legacy United States-India relationship, has administration made it clear that it believed the South, and India is ideally placed. India remains
barely blinked in Washington’s assiduous world’s democracies belonged on Kyiv’s side. The the only country that rivals the size of China,
while reaching out to others courtship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With Modi government would have none of it, which the Biden administration’s national

T
he African National Congress (ANC), the Lok Sabha election handing Mr. Modi another reasoning that the war did not affect its core security strategy identifies as the only long-term
South Africa’s ruling party that led the victory, albeit a more modest one, the Biden Shaun Tandon interests and that India could in fact benefit from competitor to U.S. leadership.
country out of apartheid three decades administration — as well as a possible second is the AFP State its historic ties with Russia, including through
ago, suffered a setback in the May 29 general elec- Trump administration — believes that the U.S. Department energy imports that suddenly came with an Trump versus Biden
tion when it lost its majority in Parliament for the calculation has been proven right. Correspondent attractive discount. On the surface, a return of Mr. Trump would
first time. In the final results on Sunday, the ANC, Seeking a strong India relationship remains, Even more serious in U.S. eyes was what U.S. seem only to bring the U.S. and India closer. Mr.
currently led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, saw despite a few vocal critics, one of a dwindling prosecutors allege was an assassination plot Trump has little interest in lecturing on rights
a dramatic fall in its vote share to 40.18%, from number of areas of bipartisan consensus in directed by an Indian intelligence officer to kill a and has vowed a no-holds-barred campaign
57% in 2019, while the main opposition Demo- Washington. Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump, for all Khalistan activist on U.S. soil. While the against China. Mr. Trump visited India on what
cratic Alliance emerged as the second largest par- their intense disagreements, have both prioritised Government of India denies its involvement — would turn out to be his last international trip as
ty with 21.81% vote. The surprise was the surge of ties with Mr. Modi. And both Presidents place and some social media warriors have likened the President due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Mr.
the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), a left-wing party great faith in their own abilities to forge operation to American attempts to strike Modi in Gujarat gave him exactly what he craved
founded in December and led by Jacob Zuma, the relationships in person. militants overseas — it should have been no — a vast, adoring crowd.
scandal-ridden former President, which secured Yet, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s loss of seats surprise that attempting to kill a U.S. citizen on But Mr. Trump is famously fickle. He could just
14.58% of the votes. The far-left Economic Free- could also whittle down one of the arguments U.S. soil would be a flashing red line for as soon cut a deal with Chinese President Xi
dom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, former inside Washington for embracing Mr. Modi — that Washington. Yet, Mr. Modi can draw a lesson Jinping, as he did early in his term. Bob
ANC Youth League leader, came fourth with he is a historically powerful figure and the only from the repercussions imposed by the U.S. — Lighthizer, Mr. Trump’s trusted trade aide, has
9.52% vote. The ANC’s decline itself was not sur- game in town in India. The U.S. is keenly aware of effectively none. Top U.S. officials have warned already set his sights on India over market access.
prising, from the peak of its popularity in 2004, Indian sensitivities and is unlikely to confront Mr. India of the consequences of a repeat plot. But And, while democratic ideals may not matter to
when it won nearly 70% vote. A whopping 17 per- Modi forcefully on any areas of concern. But, while the U.S. was quietly investigating, Mr. Biden Mr. Trump, he is masterfully in tune with his
centage point drop in vote share points to the ra- Washington can now also begin to see a welcomed Mr. Modi to a dinner of saffron-infused base. He suddenly slapped sanctions on Turkey
pid erosion of confidence the electorate has in post-Modi era, and possibly a future relationship risotto during a state visit. One of the biggest after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally
the party which was once led by Nelson Mandela. with an India less driven by Hindutva. takeaways from Mr. Modi’s visit — the sale of $4 detained an American pastor who had emerged
When Mr. Ramaphosa became President in billion in top-of-the-line Predator drones to India as a cause célèbre for evangelical Christians. It is
2018, after Mr. Zuma was forced to resign, he pro- Under the American scanner — is going ahead after the Biden administration not implausible to imagine an incident in India,
mised economic stability, employment and mo- In the two years running up to the Lok Sabha reassured concerned lawmakers that India was perhaps involving a missionary, that would lead
dernisation of infrastructure. But under six years elections, Washington has been prompted into taking the probe seriously. While the situations Mr. Trump to butt heads with Mr. Modi.
of his rule, there has been little progress in ad- some of its most serious reassessments of India’s With the BJP’s are not completely parallel, Mr. Modi can also As for Mr. Biden, he has often projected a
dressing the critical problems of Africa’s most ad- role in the two and a half decades since Bill loss of seats, the look to Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown message that he needs Mr. Modi more than Mr.
vanced economy, which has shrunk over the past Clinton first extended a hand to New Delhi to cast United States Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom Mr. Biden Modi needs him. After the Lok Sabha election,
two and a half years. Officially, at 32%, the coun- aside Cold War estrangement. American support once vowed to isolate but is now courting as part Mr. Biden need no longer see Mr. Modi as the
could begin to
try has one of the highest unemployment rates. for India has been premised on the rosy idea that of a Middle East diplomatic push. be-all-end-all of India. Rather, Mr. Biden can treat
Voters also complain about a lack of quality water the world’s two largest democracies will see a post-Modi Mr. Modi as a partner with whom to do business
supply, hours-long power blackouts and rampant inevitably see eye to eye on many of the top era in its Outreach to the Global South in targeted, at times incremental, ways. Not
violent crimes. After three decades of ANC rule, challenges — notably in how to handle an dealings The reason is simple. The U.S. wants something unlike how India regards its relationship with the
nearly two-thirds of Black South Africans are liv- increasingly assertive China. with India from Saudi Arabia. What does the U.S. want from U.S.
ing in poverty, as compared to 1% of white South
Africans. The ANC knew voters were upset, and
Mr. Ramaphosa sought votes in the name of the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
party’s legacy rather than its performance. But
voters did not buy into his arguments. The ANC The election, the result The outcome of the voters. Burning issues such major role in this election. dispensation after a long The people of this diverse
breakaway parties winning more votes than the A coalition is not anathema parliamentary elections has as unemployment and price But in scrutinising the spell of Congress rule. But country have spoken and
right-wing Democratic Alliance suggests that the to politics in India and we thrown up many points: rise have cost the party various factors that dictated there have been a number they will not be
legacy of anti-apartheid politics remains strong, have seen many a with respect to the BJP, the dear. It is imperative for the the election results, it is the of occasions when the BJP straitjacketed by a
despite the ANC’s decline. The three opposition government at the Centre, widely held presumption BJP to analyse its effect of urban apathy that either soared or slid in its homogenising political
parties have shown an interest in coalition talks, before 2014, running on the was that Narendra Modi’s performance at the also needs to be evaluated. years of rule from 2014 to project that imposes on
but with riders. The MK will join hands with the basis of a large coalition. magic would create hustings. K. Anand, 2024. Towards the end of its them a ‘one leader, one
ANC only if Mr. Ramaphosa steps aside and the The Bharatiya Janata Party wonders and pulverise the V. Johan Dhanakumar, Chevayur, Kozhikode, Kerala second term, there was a party, one religion’.
EFF has a radical economic agenda, including ex- was successful in getting a Opposition. This is now a Chennai misuse of central agencies It may be a third
propriation of land. A tie-up with the Democratic majority on its own for long myth. The next is that the Gains and losses are natural by the BJP. The verdict has consecutive term in power
Alliance, which is largely seen as a representative but will now have to be tide of fortune has not Undoubtedly, it is the in any contest. They have to come as oxygen to the for the BJP, which is no
of the apartheid era, would not be popular with pragmatic when running ebbed from the saffron sentiments of the rural and be taken in one’s stride. The affected. People hope that doubt an achievement, but
the ANC’s base. Mr. Ramaphosa is in an unenvia- the nation. It will have to party. On the contrary, there poor populace, who have BJP, knowingly or the BJP, in amity with its the verdict carries with it a
ble position. The era of the ANC’s dominance is listen to its partners and seems to have been a silent been at the receiving end of unknowingly, thrust its allies, forms the new warning that the BJP can
over. He should form a coalition that would not even the Opposition given mood of anti-incumbency. the corporate-friendly and policies on the public, government and also ill-afford to either ignore or
mar the party’s anti-apartheid legacy and keeps it the ground realities. The aggressive invoking of exploitative policies and which it thought would be realises its past follies. downplay.
in good stead so that it can focus on resolving the Arun Kumar Mahadevan, communal and religious decisions of the Modi well received by marketing Mani Nataraajan, Nagarajamani M.V.,
country’s myriad economic woes. Chennai sentiments failed to move government, that played a itself as a good Chennai Hyderabad
CM M ND-NDE
YK
6 . bl . think
DELHI

businessline.
THURSDAY - JUNE 6 - 2024

THURSDAY - JUNE 6, 2024


Decoding
States of change RBI’s surplus
Significant power shift in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha

I n Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, there has been a


major political churn. In the former, the
spectacular comeback of 74-year-old N
transfer to govt
Chandrababu Naidu to the driving seat should NOTE OF CAUTION. Despite RBI’s record dividend transfer
come as a relief to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). for FY24 , the govt must avoid depending on such largesse
He adds 16 crucial parliamentary seats to the NDA’s
kitty. Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has also
won 135 seats in the 175-member Andhra Pradesh
Assembly. In Odisha, the BJP has decimated Naveen
Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal which has been in power for
almost 25 years.
from foreign sources was ₹1,87,471.20 These risk provisions, along with size of the balance sheet at 11.08 per
Naidu, once famous as “CEO of Andhra crore or 68.02 per cent of the total Capital and Reserve Fund, are cent for the year ended March 31, 2024 is
Pradesh” who pioneered economic reforms income and the balance ₹88,101.12 components of the Reserve Bank’s in line with the increase in GDP at 10.5
crore from domestic sources. Available Realised Equity (ARE) under per cent during 2024-25. Thus, the
and modernisation, has a lot to prove in his The rate of earnings from foreign the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) contentious issue is not the surplus
new avatar as a welfarist. Naidu has had to RK PATTNAIK currency assets increased to 4.21 per adopted by the Reserve Bank. transfer per se but the impact of such
airbrush his earlier image as the hard-nosed cent in 2023-24 as compared with 3.73 The ECF was adopted by the RBI on transfers on the Union Budget.

