Why the common man comes first in the handling of fiscal imprudence

The Indian government has been reprimanded by the CAG for almost 10-15 cases in the recent times including 2G, CWG, Delhi Airports, uncanny expenses to keep Air India afloat, revenue leakage in Reliance gas exploration etc. If we look into the total estimated loss, it runs into many thousand crores.

But I wonder, if the government can be so callous in its approach in handling such high ticket items. Why is it so prompt to correct the fiscal impropriety in pricing of the Petroleum products? If Raja, Kalmadi and other industrialists have benefitted out of an imprudent regime, why only common man is devoid of his share in this whole game.

The government has deliberately benefitted the rich and influential through corrupt practices and crony capitalism. So, a common man may also demand his share through a rightful consumption of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG at a highly subsidised rates. The day the government is able to bring fiscal prudence at all other places, it may raise the petroleum prices. Till then, please let the common man relish the subsidised petroleum products. The government has no moral rights to add to my fiscal burden.

Growing success of the Right Leaning Activists in India

With activists like Anna Hazare, Subramanian Swamy, Ramdev successfully striking a chord with the general masses, right to the center ideology is running supreme in the Indian political landscape. It is seemingly for the first time that the entire society is looking up to the Indian right to deliver.

There are two main reasons behind their resounding success:

1. They have been able to break the hegemony of the BJP over the rightist ideology in India. These individuals and their organizations have created a parallel and independent voice representing the right leaning segment in the Indian civil society. The ideological paralysis of the BJP was responsible for literally "no opposition" in the Indian politics for the last 4-5 years. Moreover, BJP post their electoral defeat in 2004 have gone deep into an internal conundrum. It has not been able to come out of their strategic confusion. Is BJP a far right Hindu brigade, is it a middle class party which aims to break the feudal family culture of Indian politics, is BJP a right to the center party with market liberal views, or is it an anti-congress congregation of various streams of ideology. There are various options but the BJP is in a state of freeze. Congress led UPA has tried its level best to associate all the key members of team Anna, Baba Ramdev etc. to the BJP, but the ability of these members to assertively keep themselves away from the BJP has certainly added credibility. It is henceforth high time that the BJP learns its lessons and pulls up its socks. Otherwise, its political atrophy is certainly on cards.

2. The leftists or the left leaning socialists, who have been the custodians of political activism in India for a long time, have suddenly found themselves in a tight spot. A large section is still frozen after the defeat of communists in Bengal and its subsequent marginalization at the center. They are back to the era of the 60s when left was one of the weakest political streams. An equally large left leaning segment has joined hands with the congress through various channels. NAC (National advisory council) led by Sonia Gandhi has mostly left leaning activits. A few noted civil society members have aligned with parties like Trinamool Congress. These sections are in no position to stand tall against the current corrupt regime. This has given a wide space to the right leaning activists to create a niche for them.

It is a historical moment in the Indian politics, where the intellectual leadership of civil society is at the hands of the right. We hope that they will deliver better than others and sustain their leadership role in the times to come.