T
reformist who brought in ‘smart governance’ he surplus transfer to the per cent in the previous year. August 26, 2019 based on The 2024-25 Budget was an interim
Central government from recommendations of the Expert budget. A regular budget will hopefully
in the 1990s because that single-minded the RBI under Section 47 of INTEREST INCOME Committee to Review the extant ECF be presented in July 2024. The Centre
focus on IT-led growth cost him an election the RBI Act, 1934, has raised Furthermore, the interest income (both under the Chairmanship of former will then take into account in its
in 2004. In the last decade or so, Naidu was many questions on the foreign and domestic) at ₹1,88,605.73 Governor Bimal Jalan. dividend and profits account an amount
faced with the welfarist governance model of quantum of transfer. crore accounting for 68.44 per cent of ₹2,10,873.99, which is an astounding
It is popularly held that the surplus during 2023-24 witnessed an increase of RISK PROVISIONING 0.6 per cent of GDP.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. These had to be amount received by Centre from the RBI 31.8 per cent. The increase in interest The Jalan committee had recommended In the interim Budget, the
politically neutralised by Naidu’s own is meant to reduce the government’s income was mainly on account of that the risk provisioning under the government had estimated surplus from
“Super Six” schemes that included vast deficit as it swells the non-tax revenue of foreign sources which accounted for Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) be RBI and other nationalised banks and
benefits for farmers, school children, three the government. 54.7 per cent of the total income and maintained within a range of 6.5 per cent other financial institutions at ₹1,02,000
free gas cylinders annually, among other In 2023-24, a surplus of ₹2,10,873.99 recorded an increase of 71.1 per cent to 5.5 per cent of the RBI’s balance sheet. crore, which accounted for 0.3 per cent
crore or 0.6 per cent of GDP was during 2023-24. Two components of the An amount of ₹42,819.91 crore was of GDP. The increased surplus will
promises. Jagan Mohan Reddy lost the transferred as against ₹87,416.22 crore foreign source of RBI income are also provided towards Contingency increase the revenue receipt of the
Assembly and Parliamentary elections or 0.3 per cent of GDP the previous year. interest income from foreign securities Fund to maintain the Available Realised Central government by 0.3 per cent of
despite his welfarist pitch. This is the highest ever in the history of and net interest and repo/reverse repo Equity (ARE) at the level of 6.50 per cent GDP. Assuming all other receipts and
Indeed, Naidu is saddled with the political the RBI, amounting to an increase of transactions, which recorded an of the size of the balance sheet. expenditure remain the same at the
₹1,23,457.77 crore or 141.2 per cent of increase of 49.66 per cent and 129.12 per Accordingly, the balance in the interim Budget level, the fiscal deficit
burden of continuing the welfare measures, surplus transfer during 2023-24 over the cent, respectively. Contingency Fund as on March 31, 2024 and the revenue deficit will be placed at
even as Andhra Pradesh’s finances are a bit previous year. The analysis of RBI’s expenditure in was ₹4,28,621.03 crore as compared to 4.8 per cent and 1.7 per cent,
shaky. According to the Reserve Bank of In accounting parlance, surplus 2023-24 showed that it decreased by ₹3,51,205.69 crore as on March 31, 2023. respectively, in the regular budget,
India’s December 2023 report on State transfer is derived from the net income 56.30 per cent, mainly on account of risk From the foregoing, we may conclude which will be down from 5.1 per cent and
of the RBI which in 2023-24 amounted provisions. This is not the RBI that firstly, the higher income was on 2 per cent in the interim Budget.
Finances, AP’s fiscal deficit was budgeted at to ₹2,10,877.99 crore (income minus tightening its belt but accepting an account of interest income received The fears that there will be such
3.8 per cent of GSDP for FY24 (a revenue total expenditure), from which ₹4 crore exposure to higher risk. from the foreign sources due to higher higher level of transfers as a pattern in
deficit of 1.5 per cent). This is above the was deducted as transfer of funds to the According to the RBI, a provision of interest rate in the US and advanced the coming years are ill-conceived
prevailing fiscal deficit level for all States for National Industrial Credit (Long Term ₹42,819.91 crore was made and economies. simply because the RBI may not have
FY24, at 3.1 per cent of GSDP (and a 0.1 per Operations) Fund, the National transferred to the Contingency Fund Secondly, the reduction in risk that much income, given that lower risk
Housing Credit (Long Term and no provision was made for the Asset provisions are in consonance with the provisions on the expenditure front and
cent revenue deficit for all States). Its Operations) Fund, the National Rural Development Fund. These risk Jalan committee as it is maintained at higher interest income from abroad may
outstanding liabilities at 35.2 per cent of its Credit (Long Term Operations) Fund provisions are in terms of Section 47 of 6.50 per cent of the balance sheet. not be a continuous process.
GSDP, too are way above the States’ average and the National Rural Credit the RBI Act, 1934. The Jalan Committee set a band — Yet, there must be concerns on
of 27.6 of GSDP. With off-Budget borrowings (Stabilisation) Fund. In short, almost all from 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent — of the another front — one of which is the high
and contingent liabilities, this figure would
the net income has gone to the
government.
Such high level of transfers balance sheet. It might have been
prudent for the RBI not to max out the
transfers taking on a habit-forming role
for the government and thus the
exceed 50 per cent. It is against this backdrop RBI’s total income for 2023-24 has is unlikely to become an dividend. However, this is what the RBI temptation from the government and
of climbing deficits that he intends to build a increased due to a spike in interest ongoing feature as the RBI has done – it has given out the maximum the pressure on the RBI to generate
capital city. For those extra funds, Naidu is income from foreign sources. According it could while remaining within the more to be able to transfer more.
to the income statement for 2023-24, may not always have bounds of the Jalan Committee
likely to push once again for special status for
the State with respect to finances (an
the total income aggregated lower risk provisions recommendations. It has stretched The writer is a professor at the Gokhale Institute of
₹2,75,572.32 crore, up 17.04 per cent while remaining within the letter of the Politics and Economics, Pune, and a former central
assurance that came about after the creation over the previous year. and earn higher interest Jalan Committee recommendations. banker. Views expressed are personal. (Through The
of Telangana). He quit the NDA over this Out of the total income, earnings income from abroad Yet, do note that the increase in the Billion Press)
issue in 2018, and since then the matter has
been hanging fire — since the Fourteenth
Finance panel questioned the ‘special states’
concept after enhancing States’ share in its
devolution formula. Ultimately, Naidu and
the Centre need each other for financial and
A game-changer for market players
political reasons, respectively — an Tick size reduction is a win-win for both traders and investors as it enhances liquidity and price discovery
inter-dependence that could keep the
alliance going. A smaller tick size encourages more management. Despite the challenges,
A Paul Williams active trading as it reduces the cost of the overall outlook for traders is
In Odisha, BJP has seized power with a entering and exiting positions, boosting positive. Traders who embrace
simple majority of 78 in the 147-member
I
n a move echoing the Bombay Stock liquidity, and making it easier for traders technology, develop sophisticated
Assembly. With an ageing Patnaik and Exchange’s (BSE) decision last year, to buy or sell securities without strategies, and prioritize risk
decimated Congress, the BJP hardly faces the National Stock Exchange of significantly impacting prices. management are likely to thrive in this
any real opposition. Odisha’s finances are India (NSE) has announced a significant With narrower spreads, prices are new environment.
reduction in the tick size for stocks likely to reflect the true market value of For retail traders, the reduced costs
robust, with outstanding liabilities at 13.9 trading below ₹250. securities more accurately. This and improved liquidity open doors to
per cent of GSDP, and a fiscal deficit of 3 per This change, effective from June 10 improved price discovery can lead to markets that were previously out of
cent of GSDP in FY24 (budgeted); the for the cash segment and July 8 for stock fairer valuations and more efficient DEMOCRATISING. Stock markets reach.
revenue surplus for FY24 is high at 3.1 per futures, narrows the minimum price allocation of capital. /ISTOCKPHOTO
movement allowed for these securities Slippage, the difference between the WAY FORWARD
cent. There is elbow room for capital from 5 paise to 1 paisa. While BSE's 2023 expected price of a trade and the actual The transition to a smaller tick size NSE's decision to reduce the tick size is a
expenditure and social welfare schemes. move applied to stocks under ₹100, price at which it is executed, is a requires robust technological bold step towards modernizing India's
Both States are in for major changes. NSE's decision covers a broader range, common concern for traders. A smaller infrastructure to handle increased financial markets.
potentially impacting over 1,300 listed tick size can minimize slippage, as it trading volumes and faster execution By fostering greater liquidity,
securities. allows for more precise price speeds. Exchanges and brokers need to enhancing price discovery, and reducing
This move will benefit traders and adjustments. Retail traders, who often invest in upgrading their systems to trading costs, this move can
POCKET RAVIKANTH investors and also increase market trade in smaller quantities, stand to gain ensure smooth operations. democratize access to markets and
efficiency and liquidity. significantly from this change. Additionally, regulators need to promote a more vibrant and efficient
Furthermore, NSE’s move aligns with closely monitor market activity to trading ecosystem.
WHAT IS TICK SIZE? global trends towards electronic trading prevent any potential manipulation or As with any significant change,
In simple terms, it is the minimum price and algorithmic strategies, which thrive unfair practices that could arise in a success will depend on collaboration
movement allowed for a security. In in environments with smaller tick sizes more fragmented market with smaller and adaptation. Exchanges, brokers,
India, tick sizes were traditionally larger, and faster execution speeds. price increments. regulators, and traders need to work
often leading to wider bid-ask spreads Despite the advantages, there is also a Moreover, traders need to be together to address the challenges, seize
and potentially hindering price worry that smaller tick sizes could lead educated about the implications of a the opportunities, and ensure that this
discovery. By reducing the tick size, NSE to increased price volatility, especially in reduced tick size and how to adapt their landmark decision translates into
is essentially narrowing the gap between less liquid securities. This could pose strategies accordingly. This includes tangible benefits for all stakeholders.
the buying and selling prices, making it risks for traders who are not prepared understanding the risks of increased
easier for trades to execute. for rapid price fluctuations. volatility and the importance of risk The writer is the Head of India at Sernova Financial

LETTERS TO EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

India’s message toes not only by its allies but also resilience and patience in his dealings rejected by voters. Anti-incumbency core principles, rejecting divisive
The Indian voters conveyed an Congress and allies. with his partners like Atal Bihari wave was a big factor hitting the BJP ideologies. While craving stability,
appropriate message to PM Gregory Fernandes Vajpayee did during his premiership. at the national level and boosted voters won't tolerate intolerance or
Narendra Modi – never take us for Mumbai Election Commission has reinforced Rahul Gandhi's Congress alliance. But hate-driven agendas.
granted. The BJP-led NDA its efficiency and objectivity. Modi for Chandrababu Naidu, Hyderabad Despite BJP’s ambition, they fell
managed to overtake the INDIA New approach needed and the Opposition must work would never have become a world short of an absolute majority,
bloc, but the margin of the win was This refers to the edit “Back to together constructively. The class city and an IT hub. signalling a shift in political dynamics.
not as expected or predicted by coalition” (June 5). BJP’s unexpected initiative has to come from Modi. It will be a herculean task for Naidu The BJP's "Congress-free India"
exit polls. debacle in Lok Sabha polls reminds of YG Chouksey to create another ‘Hyderabad’. But a vision contrasts with the
A stable government is very what Sun Tzu said, “He who exercises Pune good beginning for the TDP-JS-BJP Opposition's resurgence, led by
necessary but not at the cost of no forethought but makes light of his combine to announce Amaravati as a regional parties.
intolerance, hate-mongering and opponents is sure to be captured by Apropos ‘Can Naidu create another capital and starts its development Understanding grassroots realities,
social polarisation. BJP’s ultimate them.” Narendra Modi’s Hyderabad (June 5)’ Though the exit work. not just rhetoric, is vital for electoral
goal was the Congress-mukt and overconfidence and arrogance cost polls of Andhra clearly showed a Katuru Durga Prasad Rao success.
Opposition-mukt India, but the the party dearly. Now the nation will major win for TDP, JS, BJP coalition, Hyderabad Regional parties, sidelined in recent
Opposition has come back into be ruled by a weak coalition led by a a disastrous defeat for YSRCP was years, now play pivotal roles,
real reckoning in the country and strong-willed Prime Minister. This not anticipated. Lack of Rise of regional parties ensuring diversity in governance.
in Parliament. contradictory combination will not development and jobs and YSRCP’s The 18th Lok Sabha elections reveal Vijaykumar H K
The BJP is likely to be kept on its be effective unless Modi shows reliance on only welfare freebies was a nation loyal to democracy and its Raichur

Published by Nirmala Lakshman and Printed by Praveen Someshwar at HT Media Ltd. Plot No.8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P.201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT. LTD. Chennai-600002. Editor: Raghuvir Srinivasan (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRP Act). ISSN 0971 - 7528

CM
YK . . . . . . . . ND-NDE
think . bl . 7
DELHI

businessline.
THURSDAY - JUNE 6 - 2024

Home charging of EVs


The issues in housing complexes must be addressed
RAJEEVA KARANDIKAR
Charith Konda

T
he 2024 Parliament election
Pradeep Karuturi
results have surprised
everyone. It was taken for

D
espite the growing granted for last few months
popularity of electric that BJP is going to cross the
vehicles (EVs), there is a halfway mark on its own and the whole
glaring gap between EV adoption discussion was about how high it will go?
rates and the development of The exit polls seem to suggest a bigger
charging infrastructure, victory for BJP/NDA. All the ten polls
particularly in residential gated that I saw on various TV channels gave at
communities. This gap hinders least 350 seats to the NDA and some of
the ownership of EVs, as residents CHARGING POINTS. Installation them even predicted 400 seats. All of
are often deterred by the lack of hurdles in gated communities them have been proven to be wrong.
accessible charging options in Where did they go wrong? What does the
their neighbourhood. The result mean for the governance of the
sluggish pace of charging infrastructure upgrades to install country in the next five years?
infrastructure development not EV charging points on their It is clear that there will be a coalition
only hinders individual premises. This may become an government. With BJP being only 30-35
V RAJU
convenience but also lowers the additional financial burden for short of the majority mark, it will be
chances of achieving clean residents who are not opting for close to 290 along with its pre-election
mobility goals.
Developing adequate EV
charging infrastructure in
residential areas, especially in
gated communities, has several
EVs, leading them to oppose any
infrastructural upgrades.
Complex electricity tariff
structures: Several gated
residential communities have
allies; so it is likely that we will again see
Narendra Modi as the next Prime
Minister.
The government will have to be more
careful in taking decisions and will have
Misreading of
election outcomes
benefits, including economic and complex electricity connections to take along its allies.
operational. Home charging or and billing structures, with It should be noted that while BJP has
when a private charging point is residential welfare associations kept its vote share, its seats went down
allowed in a gated community, is (RWAs) playing an intermediary by about 60! The major factor for this is
not only convenient for EV users role in billing. that the leading contenders came
but also cheaper in most cases as Developing home charging together in several States and formed an FAULTY METHODOLOGY. The exit polls have their limitations. Implementing proper
electricity tariffs are lower than solutions requires coordination alliance against BJP/NDA. This factor
the price paid by consumers to between several actors, including had been named the ‘index of opposition sampling when choosing respondents as they exit from the polling booth is very difficult
charge their EVs at public government entities (such as the unity’ in the era when Congress was the
charging stations. CEA and the Bureau of Energy dominant party. While this ‘index’ varied
However, while there is much Efficiency (BEE)), State from State to State, it worked very well What went wrong with exit polls? going to their residence the day after projections were solely based on
emphasis on building public departments and agencies (such in UP and Maharashtra — the two Since I was not associated with any exit they have voted. This had yielded very randomly chosen data, devoid of mixing
charging stations in India, there is as the urban development largest States (in terms of seats in poll this time, I can give my views! good results over the years. it with expert opinion, we would not see
little discussion on addressing department and Discoms), RWAs, Parliament). These are the two States People at large, including experts in a scenario where several agencies who
challenges in setting up home charge point operators (CPOs), where BJP/NDA suffered the biggest EXIT POLLS FIASCO media, politics and other walks of life, have done surveys independently of
charging points. Setting up a vehicle manufacturers, and EV loss. While the INDI alliance was a loose Firstly, the exit polls have their perhaps do not understand the each other go wrong by a big margin, and
home EV charging point involves users. alliance, the fact that SP and Congress limitations as implementing proper importance of randomly choosing the all errors are one-sided.
navigating diverse residential The following are some steps fought as allies in UP had a big impact. sampling when choosing respondents as respondents (or the sample) in One good outcome of the results
community by-laws, in addition to that various actors can take to Also Congress’ vote share in UP went they exit from the polling booth is very statistical decision-making. They forget seems to be that the attack on EVMs and
bearing extra installation costs. expedite deployment of EV up significantly. These led to the biggest difficult, if not impossible. We had or do not know that the statistical the Election Commission that we had
charging points in residential upset for BJP/NDA. In Maharashtra, worked on an alternative to exit poll — guarantee that the sample proportion seen over the last several weeks has now
DIVERSE CHALLENGES communities: NDA suffered a big loss as the erstwhile which we called the day-after-poll — (of any observed attribute, including say taken a back seat. After all, after making
EV users and potential buyers State nodal agencies should partner Shiv Sena went out of NDA and where sampling is done by proper supporters of a party) is close to the true a big gain, the Opposition cannot attack
face challenges of varying degrees hold awareness campaigns to aligned with Congress along with NCP. methodology and the chosen proportion (in the population under EVMs and the EC, questioning their own
in installing home charging points educate RWAs on EV charging Later Shiv Sena and NCP split, but had respondents are asked questions by consideration) kicks in only when the gains.
in Indian cities. While the safety standards and the benefits limited impact. The next big loss is sample is chosen randomly! A randomly There will be a lot of introspection
Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs and the Central Electricity
of electric mobility.
In addition to slow private
Rajasthan, where there was a direct
contest between BJP and Congress.
People at large, including chosen sample of, say, 30,000 (even in
such a large country as India) is better
among all parties about what was right
and what was wrong. One would hope
Authority have issued guidelines charging points, fast chargers may Perhaps several local factors may have experts in media, than a sample of size three lakh chosen that the bickering among the ruling
for establishment of EV charging be set up in a semi-public mode contributed for the loss. In Bengal, the do not understand the by some other means. By better I mean party/alliance and Opposition parties
infrastructure, several State (common areas of gated TMC on its own snatched about 6-7 that the chances of being widely off the ends or at least comes down soon and
governments are yet to adopt communities ) by CPOs. seats from BJP. importance of randomly mark are rather low. the government goes on with
those standards. Partnerships may be Indeed, if BJP and NDA had not made choosing the respondents The other issue is that perhaps decision-making.
The lack of clarity on charging encouraged among vehicle gains in Andhra and Telangana, NDA psephologists make projections based
standards/laws and electrical manufacturers, CPOs and RWAs would have been just above the majority (or the sample) in on data and mix it with expert opinion in The writer is Professor Emeritus, Chennai
infrastructure inadequacies to set up charging points in gated mark. statistical decision-making. their decision. I can say that if Mathematical Institute
exacerbate challenges in communities.
installing home charging points. State governments must make
Additional challenges include: it mandatory for under-
Lack of awareness/guidelines: construction/new properties to
Many residential communities future-proof parking slots. This
don’t allow installation of EV
charging points in residents’
dedicated parking slots for fear of
will ensure that charging points
can be easily installed in them or
semi-public fast chargers set up in
How to deepen crop insurance schemes
safety, lack of adequate electrical common areas.
wiring/infrastructure nearby, or Kushankur Dey 2023-24 shows that while there was an insurance must be empanelled.
simply the lack of awareness. Konda is Energy Specialist, India Mobility and uptick in farmer enrolment, with a 10 Second, the actuarial premium rate
Opposition from non-EV New Energy, Institute for Energy Economics

T
he Press Information Bureau per cent CAGR, the area and sum (APR) should differ for the two
users: Many residential and Financial Analysis, and Karuturi is Lead – (PIB) recently disclosed that insured exhibited a negative CAGR of insurance programmes.
communities require electrical Centre for Clean Mobility, OMI Foundation Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima 8.4 per cent and 5.1 per cent, Experience-based premium rate
Yojana (PMFBY) is the third largest respectively. The claims payout discounts can encourage uninsured
crop insurance programme globally. recorded a 5 per cent CAGR, indicating and risk-averse farmers to subscribe to
The scheme witnessed a 27 per cent an uptrend from 2022-23. the programme.
thehindu businessline. increase in farmer enrolment from
2022-23, with 42 per cent of non-loanee
Farmers’ share in gross premium
was 15 per cent, exhibiting a negative
Third, alternative risk-sharing
models or a cap-and-cup approach
farmers and 41 per cent of enrolled 4.3 per cent CAGR. Insurers settled need to be executed through which
TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY. farmers (56.80 crore) indemnified more than 94 per cent of total claims States/UTs reduce their net subsidy on
from 2016-17 to 2023-24. with a 70 per cent claim-to-premium INSURANCE. More farmers must gain premiums with lower claims or receive
June 6, 2004 Despite the phenomenal growth , the ratio. refunds if no claim is paid. Some
penetration and density of PMFBY and Second, while PMFBY has been The average underwriting expenses to amounts may be transferred to insurers
IIMs agree on common proposal for fee structure restructured weather-based crop skewed towards loanee farmers (over expected premium income was 36 per to maintain their unearned premium
A uniform fee structure by the six IIMs as desired by the Union HRD Ministry insurance (RWBCIS) programmes are 50 per cent), RWBCIS is limited to cent. So, the average combined ratio and loss reserves.
may be on the cards, though the IIM directors refused to share details of the significantly low. resource-endowed male farmers, and (indemnity and expense) stood at 128 Fourth, the agri-reinsurance market
proposal. As things stand, only the IIMs of Ahmedabad and Bangalore have Their penetration in terms of gross their enrolment and premium per cent, which indicates that for every should be promoted. A reinsurance
decided against lowering the existing annual fee of ₹1,58,350 to ₹30,000 as premium as a percentage of GDP is 0.62 payments are insignificant compared ₹100 earned as premium income, pool for high-value crops like
directed by the former HRD Minister, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi per cent, and insurance density or per to PMFBY. insurers paid out ₹128. plantations and horticulture must be
capita farmer premium is only ₹2,148. Third, higher transaction costs of created if quota or excess-of-loss and
UK to tighten immigration laws Further, the few insurers running crop service delivery for small farmers, lack POLICY SUGGESTIONS surplus-share treaties are unavailable.
Britain has decided to tighten the immigration law to restrict immigration insurance programmes indicate of coordination between insurers, First, a one-size-fits-all approach is not And, an effective distribution
from ‘‘new Commonwealth’’ countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and attendant and social equity problems banks and governments, delays in appropriate for crop insurance network should be in place to deepen
Nigeria. A decision in this regard was taken at a recent meeting presided over for insured farmers. indemnity payments, and an illiquid programmes. PMFBY is a multi-peril insurance penetration; for example,
by the UK Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair. How can the quality and efficacy of reinsurance market affected crop yield indemnity insurance, while mobile network operators or banking
insurance service delivery, institutional insurance penetration. RWBCIS is a parametric (index) correspondent channels for premium
Railways flags off e-procurement system capacity of programme Fourth, an analysis of five insurers’ insurance. So, these two programmes collection and claim settlement
With an annual purchase Budget of about ₹12,000 crore and another ₹10,000 implementation, inclusion, and crop and weather insurance businesses should not be jointly managed. deserve mention.
crore expenditure on planned works, the Railways has decided to take regulatory oversight be improved? from 2018 to 2022 reveals that the Specialised agri (re)insurers with
advantage of IT by launching a pilot project on e-procurement. The Ministry of First, a performance analysis of claims or indemnity payments to significant underwriting and claim The writer teaches at IIM Lucknow. Views are
Railways has already approved the ₹60-crore project and released ₹4 crore PMFBY and RWBCIS from 2016-17 to premium income averaged 92 per cent. processing experience in weather index personal
this year for the pilot project, being implemented at Northern Railway.

BL TWO-WAY CROSSWORD 2455


EASY NOT SO EASY
ACROSS DOWN ACROSS DOWN
1. Part of transport 1. Mass for rest of the soul (7) 1. One of the tracks for ‘Chattanooga Choo-Choo’? (7,4) 1. Mass that has upset the quire – half of them, anyway (7)
system (7,4) 2. Prehistoric time (4,3) 8. Half the lines cited, and you've got your ration (5) 2. Time's long past when one could regain nothing inside (4,3)
8. Rationed quantity (5) 3. Fury (5) 9. Now it's here for the gift (7) 3. What might be about right for anger (5)
9. Attending (7) 4. Sounded as small dog (6) 10. Scott character, vain when upset, would do some 4. Sounded a little dog-like (6)
10. Eponymous Scott hero (7) 5. State of rest (7) gardening (7) 5. Stillness needed by one with damaged retina (7)
11. Heavy drinker (5) 6. Hole in needle (3) 11. He drinks to only half an individual (5) 6. In the wind's, is against it – look! (3)
12. In a submissive 7. Engine (5) 12. Every week, a thousand for West – with 7. Machinery for moving out of Cairo tomorrow turns up (5)
manner (6) 13. Joining up with (7) submissiveness (6) 13. There's nothing up with ruler: it's a matter of joining (7)
14. Was put ashore (6) 15. Unsettle (7) 14. Came down, like the gentry with property (6) 15. I'd burst with potential that might throw one in
18. Govern as monarch (5) 16. Underground cell (7) 18. Sounds as if there's a shower who will be on the confusion (7)
19. Passes down (5,2) 17. Impose a fee (6) throne (5) 16. Place of confinement for nude, gone endlessly wrong (7)
21. A breeder for points (7) 18. Hand over for 19. Passes down what deck has at action stations? (5,2) 17. Make one pay to initiate attack (6)
23. Unrefined (5) consideration (5) 21. The breeder is even less plain (7) 18. Look it up, either way (5)
24. Campion with deep-cleft 20. More agreeable (5) 23. A number are insolent, without refinement (5) 20. It was less disagreeable to be in Venice Rialto (5)
petals (6-5) 22. Neither alternative (3) 24. Teased Hood for being a flower (6-5) 22. Neither nation obeys rebel leaders (3)

SOLUTION: BL TWO-WAY CROSSWORD 2454


ACROSS 1. Drown 4. Omnibus 8. Up to the minute 10. Ozone 11. Cock 12. Tree 16. Ogled 17. Street corners 19. Distend 20. Demur
DOWN 1. Double-crossed 2. Out 3. Notion 4. Oberon 5. Nailed 6. Blundered 7.Steeplechaser 9. Backwards 13. Cohere 14. Placid 15. Adored 18. Elm

CM
YK ... . . . . . . ND-NDE
>
OPINION 9
STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE DAY @ WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM

VOLUME XXXI NUMBER 43

The elections signal


prices are 30 per cent lower than in India.
NEW DELHI | THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 2024 Rationalising electricity prices for producers—
Indian prices are again about 30 per cent higher for
Congress’ learning curve producers, and freight prices are three times higher
than in China—will make India’s manufacturing

course correction
more competitive. This rationalisation of costs will
Smarter alliances, social media tactics helped do more for Indian manufacturing more broadly

A
fter plummeting to historic lows in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, than the costly but highly selective production-
the Congress appears to have internalised the lessons of failure to nearly linked incentive scheme — which helps a chosen
few and does not create enough jobs. India’s demo-
double its own seat tally in Parliament and forge alliances that have
eroded the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) dominance, including in Voters have made it clear they want inclusive growth and a graphic dividend requires building on the success
it has achieved in services. However, for the vast
traditional strongholds. Though its broader election rhetoric may have scarcely break from polarising politics majority of the population, it also requires a push
been novel, being based on the old tropes of freebies and handouts, the grand old ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA for competitive labour-intensive manufacturing and
party finally displayed the kind of hard-nosed political savvy that was missing in manufacturing exports. India needs more blue-collar
action this past decade. The foundation for the bounce-back lay in the Congress jobs — to get people off the farm — to complement
leadership’s realistic understanding of its own limitations and a better appreciation its success in white-collar jobs.
of the political capabilities of its alliance partners. As a result, the party chose to Third, China carried out a major administrative
contest far fewer seats, fielding 328 candidates, the first time it has contested a reform in 1995, to modernise its government.
general election with less than 400 seats. In 2014 and 2019, the party fielded can- Malaysia, too, did the same around 2000. India has
didates in 464 and 421 seats, respectively. This time, however, it gave away a little had no such reform and still runs the economy with
over 100 seats to partners in the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance, a colonial 19th-century administrative and legal sys-
tem. E-services and Aadhaar have helped improve
or INDIA. Interestingly, the biggest reduction came in Uttar Pradesh, where the
the delivery of some functions and subsidies, but
Congress contested just 17 against 67 in 2019 (when it won just Rae Bareli), ceding
the basic administrative structure remains prob-
the others to Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP). lematic. It has a very large number of employees at
The upshot was a jolt to the BJP in its stronghold; INDIA won 43 of the 80 the lower end and large discretionary powers with
Lok Sabha seats, with the SP emerging as the single-largest party with 37 (from a very complex set of regulations and procedures
five in 2019) by astutely fielding candidates from a broad spectrum of middle and that encourage corruption. This must be changed.

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lower castes. The Congress’ alliance worked well in other large states like his election has sent two key messages: First, tricity, pesticides—that have frozen its agricultural According to Transparency International, Indian
that divisive, polarising politics does not system to what was needed 50 years ago. citizens paid the highest number of bribes in Asia
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The alliance with regional parties also perhaps
work—evidenced by the Bharatiya Janata Instead, the government must substantially in 2021 — even higher than all our neighbours,
worked well because of the absence of a dominant national theme. This allowed Party even losing Ayodhya, where it built the much- increase PM Kisan, remove all these input subsidies, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. At the
the Congress and regional parties to focus on basic and local issues. The party heralded Ram Temple over the demolished Babri and free farmers to change their crop mix and use same time, weakening government institutions by
could have potentially gained if INDIA fought together in other states such as Masjid — and second, that a more inclusive growth their land more productively. India’s evolving con- weaponising them against political opponents does
West Bengal. If astutely taking the backseat where needed served both the Congress model is needed. While India is growing, its growth sumption basket needs more fruit and vegetables, not work. The courts are also plagued by corruption,
and INDIA well, a savvy campaign focused on social justice, reservations, and model is lopsided with an aborted structural trans- oilseeds, and pulses and less grains and sugarcane. and the wheels of justice move very slowly. Justice
formation and, therefore, not sustainable. The MSP system perpetuates an inefficient and delayed is justice denied.
defending the Constitution, a message that resonated well with the Dalits, created
Agriculture and manufacturing are struggling. Parts unproductive crop mix, which is depleting the water The devolution of functions to the local level is
the space for a viable Opposition and turned the BJP’s “400 paar ” theme on its of the service sector, particularly IT-related areas, table and degrading the land. A CSDS-Lokniti survey also badly needed. Without greater devolution— espe-
head. This much was clear from the results in reserved seats, where the BJP won including the growing number of global capability showed that only 26 per cent of farmers would prefer cially to city mayors — basic services like health and
56 of the 131 reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, down from centres (GCCs), are doing well. to remain in farming and most of education will not be effectively delivered and our
the 77 in 2019, with most of the losses in the Hindi heartland. The Congress, However, with so few jobs, more and them would prefer direct payments urbanisation will remain haphazard. More top-down
meanwhile, won 32 of these constituencies, up from just seven in 2019. more people are stuck on the farm to their bank accounts instead of “smart city” programmes are not the answer — better
and inequality and rural distress higher MSP. empowered governance is key to India’s cities. The
In a campaign dominated by the digital media like never before, the Congress
continue to rise. India’s economy has Second, India cannot avoid what 16th Finance Commission would do a great service
performed well on almost every social media platform. The party essentially relied been dubbed the Billionaire Raj. economists call factor-market by tackling the issue of resources for local adminis-
on fewer launches but mostly focused on short videos on Instagram after surveys Without a course correction, India’s reforms. India’s labour laws as for- tration boldly. Allowing cities to experiment with
showed that more people got their information from this platform rather than rising youth unemployment and rural mer Prime Minister Atal Bihari higher property taxes in a compact with their citizens
WhatsApp. Having finally got a handle on the mechanics of electioneering, the distress, along with rising inequality, Vajpayee once said are anti-labour for better services, as Chennai is trying to do, would
new challenge for the Congress leadership will be fashioning a coherent platform is a ticking time-bomb. I suggest three as they discourage hiring. Its land also be a step forward. Delivering better education
major course corrections. zoning, with the lowest floor area and health services also requires greater devolution
from its widely disparate alliance partners as it prepares to give the BJP-led National
First is agricultural reform. In its ratios in the world, leads to very to city governments and village sarpanchs.
Democratic Alliance its first significant Opposition in a decade. It remains to be last term, the government promised IF TRUTH BE TOLD poor utilisation of its scarce land. Gandhiji said it best: “The future depends on
seen how the Congress utilises its own revival both inside and outside Parliament. to double farm incomes, but there was To avoid complex labour laws, firms what we do now.” Some will say such major reforms
AJAY CHHIBBER
no clear plan. It tried to ram through become more capital-intensive or will not be possible in the next five years with a
new farm laws but had to withdraw hire more casual (daily wage) labour. coalition government. However, India’s past shows,

Unintended consequence them under determined farmer agitation — which


hurt it politically. Instead, it must present a clear vision
to farmers about their future. Its own Shanta Kumar
India has the highest share of casual labour in the
world. Additionally, a lot of land is tied up in uneco-
nomic marginal farms.
ironically, that we have only had bold reforms when
we have had coalitions. India needs to tackle the tri-
fecta of unemployment, rural distress, and fostering
Shift in paddy sowing is not helping commission had provided such a vision, but it was Infrastructure has improved, but with very high a more inclusive growth process that creates jobs.

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ndia is expecting a normal monsoon this year, which will help boost agricultural inexplicably shelved. Now, the government is stuck petrol and diesel prices, expensive electricity for Addressing these issues, rather than engaging in
because it has promised free food for five years, forcing producers, and amongst the highest rail freight more polarising politics and handouts, is what the
production. However, it may still have a limited effect on states where ground-
it to continue with the very costly and inefficient Food costs in the world, the cost of producing and mov- vote shows that people want.
water is depleting at an alarming rate. The adoption of the wheat-paddy culti-
Corporation of India-based procurement system and ing goods remains highly uncompetitive. By bring-
vation cycle in the states of Punjab and Haryana, for example, has been accom- a politically charged minimum support price (MSP) ing fuel into the goods and services tax or GST The writer is distinguished visiting scholar, George
panied by severe groundwater depletion. To arrest the negative externalities of system. India, like many middle-income countries (even at the highest slab of 28 per cent), petrol Washington University, and co-author of Unshackling
extensive paddy cultivation, both states enacted similar legislation in 2009 — the such as Mexico and Turkey, must move away from and diesel prices will fall. This will allow Indian India, HarperCollins India 2021, recognised as the Best
Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (PPSWA) and the Haryana Preservation of support prices and input subsidies—fertiliser, elec- firms to better compete with China, where fuel New Book in Economics for 2022 by the Financial Times
Subsoil Water Act (HPSWA). The laws aimed to synchronise paddy sowing timing
with the onset of monsoon. Accordingly, the PPSWA prohibits sowing and trans-
plantation of paddy seeds before May 10 and June 10 every year. In Haryana, the
corresponding dates are May 15 and June 15, respectively. However, while the shift
has not been able to address the water issue, it has led to unintended consequences.
A new paper by the National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy
Connecting the missing election dots
Research has highlighted the unintended consequences of the twin laws — stub-

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he journey is as important as the destination, ly over local and hyperlocal issues, such as those impacted the locals, even as the process may have
ble burning and air pollution in northern India. The data shared by the Punjab as the saying goes. This rings true as the elec- revolving around the Kshatriyas, Patedars and created employment.
Agriculture Department suggests that paddy, a water-guzzling crop, occupies tion season in India draws to a close after a Patels. That message may have been lost in the big In the case of Mumbai, the BJP won only one
around 88 per cent of the kharif cropped area in the state. In Haryana, the corre- nail-biting finish, though leaving room for some picture electoral battle. seat—Piyush Goyal from North Mumbai. Other
sponding figure is 52 per cent. With farmers primarily relying on groundwater more twists and turns, perhaps in sync with a coali- What did not add up, however, in the Gujarat five constituencies in the city went to other parties.
tion era. Some called the counting of votes for the piece is the clean sweep of BJP in the main These constituencies, including Mumbai North
irrigation, paddy accounts for 80 per cent of groundwater irrigation in Punjab
18th Lok Sabha elections a “national thriller”, while Saurashtra regions where Union minister Central and Mumbai South, along with three oth-
and 47 per cent in Haryana. The Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment others used terms like “down to the wire contest”. Parshottam Rupala attracted the Kshtariya ire for ers, have voters from Bollywood and Corporate
Report for 2023 estimates the average stage of groundwater extraction in India While the result came as a surprise, going back to making unsavoury comments about Rajputs. Mr India as well as small and medium enterprises.
at 59.26 per cent. In Punjab and Haryana, the extraction rate stands at 163.76 per reporters’ diaries, looking at newspaper reports Rupala, who had tendered a public apology for his Were they thinking of issues like low consumption
cent and 135.74 per cent, respectively. It was assumed that the introduction of from the last 45 days, and exchang- comments, had told us on the eve demand and lacklustre investment by businesses,
the planting laws would reduce groundwater extraction. ing notes with colleagues who trav- of the Gujarat election that the as our Maharashtra coverage hinted at? Or was
elled to different parts of the coun- Kshatriya issue would not affect the there something else?
Unfortunately, the laws were not very successful. The rate of groundwater
try during polling helped connect election result. As the results In some other parts of India, mainly the north,
storage (GWS) saw an improvement between 2010 and 2013, but deteriorated the dots. Of course, some things showed on Tuesday, he won by a micro, small and medium enterprises are still talking
thereafter. Further, the shift in the transplantation of paddy by over a month still don’t add up. wide margin. about the stress caused by big currencies being taken
has led to the shrinking of the window between harvesting and planting the In Gujarat, where the Bharatiya In Uttar Pradesh, which deliv- out of the system, the impact of the goods and ser-
next rabi crop. Farmers are left with little time to prepare the field between the Janata Party (BJP) had scored 26 out ered a major upset for BJP, severe vices tax, and also Covid-19. In Punjab specifically,
two cropping cycles, and they resort to burning the crop residue, which ultimately of 26 in 2014 and 2019, there was a rural distress was a dominant theme the need for manufacturing units and stringent rules
setback in 2024 with a Congress can- during election reporting. The polit- of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) are cited as
releases aerosol particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) into the atmosphere. Stubble
didate winning the Banaskantha ical narrative around Ayodhya tem- hurdles for businesses.
burning, which intensifies by the first week of November, happens to coincide seat. A rural district focused on dairy ple did not help those struggling to While Delhi voters we spoke to voiced similar
with low wind speeds in northern India, and this discourages the dispersion of farming, Banaskantha was won by NOT FOR PROFIT meet their daily needs. In Faizabad, economic concerns, it was a BJP sweep across all
pollutants. The laws were rendered ineffective also because of high minimum Geniben Nagaji Thakor, a woman commonly referred to as the Ram seven seats. This is despite Delhi Chief Minister
support prices (MSP) for paddy combined with input subsidies, which continue candidate, who defeated BJP’s NIVEDITA MOOKERJI Temple seat, BJP lost to Samajwadi Arvind Kejriwal doing all-out campaigning after
to incentivise farmers to expand the area under paddy cultivation. This results Rekhaben Chaudhary, also a wom- Party in what seemed like a shocker. being out on bail for a few weeks. While the vote
an. Our ground reporting from across many con- Irrespective of the religious sentiment around the share of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party
in groundwater over-extraction and the generation of more stubble. stituencies of Gujarat had suggested unemployment, inauguration of the shrine, economic issues rose, it did not translate into seats.
On this part, the government has taken many steps to encourage farmers to rising prices, and high taxes were among the con- appeared to have played a role in Faizabad and The train journeys with which we started our
diversify from paddy. For instance, a few months back, the central government pro- cerns of the people, like in other parts of the country, other seats in the Ayodhya division. A conversation election coverage, tracking the mood of the passen-
posed to purchase masoor, urad, arhar, maize, and cotton over the next five years at besides local caste-based issues linked to Kshatriyas with locals familiar with the changing scene in the gers from the extreme north to the south, captured
their MSP under a contractual agreement from farmers in the region. However, the and Rajputs. In fact, the Kshatriya agitation, which town of Ayodhya, as narrated by another reporter, many of the economic worries related to jobs and
assured procurement of wheat and paddy for the central pool, coupled with a high was central in Rajkot and other Saurashtra regions, offers a glimpse into the unrest among the people labour issues that constituencies threw up during
found expression even in north Gujarat’s there. Locals attribute the Faizabad election reverse the seven phases of the election.
average gross return over the actual cost of cultivation, prevents them from diversi- Banaskantha and Patan, where the community has to Ayodhya being converted into a touristy town, So, was this election more about basic economic
fying. But doing away with the laws is not a remedy. Instead, more initiatives must a good presence. as part of the global map, with things becoming issues and not so much about politics? At least,
be taken for crop diversification, adoption of direct seeded rice, paddy straw man- Closer to the election, there was a buzz in expensive and beyond reach for the poor. The dis- the election journey captured a story around life
agement, and raising MSP and assuring procurement for alternative crops. Gujarat — a stronghold for the BJP— that the ruling ruption caused in the temple town as commercial and livelihood, while the jury may still be out on
party might lose a couple of seats in the state main- real estate boomed is believed to have adversely the rest.

Smiling with a stiff upper lip


Jalan, who started shy but actually However, this book breaks the myth and guidebook for people in the
started enjoying the interaction with tells us that — irrespective of the staid and communication profession on how to
the media, Y V Reddy, who spoke in stoic nature of the organisation, it still hand over messages; for lay readers, it
riddles and played footsie with the needs to have multiple strategies to get its offers an interesting vantage point of the
should be overly critical to the weight around indicating access to the top. media, D Subbarao, who understood the message out. history of RBI. It is interesting to note
organisation. There is a common trait This leads to multiple situations where the critical function of communication and One of the most fascinating that the role of the communications
with senior executives from RBI: None of top has orally communicated a task, but submitted himself to preparation and anecdotes in the book is about Raghuram department was minimised, restricting
them speak without a prepared script; the in-between layer raises a red flag and scrutiny, and Raghuram Rajan, who was Rajan —who became a governor fairly its external interface, particularly with
none of them give you a write up, unless obstructs the process, not necessarily to be protected from his young and was the media. It was not a comprehensive
they recheck the text multiple times because of egos but because of the way in informal and A FLY ON THE RBI welcomed by socialite resource department for all
BOOK REVIEW over. I have also been a beneficiary when which someone reads the situation. egalitarian American WALL: An author Shobhaa De as a communication needs, including
I send something to them, the feedback Ms Killawala writes lucidly. That is self. She ends with Urjit Insider’s View of James Bond who added editing of technical papers, drafting of
M S SRIRAM is not only on the substance of the an understatement for a person who has Patel, who forms a small the Central Bank sex to Sensex. One annual reports, and writing the history
argument, but also the form! Therefore, specialised in communication part of the epilogue. Author: Alpana would have thought of the organisation. Ms Killawala’s

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lpana Killawala was a familiar one would think that someone in charge throughout her career. What is This style of leadership- Killawala that this sort of aspiration to have had greater
name for years for anybody who of communication in the organisation interesting is the way in which she has driven chapterisation Publisher: comment was a flash in excitement in aspects beyond media
followed the Reserve Bank of would be not only a super-critical structured the book. Instead of using a highlights how some Rupa the pan, and nobody management was valid. She is not bitter
India (RBI). There were an endless resource, but also extremely powerful. straightforward chronology to narrate support departments in would take it seriously. about it, while she makes the point.
number of press releases signed off by Ms Killawala’s book gives us a reality her journey, she has broken up her a critical organisation
Pages: 232 No, not true. Ms De’s I am curious to know why Urjit Patel
Ms Killawala appearing on the RBI check on the assumptions and puts the experiences into chapters that like the RBI could move Price: ~595 characterisation was did not deserve a chapter and was just a
website. While the Governor was the role of communication and people represent a particular leadership style at to the core and seen as important part of the epilogue. Possibly because she
face of the institution, Ms Killawala was specialising in the function in perspective. the top and goes through her narrative periphery depending on enough to be addressed: Resulting in the was talking about the last two years of her
the name associated with the It obviously is frustrating for someone Governor by Governor. By doing so, she how the leadership sees the function. communication department releasing career. The highlight of that period was
organisation! She brought us the good, who has direct access to the top also shows the difficulties of her career. One imagines that an institution like only photographs of Mr Rajan with his the firefighting with the communication
the bad and the pedantic releases with a management— who would want to get not in terms of hierarchical movement, RBI could be boring, laid back and worried reading glasses (possibly ensuring that relating to demonetisation. Or possibly
regularity that was difficult to ignore. things done at any cost — but must report but in terms of criticality of functioning. only about getting its word out. One would he looked much older than he was!). because Mr Patel himself was
The function of communication is multiple layers below in the bureaucracy Starting with S Venkitaramanan, who not imagine the RBI trying actively to The book is a delight to read and inaccessible to the department unlike the
especially important in an institution to navigate the space. Ms Killawala learns was instrumental in creating her job shape a discourse — by managing the works at multiple levels — it brings out other Governors. One can only guess.
like RBI. Anything that the organisation this lesson early in her career. She must profile and underscoring the timing of press conferences, the technical the complexity and criticality of the
says could move the markets and cause constantly keep making space for herself importance of communication, briefing to pre-empt the direction of the communication function in a highly mssriram@pm.me. The reviewer is a professor
bloodshed and therefore the role of while she is low down in the hierarchy and followed by C Rangarajan, who looked discourse; actively leaking information to technical organisation that affects the with the Centre for Public Policy, Indian
someone in charge of communication at the same time not to be throwing her at the function as instrumental, Bimal get a market reaction and even “lobbying.” common person daily. It serves as a Institute of Management, Bengaluru
16 NEW DELHI
THURSDAY
JUNE 06, 2024

Opinion

{ OUR TAKE }
E S TA B L I S H E D IN 1 9 24

Operation Blue Star:


Coalition dharma Trauma and lessons
and the new BJP A crucial lesson of the
violence in Punjab is that
maximise the vote share. The Punjab tions, as was the situation at the time
of today is hopelessly marginalised of Operation Blue Star.
with just 2.3% of India’s population, Blue Star, in fact, is an example of
and Sikhs are still fewer, at 1.7% of the how not to undertake nation-building.
After a decade of electoral dominance, the given India’s plurality, nation. The way to fulfil their regional Rather than uniting, it divided the peo- These days, a model of a dilapidated Akal Takht on display at Golden
party may be forced to deal with demanding regional aspirations have aspirations, therefore, is not the civil ple and sowed the seeds of a violent Templeis is a reminder of the catastrophic Operation Blue Star AFP
strife and militancy of yesteryears that ethno-national movement. Jarnail
NDA partners in running the government to be blended with the led to Operation Blue Star, but to main- Singh Bhindranwale had never openly modern-day Sikh concentrations of the socioeconomic and regional aspi-
mainstream, just as the stream the remnants of militancy. In demanded Khalistan, but believed that Surrey or Brampton? rations and a simultaneous, firm
that context, the participation of the its foundation would be laid if the One lesson of the Punjab violence is enforcement of law and order. The

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arendra Modi appears set to begin his third nation has to respect and self-declared proponents of Khalistan Army attacked the Golden Temple. that human rights are inviolable. The State failed to do either. Foreign forces
consecutive term as Prime Minister (PM). But like Amritpal Singh (in detention Post Blue Star, for the first time, a radical elements abroad exploit these stepped in to exploit the situation. The
unlike in 2014 and 2019, the allies in the accommodate the under the National Security Act) in the mythical sovereign state of Khalistan issues under western multicultural- administration collapsed and the
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are in a identities and interests of recent Lok Sabha elections is a wel- was formed within the precincts of the ism, and it is in our national interest to Army — the option of last resort — was
come development: Amritpal Singh, Golden Temple by the Panthic Com- abide by the rule of law and not just the brought in. The poorly planned Opera-
position to demand their space, in fact, even force their its diverse multitudes and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, son of mittee, the executive body of militants procedure established by law. Super- tion Blue Star blemished the fair image
agenda on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Thirty two Indira Gandhi’s assassin, Beant Singh, created to negate the statutory Shiro- cop KPS Gill’s strategy to physically of the forces. There is a caution for the

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seats short of a simple majority, the BJP will need to he bullet-ridden Granth have been elected to the Lok mani Gurdwara Parbandhak eliminate the militants without con- Army — the strategy and tactics it
Sahib and a model of a Sabha as independent candi- Committee (SGPC). It formed ceding to any of their demands rooted adopts in aiding civil power invariably
rewire its relations with allies and reformat the NDA, dilapidated Akal Takht on dates. They swore allegiance an armed force, Khalistan out violence but also bred a culture of have far-reaching consequences. Illus-
perhaps, along the lines it existed two decades ago. The display at Golden Temple to the Constitution before Commando Force (KCF), and extrajudicial methods. Even 40 years tratively, the use of tanks in the Golden
post June 4 BJP, in office, may need to think about these days are reminders of entering the electoral process declared war against the later, news of the conviction of officials Temple and the resultant devastation
the catastrophic Operation and even if they continue State. Punjab suffered incal- for “disappearance”— a euphemism had wide-ranging adverse outcomes.
coalition dharma, a much-discussed phrase between Blue Star. Its 40th anniversary is an with their ideological hub- culable losses and turmoil, for fake encounters — keeps appear- Insurgencies do necessitate long-
Ramesh
1996 and 2004, when the NDA came into being and occasion to introspect on what hap- bubs, it has to be within the
Inder necessitating frequent armed ing. Our conduct must conform to the term deployment of armed forces but
Atal Bihari Vajpayee headed multiple coalition pened and why. confines of freedom of forays into the Temple com- best international standards of the rule it is vital to evolve a civil-military
Given Punjab’s centuries-old pro- speech as the Constitution Singh plex, including Operation of law. maxim, an institutionalised oversight
governments. pensity for cyclic mayhem, Punjabis imagines it. Black Thunder 1 and 2. There is also a message for the polit- mechanism rather than relying on the
As it stands, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and and the political establishment must A crucial lesson of the two The ethno-national move- ical establishment — do not allow present “joint command” concept,
Janata Dal (United) are central to the NDA’s numbers not repeat past mistakes. The geopoli- decades of violence in Punjab is that ment has petered out since, but its political aspirations to be hijacked by which often turns out to be occasional
tical curse of Punjab as a gateway of given India’s plurality, regional aspira- seeds sprout abroad sporadically, set- militants. The Akali Morcha was meet-and-greet conferences. Our for-
with 16 and 12 MPs, respectively. Their leaders, N India and the many invasions it suf- tions have to be blended with the ting off alarm bells. Today, the Panthic launched in August 1982, with 10 eco- ces are apolitical, and to protect this
Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and Nitish Kumar of fered has made its people martial and mainstream, just as the nation has to assertion is spread internationally. nomic, religious, and political image, civil oversight mechanisms
the JD(U), are experienced, shrewd and demanding has left them with an inbuilt anti-Delhi respect and accommodate the identi- However, Khalsa’s bol bala or pre-emi- demands. There was nothing anti-na- should be strengthened. The recent
Darbar disposition and a predilection ties and interests of its diverse multi- nence, can only be achieved through tional about this and it evoked massive FIR against three colonels and 13 sol-
politicians who are masters at manoeuvring coalitions. to resist what they call jabar zanaha tudes. Steamrolling grievances and excellence in various fields and mak- public support. The agitation, how- diers in Kupwara for allegedly storm-
Accommodating their interests will be a challenge that (excesses). Ingrained in their psyche is aspirations or using military power, ing a mark in the world in the true ever, was allowed to simmer, and the ing the police station only confirms the
the BJP needs to negotiate before it begins the business a perpetual sense of being discrimi- without politically addressing the spirit of sarbat da bhala (prosperity to failure to address the issues politically need for it.
nated against and the misplaced con- underlying socioeconomic causes of all) and not by violence or the out- till the Rajiv-Longowal Accord in July
of governance. Pet ideological projects may have to be viction that jo ade so mitey (whosoever unrest, breeds discontent and dissent. moded models of Westphalian territo- 1985, which was also not honoured, Ramesh Inder Singh is former
shelved or negotiated for the sake of coalition dharma obstructs will be eliminated). It is not the road map to take the rial sovereignty. In any case, where allowed the militants to unleash chief secretary of Punjab and author of
as the BJP did in the 1990s. Consensus building will Constitutional politics, however, do nation forward, particularly when would the Panthic territorial sover- unmitigated violence. Turmoil in Punjab: Before and after
not operate on such proclivities. issues of faith and sacrosanct spaces eignty be headquartered — in Lahore, A two-pronged strategy was “Blue Star: An Insider’s Account.
have to be the bedrock of governance even though Democracy is governance by politics to are interwoven with regional aspira- the historical capital of Khalsa, or the required — political management of The views expressed are personal
Modi, as PM and chief minister of Gujarat, never had to
negotiate the minefield of coalition politics. The BJP
may also have to recalibrate its expansion plans and
tailor its tactics to be on the same page with allies to let
the government run smoothly. The NDA may need a
Biodiversity solutions to { TEJASHWI YADAV } RASHTRIYA JANATA DAL LEADER

P
seasoned politician as convenor — George Fernandes
did the job for Vajpayee — to iron out wrinkles, if any
become visible.
battle heatwave menace Bihar has emerged as the kingmaker.
All this is important since assembly elections are due he Indian Ocean is currently going vices including pollination, timber provision,
Whichever government comes,
in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra later this year,
and in Bihar next year. The BJP has not done well in
these states, and it has a mess in Maharashtra to sort
out, where the Congress, given up for dead not too long
T through a marine heatwave. This will marine fisheries and carbon sequestration,
likely lead to a decrease in fish catch, accrue annual gains of $100-350 billion each
increased stress for fisherfolk, and year.
potential storm surges. We are also in the The problem of marine heatwaves needs a
they should ensure that Bihar gets a
special status... and caste census
should be conducted across the

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throes of a heatwave on land and have suf- set of integrated and nature-positive solu-
ago, won more seats (13) than the BJP (11). The losses in fered Cyclone Remal. Going forward, it is tions. First, we can attempt to solve existing country
increasingly becoming clear that how we problems in the fish production-scapes to
Maharashtra, where the BJP is in office, have as much plan challenges linked to the environment destress livelihoods — such as improving the
to do with drought and farm distress as with poor will be key to the well-being of citizens. From cold supply chain of fish to reduce the wast-
coalition management. Rising unemployment and food May 21-29, several countries (also called Par- age of catch. We can invest in better, solar-
ties) came together in Nairobi, for a meeting powered fish chilling units as a means of cli-
inflation are pan-Indian phenomena, which can singe
What awaits Mexico’s
on the Subsidiary Body of Implementation mate adaptation. Second, we can look at
the NDA in general, and the BJP in particular. Much under the aegis of the Convention on Biologi- nature-based solutions that help provide ref-
depends on how the BJP leadership interprets the cal Diversity (CBD). uge to fish and marine wildlife, ultimately
In 2022, the world made the biggest deci- strengthening the ecosystem. This could be

first female president


results and what change of course the party will take up sion to mainstream and conserve biodiver- done by creating artificial reefs to provide
to reconcile with the electoral losses. The situation at sity. This was the adoption of the additional habitat and cover for
the Centre may need a new BJP that is more Global Biodiversity Framework important fishery species, and
(GBF), which sets 23 targets for sav- restoring native mangroves. Third,
conciliatory and accommodative towards diverse ing nature by integrating it into the we need to re-consider how coastal he Latin American region has been has transitioned seamlessly from the world
interests. rest of life: Economy, well-being,
production and climate action.
Placed under the CBD, these targets
need to be met by 2030 to ensure we Neha
Sinha
infrastructure is sited — structures
should not cause more ecological
damages, and need to consider that
coastal storms and cyclones will
T characterised by anti-incumbency for of science and academia to the unforgiving
the past decade-and-a-half, with arena of politics. A renowned physicist with
incumbent parties losing in all but a doctorate in energy engineering, Shein-
three of the past 20 free and fair elections. baum is not a conventional politician. She

Political task ahead reverse nature loss and be nature-


positive for people and the planet.
This means we only have five years
increase, thereby increasing mainte-
nance costs.
We have an opportunity to cross-
On Sunday, Mexicans bucked that trend by proved her credentials as mayor of Mexico
voting in Claudia Sheinbaum from the City during the Covid-19 pandemic, often
Morena party with a decisive mandate of 32 implementing policies contrary to AMLO’s

for the INDIA bloc to take urgent measures. pollinate the approaches taken on federal
And India has the opportunity to lead the and state levels. As an example, the Govern-
way. Currently, the chair of the Subsidiary ment of India has a soil health card scheme
million votes, more than double those rather sceptical approach towards combat-
received by her closest rival Xóchitl Gálvez. ing the virus.
Sheinbaum benefits from the popularity of These elections will have repercussions in
Body of Implementation (SBI) of the CBD is under the National Mission for Sustainable her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obra- Mexico’s neighbourhood, specifically in the
he 18th Lok Sabha, unlike the two previous Houses, from India – C Achalender Reddy, the chair- Agriculture. Karnataka has the Bhoochetna dor, commonly known by his initials, AMLO. US but also in the Latin American region.

T will have an Opposition bloc so substantial in


strength that the treasury benches will be forced to
engage with it constructively. With 234 MPs, including a
person of the National Biodiversity Author- scheme, which focuses on improving the
ity, Government of India, has been appointed livelihoods of dry-land farmers in the state.
the chairperson for SBI. This is an important The challenge for policymaking is to ensure
position, which gives India at least two roles. these approaches work in tandem.
As Mexico’s first female president, Shein- Sheinbaum and her Morena party have
baum faces high expectations, particularly many detractors in the US, some of whom
from the country’s active feminist move- even view her as a threat to Mexican democ-
ment. Sheinbaum also bears the responsibil- racy due to her party’s overarching influence
rejuvenated Congress with 99 members, the INDIA bloc One is to set an example by fulfilling the The larger ecosystem of our environmen- ity of being only the third Leftist across institutions in Mexico. Such
commitments towards nature by implement- tal commitments also needs greater synthe- candidate to be elected president in fears are overblown. Mexico is not
has its task cut out in Parliament to hold the government ing the GBF, and the second is to urge other sis. For instance, India has pledged to restore Mexico, after Adolfo López Mateos a perfect democracy and faces sev-
accountable. It will, hopefully, lead to more informed parties to do so. In the just-concluded SBI 26 million hectares of land by 2030 (under in 1958, and AMLO in 2018. She eral challenges, but to term these as
deliberations and productive law-making. Beyond meeting, mechanisms for monitoring the the United Nations Convention to Combat inherits both the good and the bad existential issues seems exagger-
GBF were discussed. In some ways, India’s Desertification). We have our climate targets from AMLO — her coalition’s ated. The re-election of Morena
Parliament, the INDIA bloc has the opportunity to build own experience in implementing the GBF under the United Nations Framework Con- majority in both houses of parlia- bodes well for Leftist political par-
on the pre-poll arrangement the parties worked out on can provide a template for navigating the vention on Climate Change of reducing emis- ment will grant a long honeymoon
Hari ties in Latin America, which are in
the eve of the general elections and transform itself into complexities of developing, biodiverse sion intensity by 45% by 2030 from 2005 lev- period, and she will benefit from Seshasayee power in many countries in the
nations with various interest groups and els and creating an additional carbon sink of Mexico’s propitious position as a region, including Brazil, Colombia,
a political coalition with clear policies and ideology. In demographics. 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent nearshoring destination bordering and Chile. The Left is cementing its
terms of leaders, the INDIA bloc is a platform with Given their wide scope, implementation through additional forest and tree cover by the United States (US); but she will also have place as a recurring actor in mainstream pol-
political heavyweights. To their credit, they managed to will be about taking a whole-of-society and 2030 (with 2005 as the base year). These to contend with an exceedingly high budget itics in Latin America.
whole-of-government approach. This is akin need to be integrated in ways that cross-cut deficit and rising levels of violence. The Mexican economy has only grown in
keep aside their suspicions to work out seat deals at the to taking a position that invests in nature, and benefit each other. For example, restora- At the outset, Sheinbaum must confront strength over the past decade. Today it is the
last minute and held a few joint rallies to bolster the paying back to the economy and society. In a tion should be science-based and privilege two immediate domestic challenges. The 12th largest economy measured by gross
chances of joint candidates. Barring in Kerala, Punjab study published in 2023 (in Proceedings of native ecosystems. Rivers are being restored first is a perennial problem that has stumped domestic product, larger than South Korea,
the National Academy of Sciences), research- in India through coalitions of NGOs and State Mexican leaders for the past three decades – Spain, or Indonesia. Much like India, Mexico
and West Bengal, the bloc’s leaders, surprisingly, found ers from the University of Minnesota and action – an example is the Karula river, a rising levels of violence stemming from drug has a fast-growing middle class and a rather
harmony in their chorus. The results in UP, Purdue University found that investments in tributary of the Ramganga, in Bijnor district, trafficking and gangs. But this is a near-im- young population and has reaped the bene-
Maharashtra, Rajasthan and even Bihar and Jharkhand nature, through augmenting ecosystem ser- Uttar Pradesh. This is the right time to take a possible task for Sheinbaum or indeed any- fits of the realignment of global value chains
birds-eye view of the landscapes, and create one occupying the country’s highest office. away from China to countries more amena-
reflect the resonance the INDIA bloc created. Ironically, restored landscapes that combine rivers and Mexico has the grave misfortune of being ble to the West.
this is despite the bloc failing to put together a common riverine habitats (such as grasslands and for- sandwiched between producers of cocaine to Mexico is also one of India’s most important
manifesto or a common minimum programme. ests) and green and blue areas in cities (the its south and massive consumers of the drug partners in the Latin American region, second
latter is a GBF target). The GBF calls for the to its north; this equation will not change only to Brazil. Today, India exports more to
However, the leaders spoke in a common language and involvement of women, youth groups, tribals anytime soon and will prove to be a chal- Mexico than to Japan, and India-Mexico trade
promised a future rich with jobs and welfare and one and other under-represented communities in lenge for the remainder of Sheinbaum’s is more than India’s trade with Canada, Nigeria,
that protected the rights guaranteed in the Constitution. implementation: This will require two-way term. or Spain. More than 200 Indian companies
capacity-building and participation. Efforts The second and, perhaps, more pressing have invested $3 billion in Mexico over the past
The challenge is to live the spirit after the elections. also need to be made to broaden and develop challenge facing Sheinbaum is her ability to two decades. Despite its domestic preoccupa-
A strong Opposition is essential to keep a check on the synergies among various rural and agrarian grow out of AMLO’s shadow. Many of her tions, New Delhi should court Mexico as a part-
government and ensure that it stays and works within schemes like the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhi- critics paint her as a stand-in for her prede- ner in economic diplomacy. The Latin Ameri-
yaan, the Jal Jeevan Mission and Rashtriya cessor — but this may be premature. AMLO can region remains the last frontier in India’s
the lines drawn by the Constitution and respects Gram Swaraj Abhiyan for implementation. ends his six-year term with approval ratings foreign policy calculus, and Mexico’s salience
customs and conventions inside and outside Parliament. What will work in India may well provide of 60% and will not want to taint his legacy is only growing with time.
And at least in the short-term, there is a strong electoral the roadmap for the rest of the world. by overstaying his welcome, even if it is from
the shadows. It would be a mistake to under- Hari Seshasayee is a Latin America-based analyst
reason for the continuation of the alliance: Haryana, The problem of marine heatwaves needs Neha Sinha is head, policy and communications, estimate Sheinbaum, the daughter of two and a visiting fellow of the Observer Research
Jharkhand, and Maharashtra are headed for polls soon. integrated and nature-positive solutions HT WWF-India. The views expressed are personal Jewish immigrants and intellectuals, who Foundation. The views expressed are personal

R. N. I. No. 503/1957 ● Postal Reg. No. DL(ND)-11/6058/2018-19-20 ‘Licensed to post without prepayment’ LICENCE No. U(C)-113/2006-08, AIR SURCHARGE: Raipur and beyond by Rail or Road - Re 5/-, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Hyderabad, Khajuraho, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and beyond by Rail or Road - Rs. 10/-;

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The vote should really be the expression of a
concrete will, the choice of a representative capable Simone de
of defending the particular interests of his electors Beauvoir

06 HYDERABAD THURSDAY 06 06 2024


� �

T
HE elections have had a sober- Justice Venkatachaliah had mooted the idea of governments by ter again. Even as we speak, people in
ing effect on Indian democracy. South Africa have ended the one-party
INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN What appeared to be on ster- those representing a majority of votes. It’s never happened in rule of the African National Congress
INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. oids for a decade has been sud- our pluralistic system. Coalition has often been the answer and forced the party of their freedom
— Ramnath Goenka denly brought back to an old, movement to build a coalition.

REVISITING IDEA
healthy normal. In the columns This effort to make India a permanent
of this newspaper, in May coalition has to perhaps be proactively
2022, this columnist argued that given thrust forward by the Congress and its

RESULTS SHOULD GIVE India’s diversity of thought, culture, lan-


guages, ethnicities and religions, the best OF PERMANENT political and non-political allies. The
onus is on them because it is they who

MORE VOICE IN DELHI government to have would be a coalition


government. We have one now.
COALITION
built the narrative that the Indian de-
mocracy was in danger. Now that they

TO OPPN-RULED STATES
The argument that was made on coali- have done a formidable job of containing
tions then stemmed from a forgotten the BJP, they have to think of permanent
suggestion that had been made by the solutions. Until the day before counting

K
Justice M N Venkatachaliah commis- of votes on June 4, they had argued and
ARNATAKA’S Lok Sabha results this time are a sion report that looked at the function- created doubt in the minds of the people
repeat of the May 2014 elections, though much has ing of the Constitution after a half-cen- that the voting machines, the election
changed on the ground. BJP remained the favoured tury of its implementation in 1950. The SUGATA SRINIVASARAJU Senior journalist and author of Strange Burdens: commission, the judiciary, the media,
commission, set up ambitiously by the The Politics and Predicaments of Rahul Gandhi and many other things were compro-
party with 17 MPs, the Congress fought back from one
then A B Vajpayee government, made mised. The job of the opposition cannot
seat to a respectable nine, and JDS held on to some turf one of the most credible and respected just be to plant fear but to also rectify
with two MPs. The story of the day was the loss of figures of Indian judiciary as its chair- it when the opportunity arises and the
Bangalore Rural, held by D K Suresh, brother of KPCC person. The report suggested it would be political atmosphere is conducive.
president D K Shivakumar, turning it into a personal set- best if all governments in India, at all Rahul Gandhi relentlessly asked peo-
back for the deputy chief minister. The Congress conceded tiers, mandatorily accomplish a 50-plus ple not to be afraid (“Daro mat”). He
its bastion of Bengaluru’s suburbs and rural pockets to the vote share. With this recommendation, constantly put himself on a very high
Justice Venkatachaliah perhaps meant ethical platform. If he is serious about
BJP, which posted its first victory in the constituency. that only a government with a 50-plus his accusations, he should now drive
The JDS lost its home turf Hassan to the Congress, while percent vote share would have the neces- the agenda to make institutional chang-
the BJP continued its domination of Bengaluru city, sary legitimacy to govern. es that may somewhat permanently se-
where its urban vote base remained intact. Even when this commission was set cure Indian democracy. Wherever he
Neither of the two national parties appeared satisfied up, there were people who looked at it went, he showed a copy of the Constitu-
with their showing in the state. Congress leaders were con- with a great deal of suspicion. They tion and said it was under threat of be-
planted doubt and spread a narrative that ing changed if the BJP and Modi got a
fident of double-digit figures, hoping to ride on the delivery
the true or hidden intent of this commis- brute majority of 400 plus. A large sec-
of guarantees; but it seems they did not read the situation sion was to change the Constitution. tion of India appears to have related to
too well in some constituencies. The BJP, charged up with Since a necessary part of any robust de- his prognosis and therefore, he has to
an aggressive Modi-Shah-Yogi campaign and its JDS mocracy is to doubt or suspect anything now prescribe the medicine too.
alliance, was expecting a repeat of its 2019 show of 25 seats, that anyone in power does, the criticisms To be fair, Modi did clarify on the
but fell far short. The JDS, reduced to insignificance after were not out of place. But it eventually charges being made. He said not once
turned out that the legendary Justice but a few times that even if B R Ambed-
the assembly polls, piggybacked on the BJP to ensure that
Venkatachaliah became known for not kar came and wanted to change the Con-
its leaders lived to fight another day. The Prajwal tampering with the Constitution but SOURAV ROY stitution he drafted, he will not accept it.
Revanna sex scandal, which broke out after the first strengthening it. He made constructive But doubt always has a better circula-
phase of polling, made a significant impact on voters in suggestions to save democracy and the which largely produced a sympathy wave vote share of its allies, which will create tion. What Rahul Gandhi planted per-
the second phase; Prajwal himself lost. idea of the 50-plus percent vote was one for Rajiv Gandhi, could not achieve this. a more representative 50 percent vote haps echoed in the minds of Dalits. They
For Karnataka, ruled by an opposition government, the of them. Justice Venkatachaliah also Since we are a first past the post system, share or around it. It would be a genuine, perhaps thought a brute majority will
changed numbers will mean its voice will now be raised in clarified that to make this change did not whoever touched the halfway seat mark participative coalition government with push Modi to withdraw reservations.
require a constitutional amendment but formed the government. The halfway necessary checks and balances in place, They were within their rights to believe
parliament. The Congress had consistently accused the 25 a minor executive and legislative process. mark in terms of seats did not necessar- rather than a ruling alliance with one this because the faithfuls of the BJP’s
BJP MPs of failing to bring up the state’s issues with the It is this seed idea that the columnist had ily mean a 50-plus percent vote share. dominant player extending patronage parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Centre; that will hopefully be rectified. It had also run a cam- extrapolated to argue that Indian plural- The two previous governments led by and protection to political friends. Sangh (RSS), had held out this threat in
paign charging the Modi government with discrimination ism and diversity would be safe only if we the BJP, which in the liberal rhetoric Now this is a moment the allies of the a dramatic fashion in different corners
in releasing drought relief funds and devolution of taxes. put in place an arrangement of govern- were charged with being ‘authoritarian’ ruling party and the opposition block led of India for a long time.
This holds true for other southern states too, which had to ment that is a permanent coalition. or ‘dictatorial’ had a vote share of under by the Congress should try to institution- One wonders retrospectively if the
The idea of a permanent coalition is 35 percent the first time it came to power alise. They should push hard to make reason for BJP president J P Nadda’s
knock on the doors of the Supreme Court with their griev-
interesting as no government since we in 2014, and well under 40 percent in 2019. necessary changes to the laws to ensure statement on the RSS, bang in the
ances. With the BJP having lost much of its numbers, the became a republic has ever amassed a 50 Interestingly, now in 2024, the BJP can India never again is a single-party rule. middle of the election, was to save the
way business is done in parliament is bound to change. percent vote share. Even at their peak form a government only if it brings oth- Countries in Europe that have seen BJP from the doubts and disbelief of
Narendra Modi’s assurance after the results that the central popularity, Nehru or Indira Gandhi could ers together as its parliamentary seats frightening phases of history have more Dalits. A closer examination of the
government “will work with all states” is an indication that not manage a 50 percent vote share for are 32 short of the halfway mark. But in or less institutionalised coalition ar- 2024 vote will offer us clarity.
the spirit of cooperation, not confrontation, is likely to pre- the Congress. Even the election held af- the process of building a coalition gov- rangements so that no one person can (Views are personal)
ter the assassination of Indira Gandhi, ernment ,it will add to its 36.6 percent the take them to the brink of war and disas- (sugata@sugataraju.in)
vail. That works to the advantage of all in a democracy.

KERALA LEFT MUST READ


WRITING ON THE WALL HOW VOTES EVOLVE INTO
POLICIES FOR GOVERNANCE Damocles sword

T
HE top election story from Kerala is the BJP breaking Ref: Stunning mandate puts question mark
on Modi 3.0’s stability (Jun 5). Without
its jinx in the state and winning its first ever Lok Sab-
a simple majority for the BJP, instability

T
ha seat from Thrissur. Though there is an argument ERMS such as ‘electoral man- will be hanging like a Damocles sword over
that the credit for the victory goes solely to Suresh date’ or ‘verdict’ are the most the new NDA government. The formidable
Gopi, the reality is that the verdict is the result of a misleading expressions of what Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have to
collective effort by both the party and the candidate. That we actually deal with in democ- be managed most strategically. Ditching NDA
the BJP could increase its vote share to 16.68 percent could racies, for they convey the idea ADITYA NIGAM Political theorist formerly with the Centre to join India bloc would be treacherous on
be an indication of the things to come; the Thrissur Lok that ‘the people’ are in some for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi their part vis-a-vis the NDA voters.
sense ‘sovereign’ and they peri- Geetha B K, Kannur
Sabha constituency includes 11 assembly areas. odically elect ‘their’ representatives. The
The rout of the LDF is an equally important story. That the task of the representative in this mythical often coalitions with no substantial politi- The experience of the first UPA govern- Economy worries
ruling coalition won a single seat and those who trounced understanding of democracy is to simply cal vision, demonstrated simply that the ment presents us with a very different pic- Ref: India renews its passport to democracy
their candidates won with huge margins shows the depth of represent and execute the ‘will of people’. old Congress hegemony was collapsing. ture. Formed after the 2004 elections, the (Jun 5). If Rahul Gandhi succeeds in
anti-incumbency the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government is The reality is this mythical ‘people’ does The outcome was hardly a ‘mandate’—ei- UPA emerged from a constellation of po- influencing governmental decisions, as the
facing. It should be an eye-opener for the LDF that even in not exist. People are simply the ruled or ther for any particular party or for any al- litical forces that had worked closely dur- author believes he will, that will be wonderful
the governed: subjects of kings in earlier ternative set of policies. ing the preceding six years of NDA rule for the country. The only anxiety is, in the
Alathur, the seat the CPM won, the BJP candidate secured
times and other citizens at best in modern More interesting is the fact that in the under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Congress, process, the economy of the country should
nearly 2 lakh votes. The reasons for the rout are both political democracies. Citizenship is merely the next two years, as Indira Gandhi got down the Left parties and numerous social move- not plummet to 1991 levels when for buying
and administrative. The poor financial situation of the membership of a political community that to crafting her own political persona, she ments that came together to craft a Com- some essential petroleum, we had to sell our
state and delay in pension disbursal can be counted as ad- entitles you to certain rights and is always produced a new configuration in politics mon Minimum Programme once again scant gold reserves.
ministrative lapses, the high-handedness of its student wing, the attribute of the individual—though oc- produced a mandate for themselves, with Athulya M, Hyderabad
the SFI, and the corruption allegations involving the CM and casionally we might loosely talk of com- one difference: the programme was the re-
munities too as rights-bearing entities. sult of years of work on the ground. Nano factor
his family have proven politically debilitating. Though the
Democracies relentlessly attempt to It therefore led to enactment of landmark When Tata motors started their Nano car as a
LDF tried to counter the anti-incumbency factor with narra- reduce populations into passive entities legislations like the Scheduled Tribes (Rec- `1-lakh car, it lost its market gradually as it
tives against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and in sup- that can be manipulated at will by rulers ognition of Forests Rights) Act, the Right to started to represent the poor person’s vehicle.
port of the Palestinian cause, nothing worked well. These or demagogues. But the reality, equally, Information Act and the National Rural Instead, if the car was launched without any
manoeuvrings only resulted in the CPM losing its traditional is that the people often play their rulers Employment Guarantee Act, apart from a price tag, it might have been more successful.
Hindu votes. The much-hyped Nava Kerala Sadas initiated or prospective rulers too. Democratic number of other critical interventions. To In these elections, the BJP would have been
by the CM seem to have deepened the anti-incumbency politics ties the ruler and the ruled—the be sure, there were other forces at work too fine just winning the election and forming the
‘people’ and their ‘representative’—in a within the UPA government that found this next government without the unnecessary war
EXPRESS

sentiments, if the results are anything to go by. complex dynamic that results in elector- orientation inimical to its interests, leading cry of winning over 400 seats.
Despite the losses, the signals emanating from the Left front al outcomes which quite often defy de- to a wholesale attack on the National Advi- Sunil Pradhan, Khariar
do not show any possibility of introspection on the part of scriptions like mandates and verdicts. Democratic politics ties the ruler sory Council that was primarily an advi-
the CPM leadership. The party is trying to find solace in the The year 1967 constitutes a turning and the ruled—the people and their sory body that provided the government a Alternative parties
fact that Lok Sabha results in the state have always tended to point in the democratic history of India. representative—in a complex dynamic non-bureaucratic feedback channel. The results highlight the poor performance of
favour the Congress-led UDF. The BJP’s victory has changed That was the time when the giant figure In sharp contrast stands the 2014 elec- the CPM-led government in Kerala. Either way,
of Jawaharlal Nehru had already passed, that results in outcomes which quite tion, where the agenda was set up symboli- it is high time the people of Kerala consider
the political landscape of the state forever, as it has put an end often defy descriptions like mandates
as had his successor Lal Bahadur Shas- cally in the divisive figure of Narendra alternative parties instead of the UDF and LDF.
to its four-decades-old bipolar politics. If the CPM and its lead- tri. Twenty years after independence, the Modi. Even with formal slogans of vikas or Eappen Elias, Thiruvananthapuram
& verdicts. A comparison of the
ership are not able to read the writing on the wall, the sole ruling Congress was facing its first ma- development, most people who voted knew
bastion of the Left in the country will be lost sooner or later. jor crisis in terms of popular legitimacy
policies enacted after elections in exactly what they were voting for or People’s interests
and it lost power in nine states. The lead- 1967, 2004 & 2014 illustrate the point against. Behind the scenes, as always, were The people of the nation must be appreciated
ership issue was open at that point. also those who wanted to reverse the chang- for the way they crippled the NDA. It has been
Q U I C K TA K E For the first time since independence, with her ‘left turn’. With nationalisation of es initiated by the UPA government, espe- done in a dignified democratic way. It is a
we saw the emergence of a wide array of 14 banks in 1969, followed by abolition of cially ones like those embodied in the Right lesson for those on the throne to be moderate
CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER OF DISINFO regional and relatively backward caste
parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazh-
privy purses in 1971 and finally her slogan
of ‘Garibi hatao’ in the general elections
to Fair Compensation and Transparency in
Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Re-
and accommodative in nature without
discrimination of any sort for their own best

A
S Europe prepares for elections this week, experts and gham (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, Bharatiya that year, Indira actually created her own settlement Act 2013, which had been enact- interests and that of the country.
governments have warned of a deluge of disinformation Kranti Dal (BKD) in Uttar Pradesh, and mandate. The people, voting with their feet ed in response to a major struggle against B S Badarinarayana, Yelahanka
Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP) in ruling by deserting the Congress in 1967, had dispossession. The overt agenda was very
washing across the continent. Just on Wednesday, fact- coalitions, even if most of them were forced Indira Gandhi to take cognisance of different from this covert one. Even though Historic moment
checking centres debunked false claims circulating about short-lived. In UP, Charan Singh crossed the reasons behind popular discontent and some people may have been led into believ- The hat-trick by PM Narendra Modi to sit on
Russia’s impending attack on EU and a rise in youth unem- over to the opposition with many Congress come out with a credible programme. ing the slogans on development, given the the saddle for the third time after six decades
ployment in Spain. We have seen fake news swirling during MLAs to become the CM of a non-Congress It is another matter, of course, that the total control of information flows, the core is a proud moment in India’s history. The
our just-concluded elections, too. But with AI and other tech- coalition government. In West Bengal and new vision that she brought into the party support for the regime came from a series NDA would have crossed 350 seats as per exit
nologies growing in competency, the threat has become much Kerala, the new coalition governments was to remain largely on paper, as power- of messages purveyed by the IT cell. poll predictions had it not experienced major
were dominated by Left parties. ful vested interests within and outside An entirely new definition of ‘the people’ losses in UP, West Bengal and Rajasthan.
more potent. The Election Commission of India had con-
Indira Gandhi was still a novice, who would ensure that the new vision be sub- was thus put in place—a people that was The unfortunate truth is that the politics of
tracted teams to keep a watch on malicious misinformation became leader as a compromise between verted. Indira herself might not have called into being through invocation. The development never resonate with the vast
through these elections. We hope to learn the results of the the left and right wings in the Congress. wanted to take her own radical rhetoric ‘mandate’, once again, simply followed. majority of people.
effort and the plan for battling the menace in the future. The rise of non-Congress governments, very seriously beyond a point. (Views are personal) R Pichumani, Kumbakonam

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS


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